Long Live the King U1800B

Breaking through ...

LennyH versus Qualm (Round 3)

After some pressure by White in a Caro-Kann, Black has simplified into a basic K&P endgame. Before Black's last move,  28...g6, the position was still a theoretical draw, but the winning chances are on the White side. White has a space advantage on the K side, which creates chances. Black's last move, 28...g6 is a losing move! I missed the opportunity and played 29. Ke2 with the idea of centralizing the King and keeping up the pressure. After 29...gxh5 30. gxh5, the opportunity is lost and the game ended in a draw later on.

White's winning move in this position is 29 g5! Even though both white pawns are
hanging, Black can't stop the breakthrough: If 29...gxh5, then 30. gxh6 and
White wins the pawn race. If 29...hxg5, then 30. h6 and again, the h pawn
queens. The Black King is one square away from getting there with 29...Kd8 -
30. gxh6 gets in first.

Important lesson - space creates pawn break opportunities in the endgame. I don't think I'll forget this lesson soon!  ~ Len

Got the match point in Round 1!

Lenny secured a draw, then I grabbed the win against Juan73 to get us 2 1/2 points and the first match point in the tournament!

The diagram shows a swet position for me. I just moved c3, letting Mr. Push & Pry attack the Queen, and next move, open up White's Kingside. Of course, the endgame was right around the corner and my protected passed pawn at d5 became my new best friend! Click on the diagram to see a larger image.

Looking forward to Ed's game - just icing at this point ... but I love icing!

Off to a great start!

Michael (Wheels) played the first game of the tournament (as well as our team) and got us our first win (sure to be followed by many more) and showed us a wonderfully executed endgame. Lenny and Sean play today and hopefully can follow in Michael's footsteps!

Here we come!

Here is the Long Live the King U1800B lineup:

edborowski	2017	edborowski@gmail.com
LennyH	1917	clheckel@shaw.ca
Wheels	1663	ICCWheels@Comcast.net
sean	1580	sean.keys@gmail.com
AlPearson	1398	charles_almond_pearson@msn.com

Some bio info:

• Len - (or Lenny as my parents and old school friends still call me!) When I say I have rust on my game, it’s OLD rust. I last played seriously in high school in the 1970’s. I’ve been getting back into chess recently after that long layoff and have been taking lessons from Dan Heisman, who recommended that I join the 4545 league. Hope you’ll be easy on me as I get back into ‘tournament shape’. I’m a Canadian, living in Calgary Alberta (that’s Mountain Time, two hours later than ICC time), married with two boys
• Sean - I first started playing chess in my 20s when I got an old RadioShack chess computer. Overconfident, I tried level 3 and got crushed. Down to level one and that started my on again/off again relationship. About two years ago the romance was rekindled and I finally came to the conclusion that you have to play humans (even if through a computer interface). Been having fun ever since. I'm a Canadian (though born in England and lived all over the U.S. and Canada), delightfully married, with four children (all at home) ranging in age from 3 to 21! Yikes. Also interested in special effect make-up, guitar (classical and electric) and close-up magic. An excessive reader as well. Profession? An actuary specializing in software development! True nerd.