[imagefield_assist|fid=8519|preset=frontpage_200x200|lightbox=true|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=200]Round 4: Finegold loses two in a row!
I have not lost two USCF rated games in a row in years. Also, I have not lost with white since November 2008. Also, The Lions and Rams both won! What a day!
I was white against Danny Rensch, and was not able to get any advantage. I was outplayed most of the game, missing most of the key ideas and tactics. When we reached move 35 or so, it was time to resign, but, I made it to move 40, and Rybka says I am -9 or so.....then.... Danny's technique let him down, and I escaped to a double rook ending with only 1 pawn minus.
It was touch and go, but, finally, after 4.5 hours of arduous defense I reached a probably drawn Rook and 2 versus Rook and 1 pawn ending, and promptly made a simple blunder losing immediately! Oh well.
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There was a lot of excitement today, as Darwin Yang won again, to get back up to 2-2 and good chances for an IM norm. 13-year-old Darwin started 0-2, but beating me in round 3 may start a comeback for the youngster.
I am black against IM Dean Ippolito in round 5. Dean needs +3 for a GM norm, and stands at +1.
Standings After Round 4:
1. Bykhovsky 3.0
2-5. Antal, Diamant, Ippolito, Smith 2.5
6-7. Kuljasevic, Yang 2.0
8-10. Finegold, Krush, Rensch 1.0
Round 5: Confusion reigns as Finegold wins!
I won, but it wasn't pretty. It was exciting for the spectators, but not easy for the players, as I sacrificed first an exchange, then a piece, and ended up with three connected passed center pawns for a rook. Rybka actually thinks black is fine if I play 20...Nf8 (then Ne6), which I rejected during the game, thinking the passed pawns was my best chance. I was probably losing, then it was certainly a draw, but in time trouble, Dean made a terrible blunder (35.Rf1??) when almost any other rook move draws. It seems likely the paradoxical move 31.Ra1! may win, although, this computeresque move was not considered by either player during the game. A tough game for Dean, who was hoping to win, and be close to a GM norm, with +2 after 5 rounds (GM norm is +3).
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Darwin Yang won again (against GM Diamant) to stand +1 and only needs 1 out of 4 for an IM norm. He also could get a GM norm with 3-1. Amazing after his 0-2 start! Darwin plays GM Davorin Kuljasevic in round 6. Davorin has 5 draws thus far, and Darwin has 5 decisive games, so something has to give.
Irina Krush, as usual, had one of the longest games of the round, but she was only able to draw Danny Rensch, although it looked very promising for Irina throughout.
Standings After Round 5:
1. Bykhovsky 3.5
2-4. Antal, Smith, Yang 3.0
5-7. Kuljasevic, Diamant, Ippolito 2.5
8. Finegold 2.0
9-10. Krush, Rensch 1.5
Round 6 pairings:
Smith - Bykhovsky
Finegold - Antal
Krush - Ippolito
Diamant - Rensch
Kuljasevic - Yang
Links to pics and videos:
http://susanpolgar.blogspot.com/2010/11/awesome-video-of-dean-ippolito-v...
