MY MANILA CHESS JOURNEY PART II - MY MATCH WITH PULSAR, THE BW CHAMP

This is a continuation of my Manila Chess journey. To read part I just click
http://metrolirot.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-manila-chess-journey-part-i-sm.html


( pulsar vs. metrolirot match- Jan.20,2012 Kamayan-Saisaki restaurant
4th floor SM Megamall )


After being jolted by a brilliant move in game 1, I proceeded with caution in my 2nd game with Pulsar. I essayed my pet King's Indian Defense against pulsar's d4 opening.

2nd game
White: Pulsar
Black: Metrolirot

King's indian Defense Panno variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. g3 d6 6. Bg2 Nc6
7. O-O a6 8. d5 Na5 9. Qd3?!

Better is 9.Nd2

9...c5



Pulsar blundered with 10.b3? and after 10...Bf5! White's queen has
no good retreat square because of the discovered pin along the a1-
h8 diagonal. Then came 11.e4 Nxe4! after which Black emerged with a
pawn and quality up. I then was able to consolidate my advantage
and won game 2 to tie the match.





In the 3rd and deciding game, I played white and Pulsar essayed the
solid French Defense in response to my e4 opening. I surprised him
by using a seldom used line in the Advance variation. The game became
messy as black opted to catle queenside.

3rd game
White: Metrolirot
Black: Pulsar
French Defense Advance variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bd3 Qb6 6.O-O cxd4 7.Re1 Bd7
8.a3 f6 9.b5 fxe5





10.Nxe5?

Houdini suggests 10.b5! and If the black knight retreats, then white's
knight will take on e5 with a firm control of that square. If 10...e4
11.bxc6 bxc6 12.Ne5 exd3 13.Qh5+ with slight advantage for white.

10...Nf6?

Black returns the favor. 10...Nxe5! 11.Rxe5 Bd6! with advantage for
black as he is now the one in firm control of the vital e5 square.

11.Bf4!

Prophylaxis. This is the theory of over protecting the e5 square as
championed by Aaron Nimzowitch. The game has now revolved on who
can control the vital e5 square.


11... O-O-O 12.Nd2 Nxe5 13.Bxe5 Bd6 14.Nf3 Ng4 15.Bxd4 Oc7 16.Bxa7 e5?

Black could have grabbed the advantage with 16...Bxh2+ 17. Kf1 Rhf8.
However, the position is still problematic for white due to black's
central pawns at e5 and d5. The immediate threat is 17...e4 forking
white's bishop and knight plus the threat to take on h2 is still
there. How is white to proceed?



17.c4!

And Black's proud center pawns are suddenly contained.

17... d4

(If 17...e4 18. cxd5! and the open c file will posed a big problem
for black)

18.c5 Be7 19.b5!

White's pawnstorm in the queenside is unstoppable. If 19...Bxc5
20.Bxc5 Qxc5 21.Rc1 and black losses his queen.



19...Rhf8 20.c6! bxc6 21.b6!



Black is now lost as he has no way of preventing the white
bishop's check on a6.

21...Qb7 22.Qa4 c5 23.Qa5 Rxf3 21.gxf3

Black resigns 1-0

With this win, I won the friendly match 2-1. The games were full
of struggle and excitement. Pulsar"s ... Rd2 in game 1 was
a brilliant stroke. I got lucky in game 2 with pulsar's early
blunder. Game 3 was really a struggle with the advantage changing
from time to time. It was an honor to play pulsar in a frienly match
and it would not be possible if not for the accomodation and warm
welcome provided by the gracious host Atty. nanobrain. Special
mention also goes to epistle, the sheriff, and Atty. Roy Hirang.

You can replay the 3rd game here.


To be continued....