So brilliant in opener

The strongest US Championship ever, has gotten underway in St. Louis, Missouri.

The world’s oldest national championship, the US Championship has been run on varied modes of tournament format and organization.

While the US Championship was claimed by Charles Henley Stanley in 1845 when he beat Eugene Rousseau, the general practice from 1891 up to 1923 was match play.

The first USCF-sponsored all- play--all format of the championship was held in New York City in 1936. Then there were 16 players and the event was won by Samuel Reshevsky, who dominated the championship up to 1941. In 1957, a certain Bobby Fischer, at 14, became the youngest champion ever. He went on to win 8 out of 8, a record unbroken in the championship’s history.

The most convincing win to date was registered by Fischer in 1963 when he went 11 out of 11 in the 12-player single round robin event.

The city of St. Louis and the USCF hosted the 2016 edition, the first to be done with three players (Caruana, Nakamura and So) in the top 10 of the current world rankings. Twelve entries were received and the standings after two rounds read: Caruana, So and Robson, 2.0 points; Nakamura, 1.5; Xiong and Shankland, 1.0; Kamsky, Onischuk, Akobian, Lenderman and Shabalov, 0.5 and Chandra, 0.

Here’ s a well-executed and sparkling performance by the Philippine- born So. The quality of his play can be seen from the following where he polishes off twotime world challenger Gata Kamsky in just 28 moves.

2016 US Championship W) W. So B) G. Kamsky Ruy Lopez 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 0-0 9. h3 Nb8

Black’s line is the Breyer Defense, quite popular in the early 70s and subject to a great deal of attention then, after Spassky essayed it against Fischer in Game 10 of the celebrated 1972 world championship match.

10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 ...

The alternative is 13. b4 Bf8 14. a4 Nb6!? 15. a5 Nbd7 16. Bb2 Rb8 and the game is about equal. Or 13. b4 Bf8 14. a4 Nb6 15. a5 Nbd7 16. Bb2 Qb8 17. Rb1 c5 18. bxc5 dxc5 19. dxe5 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Qxe5 21. c4 Qf4 22. Bxf6 Qxf6 23. cxb5 Red8 24. Qc1 Qc3 25. Nf3 Qxa5 26. Bb3! and White has seized the initiative (10=56), Fischer- Spassky, Match of the Century, 1972.

13... Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. Bg5 h6

15... Bg7 seems safer. For instance 16. Qd2 c5 17. d5 Qc7, the game nears equality. The text is risky to say the least, as it creates weaknesses on Black’s Kingside pawn structure. 16. Bd2 Bg7 17. a4 c6 18. axb5 axb5

18... cxb5 19. Qc1 Kh7 20. d5 a5 is even according to the engine. 19. Rxa8 Qxa8 20. Nh4! ...

Here’s White’s improvement. The idea is to exploit Black’s weak Kingside pawn structure. 20... Qd8 21. Qc1 Kh7?!

21 . . .h5 is considered best by the engine. E. g. 22. Bh6 Bxh6 23. Qxh6 Nh7 24. Bb3, White only has a slight edge. Also possible is 21... Nh7 and after 22. Nhf5 gxf5 23. Nxf5 Re6 24. Bxh6 Bxh6 25. Nxh6ch Kf8 the game is unclear. 22. Nhf5! ...

A promising piece sacrifice after which the position is replete wi t h dangerous possibilities. 22... gxf5 23. Nxf5 Re6 24. Bxh6 Ne8 25. Bg5 Bf6?

Th is loses material. Correct is the computer’s 25... Qc7 and after 26. Qd1 Kg8 27. d5 Rf6 28. Bxf6 Ndxf6 29. Qd2, White is probably better, but the game continues. Or 25... Qa8 ( 25... f6? 26. Bh6!) 26. dxe5 (26. d5 cxd5 27. exd5 Bxd5 is unclear) dxe5 (26... Nxe5 27. f4!) 27. Bb3, White has the edge, but Black may hold out. 26. Bxf6 Qxf6 27. d5! Re7 28. g4! 1:0

This is the clincher for after 28...cxd5 29. g4! Qh8 30. Nxe7, White wins the Rook.

Solution to last week puzzle: Black to move and win. White= Kg1, Rb1, Ba5, Pa4, Pb6, Pf2, Pg3, Ph2

Black= Kg8, Re6, Bg7, Pd3, Pe2, Pf7, Pg6, Ph3 1... Bb2! 2. b7 ... 2. Rxb2? e1ch and mate. 2... Rb6!! 3. Bxb6 ... 3.. d2 Or Black simply plays 3...Rxb7. 4. b8Qch Kh7 0:1 White has no defense against ...d1Qch or ...e1Qch

Black to play and win.