Black's control of two key files should have led to victory.

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d6 6. b3 Nc6 7. Bb2 Bg4 8. Nbd2 Qd7 9. Re1 Bh3 10. Bh1 Nh5 11. e4 e5 12. d5 Ne7 13. Ng5 Bg4 14. f3 Bh3 15. Nxh3 Qxh3 16. Bg2 Qd7 17. c4 f5 18. exf5 gxf5 18... Qxf5? 19. g4 19. f4 exf4 20. Bxg7 Nxg7 21. gxf4 Ng6 22. Qf3 Nh4 23. Qf2 Nxg2 24. Qxg2 Rf6 25. Kh1 Rg6 26. Qf2 Re8 27. Rxe8+ Nxe8 28. Rg1 b6 29. Qd4 c5 30. Qe3 Nf6 31. Nf3 Ng4 32. Qe2 Qe7 33. Qd2? Obviously, the Q must keep an eye on f2, but this is too much of a concession. 33. Re1 33... Qe4 34. Rf1? Another file conceded. 34... Ne3 35. Rf2 Ng4 35... b5 or 35... Rg4 make progress. 36. Rf1 Rh6 37. Qg2 Kf8 38. a3 White's position is so miserable that this move can't properly be given a question mark. The combative 38. Re1? is foiled by 38... Nxh2!! and 38. Rc1 Ne3 39. Qg3 Rg6 40. Qh3 h5! sets up ...Rg4xf4, hitting the pinned N again. 41. Qxh5? Ng4 takes the Q out of her defensive position for good. 38... Ne3 39. Qg5 5k2/p6p/1p1p3r/2pP1pQ1/2P1qP2/PP2nN2/7P/5R1K b - - 0 39 39... Rxh2+? 39... Rg6! and White can resign - there's no perpetual after 40. Qd8+ Kg7 . 40. Kxh2 Nxf1+ 41. Kg1 Qxf3 42. Qxf5+ Ke7 43. Qe6+ Kf8 44. Qxd6+ Kg7 45. Qe5+ Kf7 46. d6 Ne3 47. Qe7+ Kg6 48. Qg5+ Kf7 49. Qe7+ 1/2-1/2 [Ryan/Fritz]

Perhaps rattled by the rough opening, Black never gets his fair share of the play.

1. d4 c5 2. d5 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. e4 d6 5. f4 Bg7 6. e5 dxe5 7. fxe5 Bg4? This piece is going to feel very awkward soon. 7... Nfd7 8. e6 fxe6 9. dxe6 Nb6 is fine for Black. 8. Bb5+ Nbd7 9. Qd2 Nh5 10. h3 Ng3 11. hxg4 Nxh1 12. e6 fxe6 13. dxe6 O-O 14. Qxd7? With wK still in the center, this is too careless. 14. exd7 r2q1rk1/pp1Qp1bp/4P1p1/1Bp5/6P1/2N5/PPP3P1/R1B1K1Nn b Q - 0 14 14... Ng3? Black is just trying to escape, when he should be attacking. 14... Qb8! turns things around quickly. 15. Qd3 (15. Ne4 Qh2) 15... Nf2 and the bQ will land on g3 sooner or later. 15. Nf3 a6? Still not doing enough to get counterplay. 15... Bxc3+ 16. bxc3 Qa5 16. Qxd8 Raxd8 17. Bd7 Bxc3+ 18. bxc3 Ne4 19. Bh6 Rf6 20. Ng5 Nd6? Further passivity - Black has given up. 20... Nxc3 21. O-O-O Ne8 22. Nf7 Rb8 23. Bg5 23. Be3 threatening g5. 23... Rf2 24. Bxe7 Rxg2 25. Bxc5 25. Nh6+ Kh8 26. Bxe8 and Black can't recapture, even after 26... Kg7 27. Bg5 . 25... Re2 26. Bd4 h5 27. gxh5 gxh5 28. Rg1+ 1-0 [Ryan/Fritz]

Black's bad Bishop struggles against White's N the whole game.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Nxd7 5. O-O Ngf6 6. Re1 Qc7 7. c3 e6 8. d4 e5?! It's bad enough to move a pawn twice in the opening; it's worse when you're locking your own pawns on the same color as your Bishop. 9. Bg5 Be7 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Nbd2 O-O 12. Qc2 Rfe8 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Nf1 Nb6 15. Ne3 g6 16. a4 Forcing another concession. 16... a5 17. Rad1 Rad8 18. Qb3 Rxd1 19. Rxd1 Qc6 20. Nd5 Bd8 21. Nxb6 Bxb6 22. Rd5 Qf6 Last chance for 22... c4 trying to help the Bishop. 23. h3 Re6 24. c4 Kg7? Black should try 24... Qf4 instead of conceding the e-pawn. 25. Qc3 Rd6 26. Rxd6 Qxd6 27. Qxe5+ Qxe5 28. Nxe5 White wins easily with the extra pawn and N vs. bad Bishop. 8/ 1p3pkp/1b4p1/p1p1N3/P1P1P3/7P/1P3PP1/6K1 b - - 0 28 28... Bc7 29. Nd3 b6 30. f4 Kf6 31. Kf2 Ke6 32. Ke3 f6 33. Nf2 h5 34. Nd1 g5 35. g3 h4 36. f5+ Kf7 37. gxh4 gxh4 38. Nc3 Be5 39. Kf3 Bd4 40. Kg4 Bf2 41. Nd5 Bd4 42. b3 Bf2 43. Nxb6 Be1 44. Nd5 Bg3 45. Ne3 Bf2 46. Ng2 1-0 [Ryan/Fritz]

White bets a Rook on his attack...and loses.

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. f4 d6 6. Nh3 e5 7. d3 Nge7 8. O-O O-O 9. f5 gxf5 10. Qh5 f6 11. exf5 Nd4 12. g4? 12. Nd5 and now if 12... Nxc2?! 13. Ng5! and Black will never have time to take the R. 13... h6 (13... fxg5?? 14. Bxg5 Rxf5 [else Nxe7+ will win the Q] 15. Rxf5 Bxf5 16. Nxe7+ Kh8 17. Nxf5 and wins.) 14. Nxe7+ Qxe7 15. Bd5+ Kh8 16. Nf7+ Rxf7 17. Bxf7 and 17... Qf8 is forced. 12... Nxc2 13. g5? Qe8 13... Bxf5! is similar to the sacrifice Black plays next turn. 14. g6 r1b1qrk1/pp2n1bp/3p1pP1/2p1pP1Q/8/2NP3N/PPn3BP/R1B2RK1 b - - 0 14 14... Nxg6! Eliminating one of the troublesome pawns kills White's attack. 14... hxg6? 15. Bd5+ Nxd5 16. fxg6 and Black can resign. 15. Ne4 Ne7 15... Nxa1?! 16. Nxd6! Nf4 17. Nxf4 Qxh5 18. Nxh5 Rd8 19. Bd5+ Kf8 20. Be3! and White is still in the fight. 16. Qg4 It's hard to blame White for not liking the endgame after 16. Qxe8 Rxe8 17. Nxd6 Rd8 18. Nxc8 Raxc8 19. Rb1 Rxd3 . 16... Nxf5 17. Rxf5 Bxf5 18. Qxf5 Nxa1 19. Nxd6 Qg6 20. Qe6+ Kh8 21. Nf2 Nc2 22. Qc4 Ne1 23. Qe4 Nxg2 24. Qxg2 Qxg2+ and Black won the ending. 0-1 [Ryan/Fritz]

White scores an impressive upset, outplaying his opponent right out of the opening.

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. cxd4 g6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. Bb5+ Nd7 7. O-O r1bqk1nr/pp1nppbp/3p2p1/1B6/3PP3/5N2/PP3PPP/RNBQ1RK1 b kq - 0 7 7... Qa5 Instead of putting the Q on a dubious square, Black should work to make ... Ngf6 safe from an e5 reply. 7... a6 8. Qa4 (8. Bc4 Nb6 9. Bb3 Nf6) 8... Ngf6 9. e5 dxe5 10. dxe5 Nd5 8. Ba4 8. Qb3! keeps Black tied up. 8... Nh6 (8... a6 9. Bc4 e6 10. Bf4 Qb6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. Qxe6+ and White gets his material back with continuing pressure) (8... Ngf6 9. e5 dxe5 10. dxe5 Ng4 11. e6 fractures the Kside) 9. Bd2 Qd8 is Black's best try. 8... b5 It wasn't too late for 8... Ngf6 9. e5 dxe5 10. dxe5 Nd5 . 9. Bb3 Bb7 10. Re1 e6 11. Bf4 Qb6 12. Nc3 b4? Another target for White to hit. 13. Na4 Qa6 14. Rc1 Rc8 15. Rxc8+ Bxc8 16. Qd2 Ne7 17. Qxb4 e5 17... Nc6 18. Qd2 e5 19. Be3 O-O at least gets castled. 18. dxe5 dxe5 19. Bg5 Nc6? 19... f6 at least keeps one Bishop out. 20. Qd6 The game is already over. 20... h6 20... f6 21. Qe6+ Kd8 22. Qf7 21. Rc1 hxg5 22. Rxc6 Qb7 23. Nxg5 23. Bxf7+! and Nxg5 mates. 23... Rf8 24. Bxf7+ Rxf7 25. Qxg6 25. Nxf7 Kxf7 26. Qe6+ Kf8 27. Qc4 would have made the endgame much easier for White. 25... Nf8 26. Qxf7+ Qxf7 27. Rxc8+ Kd7 28. Nxf7 Kxc8 29. Nd6+ Kd7 30. Nf5 Bf6 31. Nc3 Ne6 32. h4 Nd4 33. Nd5 Bh8 34. f3 Ke6 35. Nxd4+ exd4 36. Kf2 Bg7 37. Ke2 d3+ 38. Kxd3 Bxb2 39. g4 and White won a few moves later. 1-0 [Ryan/Fritz]

Black picks off Qside pawns in defiance of White's attack.

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 g6 5. d3 Bg7 6. f4 Nge7 7. Nf3 d6 8. O-O O-O 9. g4 d5 10. Kh1 Bd7 11. Ne2 Qc7 12. a3 Rad8 13. Qe1 dxe4 14. dxe4 Nd4 15. Nexd4 cxd4 15... Bxd4? 16. Qh4 f6 17. c3 wins the Bishop. 16. Qh4 Bb5 17. Rg1 Bc6 18. f5 18. Re1 must be considered. 18... exf5 19. gxf5 f6 3r1rk1/ppq1n1bp/2b2pp1/5P2/3pP2Q/P4N2/1PP3BP/R1B3RK w - - 0 20 20. Bf4 20. Ng5! keeps White in the fight. 20... fxg5 21. Bxg5 Nxf5 (there's no way to save the pinned N and stop f6) 22. exf5 20... Qb6 21. Rae1 Qxb2 22. Bh3? With the Qside pawns falling, White needs to do better than this. 22. Ng5 fxg5 23. Bxg5 Rxf5 (better than letting the Rooks get forked) 24. exf5 Nxf5 keeps the material even, although Black still has the better game. 22... Qxa3 22... Qxc2 is the better pawn to take, because the a-pawn's harder for White to defend. 23. Rg3 Qa2 24. Bh6 d3 25. cxd3 Rxd3 26. Bxg7 Kxg7 27. Bf1?? The decisive mistake. 27. Bg2 unpins the e-pawn. 27... Nxf5! 28. exf5 Rxf3 29. Re7+ Rf7 30. Rxg6+ hxg6 0-1 [Ryan/Fritz]

Black's poorly timed central push leads to his demise.

1. e4 d6 2. d4 c6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Be3 Nf6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Qc7 9. Bc4 e6 10. Bb3 a5 It was time for Black to claim his share of the center. 10... d5 11. a4 11. e5 Nd5 12. Ne4 Bf8 13. Bxd5 cxd5 14. Nf6+ sinks the N into a nice square and disrupts castling. 11... Na6 12. O-O O-O 13. f5 r4rk1/1pq2pbp/n1pppnp1/p4P2/P2PP3/1BN1BQ1P/1PP3P1/R4RK1 b - - 0 13 13... d5? 14. e5 Black must have missed this simple and obvious rejoinder. 14... exf5 The alternative was 14... Nd7 15. f6 Bh8 , and the B is shut out of the game for good. 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. Ne2 Rae8 17. Bh6 Bg7 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Ng3 Re7 20. Rae1 Rfe8 21. Rxe7 Rxe7 22. c3 Re6 23. Bc2 Nb8? 23... Kh8 avoids White's next shot. 24. Nxf5+! gxf5 25. Qxf5 Rg6 26. Qh5 White gets his material back with interest, even after ...Rh6 Qg5+. 26... Nd7 27. Bxg6 hxg6 28. Qf3 f6 29. Qf4 Qd8 No good, but Black is lost in any case. 30. Re1 30. Qd6! Qe8 31. Kf2 and Re1 invades with both heavies. 30... Nf8 31. h4 Kf7 32. h5 Qd7 33. hxg6+ Kxg6 34. Re3 Ne6? 35. Qg4+ Kf7 36. Qh5+ 36. Rh3 1-0. 36... Kg7 37. Qf5 Kf7 38. Qh7+ Ke8 39. Qg8+ Ke7 40. Qg7+ 1-0 [Ryan/Fritz]

White is happy to draw a higher rated player, even to the point of ignoring chances to take the advantage.

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. e3 Nc6 6. Nc3 Ngxe5 7. Be2 d6 8. O-O Be6 9. Nd5 Nxf3+ 10. Bxf3 Ne5 11. b3 11. b4 Bb6 12. Nxb6 Nxf3+ 13. Qxf3 axb6 14. Bb2 11... Nxf3+ 12. Qxf3 c6 13. Nf4 13. Bb2! cxd5 14. cxd5 Qe7 (14... Bc8 15. b4 Bb6 16. Bxg7 Rg8 17. Qe4+ Kd7 18. Qxh7 is also nice for White) 13... Qd7 14. Bb2 Rg8 15. h3 O-O-O 16. a3 Bb6 17. Rfd1 g5 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19. g3 g4 20. hxg4 e5?! 2kr2r1/pp1q3p/1bpp4/4p3/2P3P1/PP2PQP1/1B3P2/R2R2K1 w - - 0 21 21. Qf5 21. Bxe5 Bc7 22. Bxd6 Bxd6 23. c5 Rdf8 24. Qe2 Rxg4 25. Rxd6 Qf5 and Black has some, but probably not enough, compensation. 21... Rxg4 22. Qxd7+ Rxd7 23. Kg2 h5 24. Rh1 Rh7 25. Kf3 e4+ 26. Ke2 Bd8 27. Rad1 Kc7 28. Rdg1 Kd7 29. Rh2 Ke6 1/2-1/2 [Ryan/Fritz]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Na3 c5 4. Nxc4 Nc6 5. g3 g6 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. a3 e5 8. d3 Nge7 9. O-O O-O 10. Rb1 a5 11. b3 b5?! The Bg2's latent power now wins a pawn for White. 12. Ncxe5 Nxe5 13. Nxe5 Nd5 14. Bb2 14. Nc6 Qd6 15. Bxd5 Bb7 (recaptuing loses the Q to an N fork) 16. Bf4 Qd7 17. Rc1 Bxc6 18. Bxc6 Qxc6 19. Be3 pockets another pawn. 14... Re8 15. Nf3 Bxb2 16. Rxb2 Nc3 17. Qe1 Qf6 18. Rc2 b4 19. axb4 cxb4 20. e3 Be6 White has tried to just sit passively on his extra P, but Black's piece activity has become annoying. 21. Nd4 Bd5 22. Bxd5 Nxd5 23. Rc5 Nc3 24. Ne2 Qd6 24... Rac8 is objectively best, but there is some psychological value in trading fewer pieces while White's cramped. 25. d4 25. Rc4 and the Nc3 has to run to an inferior square. 25... Ne4 26. Rc4 Ng5 27. f4?! 27. Qd1 and if 27... Nf3+ 28. Kg2 Qd5? 29. Nf4! and White has nothing to fear from the check. 27... Ne4 28. Nc1 Rec8 29. Nd3? Now Black's a- and b- pawns are free to roll. 29... Rxc4 30. bxc4 b3 31. Qc1 a4 32. c5 32. Qb2 Qa6 33. Rc1 Qa5 is not much better. 32... Qa6 33. Nb4 Qe2 34. c6 Nd2? Making the win harder. 35. Rf2 Nf3+ r5k1/5p1p/2P3p1/8/pN1P1P2/1p2PnP1/4qR1P/2Q3K1 w - - 0 36 36. Rxf3? If White is going to play on, he should try 36. Kg2 and force Black to find 36... Qe1 37. Qxe1 Nxe1+ 38. Kh3 (anywhere but the back rank, letting Black potentially Queen with check, or pin pieces) 38... a3 39. Rf1 Nc2! 40. Nxc2 bxc2 and the fact that Black's pawns are a bit further forward allows him to win. 36... Qxf3 37. c7 Qb7 38. Qc6 Qxc6 39. Nxc6 b2 40. Nb8 b1=Q+ 0-1 [Ryan/Fritz]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5 6. O-O d6 7. d4 exd4 8. cxd4 Bb6 9. Nc3 Na5 10. Bd3 Bg4 11. d5 Ne7 12. Bb2 O-O 13. Na4 Ng6 14. Qd2 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Ne5 16. Bxe5 dxe5 17. Nxb6 axb6 18. f4 Qd6 19. fxe5 Qxe5 r4rk1/1pp2ppp/1p6/n2Pq3/4P3/3B4/P2Q1P1P/R4RK1 w - - 0 20 White has a greater central pawn presence and Black's N is somewhat out of play, so Black accepted White's draw offer despite his extra P. 1/2-1/2 [Ryan/Fritz]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 O-O 8. Bc4 c5 9. h3 Nc6 10. Be3 b6 11. O-O cxd4 12. cxd4 Bb7 13. d5 Na5 13... Bxa1?! 14. dxc6 Qxd1 15. Rxd1 Bxc6 16. Rxa1 Bxe4 17. Ne5 with compensation for the slight material deficit. 14. Rc1? Nxc4 15. Rxc4 Ba6 16. Rc6 Bxf1 17. Kxf1 Rc8 18. Nd4 e5 The simple 18... Qd7 , connecting the Rooks, is better. 19. Rxc8 Qxc8 20. Nc6 Qa6+ 21. Kg1 f5? The weakening of the Kside just helps White. 22. Bg5 22. exf5 gxf5 23. Ne7+ Kh8 24. Qh5 and White has the options of Ng6+, drawing by perpetual, or Nxf5. 22... b5 23. Qc2 Bf6 24. Bxf6 Rxf6 25. exf5 gxf5 26. Qb3 Kh8 27. Qc3 Qxa2 28. Qxe5 Kg7 29. d6 Allows Black to regroup. More accurate is 29. Qc7+ Rf7 (29... Kh6 30. Qe7 and White is winning thanks to his advanced passed pawn and threats against the bK.) 30. Qg3+ Kf8 31. Qe5 Kg8 32. Nd8 and the R can't move ( 32... Rf8 33. Ne6 ) 29... Qb1+? 29... Qc2 was necessary. 30. Nd4 Qc8= 30. Kh2 Qe4 31. Qxe4 fxe4 32. d7 Rd6 33. d8=Q Rxd8 34. Nxd8 b4 35. Ne6+ Kf6 36. Nd4 a5 8/7p/5k2/p7/1p1Np3/7P/5PPK/8 w - - 0 37 37. Nb3?? From won to lost in a single move. 37. Kg3 and White takes home the point. 37... Kg5 (37... Ke5 38. Nc6+ gives White the tempo he needs to pick the a-pawn safely) (37... a4 38. Kf4 b3 39. Nb5 and Na3 blockades both pawns) 38. h4+ and wins the e-pawn. 37... a4 38. Nc5 a3 39. f4 Kf5? 39... exf3 40. gxf3 a2 is like the game, but with White's f-pawn one crucial step slower. 40. Kg3 a2 41. Nb3 Ke6 42. Kf2? 42. Na1 Kd5 43. f5 Kc4 44. f6 b3 45. Nxb3 Kxb3 46. f7 probably draws. 42... Kd5 43. f5 Kc4 44. Na1 b3 45. f6 b2 46. f7 bxa1=Q 47. f8=Q Qd4+ 48. Kg3 a1=Q 49. Kh2 Qe5+ 0-1 [Ryan/Fritz]

Jim Johnston scored the top upset prize with his win over Robert Haines.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be2 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. f4 exf4 11. Rxf4 Nbd7 12. Nd4 Rc8 13. Nf5 Bxf5 14. Rxf5 b5 15. a4 b4 16. Nd5 2rq1rk1/3nbppp/p2p1n2/3N1R2/Pp2P3/4B3/1PP1B1PP/R2Q2K1 b - - 0 16 16... Nxe4? A bargain for White. He gets a passed a-pawn, weak b-pawn to target, and the chance to trap the QR by swarming with the 2 B's. 16... Nxd5 17. Bxa6 Rb8 18. Qf3 18. Qd4 Ndf6 19. Nxb4 wins a pawn. 18... Ndf6 19. Ba7 Nxd5 20. Qxe4 The correct capture, providing a retreat for Rf5, and avoiding 20. Bxb8 g6 21. Rxd5 Qb6+ 22. Kh1 Nf2+ 23. Kg1 Ne4+ 24. Kf1 Qxa6+ and now 25. Ke1?? is too risky, so Black has a perpetual. 20... Nf6 21. Qd4 d5? 21... Qd7 saves the Rook. 22. Re1? He should've just taken the Rook. 22... Qc7? 22... Ra8 23. Bd3 (23. Bb7 doesn't quite win material after 23... Qd7 24. Bxa8 Rxa8 25. Rxe7 Qxf5) 23... Qd7 targets the a-pawn. 23. Qe3? Rbe8 4rrk1/B1q1bppp/B4n2/3p1R2/Pp6/4Q3/1PP3PP/4R1K1 w - - 0 24 24. Rff1 Ironically , White's once-powerful Bishops are now liabilites, even after the more stubborn 24. Bb6 Qd6 25. Be2 (25. a5 Bd8 26. Rxf6 gxf6) 25... Bd8 26. Bc5 Qc7 27. Qd4 Re4 28. Qf2 Rfe8 24... Ng4 0-1 [Ryan/Fritz]

Black gives White enough rope to hang himself.

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. Be2 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qa5 6. d3 Nf6 7. O-O O-O-O 8. Ng5 Be6 9. Nxe6 fxe6 10. Bd2 Nd4 11. Re1 Qf5 12. Bf3 12. Bf1!? 12... Nxf3+ 13. Qxf3 Qxf3 14. gxf3 Rd6 15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. Rxe4 16. fxe4 looks better, "fixing" the pawn structure. 16... g6 17. Bc3 Rg8 18. Rae1 Kd7 19. Kg2 Bg7 20. Bxg7 Rxg7 21. Rb4 b6 22. Kg3 Rf7 23. Rbe4 Rf5 24. Re5 h6 25. h4 Rxe5 26. Rxe5 Rd5 27. Re4 g5 28. hxg5 Rxg5+ 29. Kf4 Kd6 30. d4 Rg1 31. Ke3 Ra1 32. Kd3 Rxa2 33. b4 Ra3+ 34. c3 Ra2 34... a5 35. Kc4 axb4 36. Kxb4 Ra2 35. Rh4 Rxf2 36. Ke3 Rc2 37. Kd3 Rf2 38. Ke3 Rg2 39. Rxh6 Rg5 40. Ke4 a5 41. bxa5 bxa5 42. Rh8 Kc6 43. Rh6 Kd6 44. Rh8 Rg1 45. Ra8 Ra1 46. c4 a4 47. Ra6+ Kd7 48. Ke5 48. Kd3 ensures the draw by going right at the a-pawn. 48... a3 49. c5 a2 50. c6+ Ke8 51. Kf4 Kf7 52. Ra7 52. Ra8 Kf6 53. Rf8+ Kg7 54. Ra8 keeps e5 free for wK in the event of 54... Rd1 . 52... Kf6 53. Ra5 Rd1 54. Rxa2 Rxd4+ 55. Ke3 Rc4 56. Ra6 Ke5 56... e5 57. Kd3 Rc5 ensures the clean win of the c6 pawn. 57. Kd3? 57. Ra8 Rxc6 58. f4+ Kd5 59. Re8 at least takes out one of Black's pawns. 57... Kd5 58. Ra1 Rxc6 59. Ra5+ Rc5 60. Ra8 e5 Notation stops here...Black eventually won. 0-1 [Ryan/Fritz]

Black's streaking King defies White's attempts to corral him.

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 d6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bf4 a6 8. Qe2 Nf6 9. O-O Be7 10. Rfd1 Qc7 11. Rac1 e5 12. Bg5 Bg4 13. h3 Nd4? 14. Rxd4! Bxf3 14... exd4 15. Nb5 (threat Bxf7+) 15... Qa5 16. b4 Qd8 17. Nc7+ Kf8 18. Nxa8 gets back most of the material while leaving Black in a very awkward position. 15. Nb5? 15. Qxf3 exd4 16. Nd5 Qc6 17. Nc7+ Kd7 18. Nxa8 Rxa8 19. Bd5 and White's pieces rule the board. 15... Qb8? 15... Qd7 16. Nc7+ Qxc7 17. Qxf3 Qd7 escapes unscathed. 16. Bxf7+? With three other pieces hanging, White can't afford this. 16. Qxf3 O-O 17. Nxd6! exd4 18. Nf5 puts a lot of pressure on the Black Kside. 16... Kxf7 17. Qc4+ 17. Qxf3 axb5 18. Qb3+ Kg6 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 is the lesser evil, although White still doesn't have enough for the piece. 17... Kg6 18. Qe6 exd4 18... axb5 - the N is the more dangerous piece. After 19. Bxf6 gxf6! (no invasion on d6 for you!) 20. Rd3 Bxe4! Black is willing to give a piece back for defense. 21. Rg3+ Kh6 22. Rg4 Qd8 and now 23. Qf7 encounters 23... Bg6 . 19. Rc7 axb5? It's too late to take it now. 19... Bxe4 20. Bxf6 Bf5 21. Qxe7 Qf8 22. Nxd4 Qxf6 23. Nxf5 Qxe7 (23... Kxf5 24. g4+ is too risky) 24. Nxe7+ Kg5 and Black retains the slightest of material edges in the ending. 20. Rxe7= Qc8 Surprisingly, this is good enough to hold. Not 20... Bxe4?? 21. Rxg7+! Kxg7 22. Qxf6+ Kg8 23. Qe6+ Kf8 24. Bh6# 21. Qf7+ Kxg5 22. Qxg7+ Kh5 23. Qf7+ Kg5 24. h4+ Kg4 25. Qg7+ Kxh4 26. Qxf6+ Kh5 27. Qf7+ Kh4?? This false ep allows White to finally get the Rook in on the attack with check. r1q4r/ 1p2RQ1p/3p4/1p6/3pP2k/5b2/PP3PP1/6K1 w - - 0 28 27... Kg5 28. Qf6+? 28. Qf4+! Qg4 (28... Kh5 29. Qh2+ Kg6 (29... Kg5 30. Rg7+ Kf6 31. Qh6+ Ke5 32. Re7+) 30. Qxd6+ Kh5 31. Qe5+ Kh4 32. Qg3+ Kh5 33. Re5+ mates) (28... Bg4 29. Qh6+ Bh5 30. g3+ Kg4 31. Qf4+ Kh3 32. Qh4#) 29. Qh2+ Kg5 30. Rg7+ Kf6 31. Rxg4 Bxg4 32. Qf4+ and with every Black pawn isolated, the Q has a great chance of prevailing over the two R's. 28... Kh5 1/2-1/2 [Ryan/Fritz]

Black can't recover from the loss of a crucial pawn.

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bc4 a6 7. Bg5 Nf6 8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. O-O r1bqkb1r/1p2pp1p/p1np1p2/8/2B1P3/2N2N2/PP3PPP/R2Q1RK1 b kq - 0 9 9... Bg4 9... Rg8 10. Qb3= e6 11. Qxb7 Na5 12. Qb4 Bxf3 13. Qa4+ Qd7 14. Qxa5 Rg8 15. g3 Rc8? 15... Rg5 16. Qb6 Qa7 17. Qc6+ Kd8 prepares to kick the Q out. 16. Qxa6 Qc7 17. Be2 17. Bd3!? Rb8 18. Nb5 Qb7 17... Bxe2 18. Qxe2 Rg5 19. a4 Be7 20. Rfd1 Qc4 21. Qxc4 Rxc4 22. a5 Rcc5? 22... Kd7 23. a6 Rg8 24. a7 Ra8 makes White work a little harder for the point. 23. a6 Rc8 Perhaps Black had intended 23... Ra5 and now noticed the simple reply 24. a7 . 24. a7 24. a7 Ra8 25. b4 Kd7 26. Rdc1! and the K and Rg5 can't easily help stop the pawns. 1-0 [Ryan/Fritz]

After a sharp opening, neither side can convert in the endgame.

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Qc7 8. g3 e5 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Bf4 Rd8 11. Qc1 Nfd7 11... Bd6 is the more popular choice. 12. Bxe5 Nxe5 13. Qe3 f6 14. f4 Be6 15. Nd2 3rkb1r/ppq3pp/2p1bp2/4n3/P4P2/2N1Q1P1/1P1NP2P/R3KB1R b KQk - 0 15 15. Na3 Qa5 16. fxe5 Bc5 17. Qf3 O-O and White's a piece up, but that's the only good thing that can be said about his position. 15... Rxd2! Best. Black's minor piece activity compensates for the material deficit. 16. Qxd2 Nc4 17. Qc2 Bc5 18. Bh3 White decides to give back the material to get rid of the annoying Nc4 and one of Black's 2 Bishops. 18... Bxh3 19. Qe4+ Qe7 20. Qxc4 Bg2 21. O-O-O Bxh1 22. Rxh1 Be3+ 23. Kb1 f5 24. Rd1 g6 25. Rd3 Kf8 26. Qb3 26. Nb5 cxb5 27. Qc3 starts a heavy-piece fight before Black has time to get the Rh8 into play. 26... Bb6 27. Qd1 Ke8 28. Qd2 a5 28... Rf8 getting the R into play via the 6th rank. 29. Qc2 Qc5 30. Qb3 Ke7 31. e4 Qb4 32. Qd1 Coraretti was already very low on time, so Andersen naturally avoided Q trades. 32... Rd8 33. exf5 Rxd3 34. Qxd3 Qd4 35. Qe2+ Qe3 36. Qg4 Qd3+ 36... Bd4 prepares to chop off the N and draw by perpetual check. 37. Ka1 Qxf5 38. Qh4+ Ke6 39. Qxh7 Qf7 40. Qh8 Kd7? 40... Qd7 41. Qb8 Ke6 42. Qe5+ 42. Ne4! (threat Ng5+) and Black has no Q move that does not lose the g-pawn, b-pawn, or get her King mated. 42... Kd7 43. Ne4 Qe6 44. Qg7+ 44. Nc5+!? Bxc5 45. Qxc5 Qe1+ 46. Ka2 Qe6+ 47. Ka3 Qe1 44... Kc8 45. Qf8+ Bd8 46. Nc5? Qe7? 46... Qd5 and ...b6 neatly traps the N. 47. Qxe7 Bxe7 48. Ne4 Bb4 49. Kb1 Kd7 50. Kc2 Ke6 51. Kd3 Kf7 And Black, with the help of the 5-second delay, held the draw. 1/2-1/2 [Ryan/Fritz]

Black's self-destructive pawn push costs him the game.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 cxd4 13. cxd4 Nc6 14. d5 Nb4 15. Bb1 a5 16. a4 Ba6 17. Nf1 Rfc8 18. Ne3 g6 19. Ra3 Nd7 20. Rc3 Nc5 21. axb5 Bxb5 22. Ng4 Qb8 22... f6 23. Be3= 23. Bg5 Qa7 24. Qd2 Na4 25. Rxc8+ Rxc8 26. Bf6 Bxf6 27. Nxf6+ Kg7 28. Ng4 f5?? Inexplicable. Black helps White rip the Kside open. 29. exf5 Qf7? 29... Kh8 30. Qh6+ 30. fxg6 hxg6 31. Qh6+ Kg8 32. Ng5 is a tempo ahead of the game continuation, and forces capitulation after 32... Qg7 33. Nf6+! Qxf6 34. Qh7+ Kf8 35. Ne6+ Ke8 36. Bxg6+ . 30... Kg8 31. fxg6 hxg6 32. Qg5 Kg7 33. Nh6 Qf6 34. Nf5+ Kf7 2r5/5k2/3p1qp1/pb1PpNQ1/nn6/5N1P/1P3PP1/1B2R1K1 w - - 0 35 35. Nxd6+! As Fritz would say, "Demolishes the pawn shield." 35... Qxd6 36. Bxg6+! Kf8 36... Qxg6 37. Nxe5+ 37. Qf5+ Ke7 38. Rxe5+ 38. Nxe5 is much better because it stops the K from fleeing. 38... Kd8 39. Qg5+ Instead of this empty check, 39. Ng5 brings another piece into the attack. 39... Kc7 40. Nd4 Notation stops here. White eventually mated Black with his flag nearly horizontal. 1-0 [Ryan/Fritz]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Ne2 Qb6 8. c3 cxd4 9. Nexd4 a6 10. Bd3 Be7 11. O-O Nxd4 12. cxd4 Nf8 13. a4 Bd7 Black should play 13... a5 before White does. 14. b3 Rc8 15. Bd2 Ng6 16. g3 O-O 17. h4 f6 18. Qb1 Be8?! Allows his N to be trapped, although he takes a couple center pawns down with him. 2r1brk1/1p2b1pp/pq2ppn1/3pP3/P2P1P1P/ 1P1B1NP1/3B4/RQ3RK1 w - - 0 19 19. h5 Nxe5 20. fxe5 fxe5 21. a5 Qd8?? Black surrenders. The pressure on the d4 pawn was the only counterplay he had. 21... Qa7 22. Bxh7+ Kh8 23. Nxe5 Bxh5 This Bishop just gets trapped. 24. Bg6 Rxf1+ 25. Qxf1 Bxg6 26. Nxg6+ Kg8 27. Qh3 Rc6 28. Qh8+ 1-0 [Ryan/Fritz]