{"id":1983,"date":"2024-05-27T07:05:49","date_gmt":"2024-05-27T07:05:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/?p=1983"},"modified":"2024-06-05T03:17:39","modified_gmt":"2024-06-05T03:17:39","slug":"spring-classic-round-1-recap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/index.php\/2024\/05\/27\/spring-classic-round-1-recap\/","title":{"rendered":"Spring Classic: Round 1 Recap"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/20240525_141546-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2045\" srcset=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/20240525_141546-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/20240525_141546-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/20240525_141546-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/20240525_141546-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/20240525_141546-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/20240525_141546-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Great start to the first round of the tournament! Challenging games for all. Scroll down to see a selection of games and commentary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/20240525_141852-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2048\" srcset=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/20240525_141852-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/20240525_141852-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/20240525_141852-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/20240525_141852-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/20240525_141852-1-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/20240525_141852-1-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Standings after round one<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-03-24-30-Caissa-Chess-Software.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"226\" src=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-03-24-30-Caissa-Chess-Software-1024x226.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2007\" style=\"width:703px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-03-24-30-Caissa-Chess-Software-1024x226.png 1024w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-03-24-30-Caissa-Chess-Software-300x66.png 300w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-03-24-30-Caissa-Chess-Software-768x169.png 768w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-03-24-30-Caissa-Chess-Software-1536x339.png 1536w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-03-24-30-Caissa-Chess-Software-1200x265.png 1200w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-03-24-30-Caissa-Chess-Software.png 1881w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Click to enlarge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-03-25-59-Caissa-Chess-Software.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"211\" src=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-03-25-59-Caissa-Chess-Software-1024x211.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2006\" style=\"width:710px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-03-25-59-Caissa-Chess-Software-1024x211.png 1024w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-03-25-59-Caissa-Chess-Software-300x62.png 300w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-03-25-59-Caissa-Chess-Software-768x158.png 768w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-03-25-59-Caissa-Chess-Software-1536x316.png 1536w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-03-25-59-Caissa-Chess-Software-1200x247.png 1200w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-03-25-59-Caissa-Chess-Software.png 1879w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Click to enlarge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-03-26-19-Caissa-Chess-Software.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"228\" src=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-03-26-19-Caissa-Chess-Software-1024x228.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2005\" style=\"width:707px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-03-26-19-Caissa-Chess-Software-1024x228.png 1024w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-03-26-19-Caissa-Chess-Software-300x67.png 300w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-03-26-19-Caissa-Chess-Software-768x171.png 768w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-03-26-19-Caissa-Chess-Software-1536x342.png 1536w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-03-26-19-Caissa-Chess-Software-1200x267.png 1200w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-03-26-19-Caissa-Chess-Software.png 1880w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Click to enlarge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-games-from-round-1\">Select Games from Round 1<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-aioseo-table-of-contents\"><ul><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-joseph-burns-vs-stephane-derveaux\">Joseph Burns vs. Stephane Derveaux<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-tom-nassisi-vs-kareem-khan\">Tom Nassisi vs. Kareem Khan<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-billy-zifchak-vs-peter-graham\">Billy Zifchak vs. Peter Graham<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-damian-bias-vs-jacob-kim\">Damian Bias vs. Jacob Kim<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/lichess.org\/embed\/game\/AZLxGKX3?theme=auto&#038;bg=auto#0\"\nwidth=600 height=397 frameborder=0><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"588\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-01-53-43-Rapid-Chess-\u2022-Damian-Bias-vs-Jacob-Kim.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1987\" srcset=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-01-53-43-Rapid-Chess-\u2022-Damian-Bias-vs-Jacob-Kim.png 588w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-01-53-43-Rapid-Chess-\u2022-Damian-Bias-vs-Jacob-Kim-300x122.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Evaluation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"80\" src=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-01-51-30-Chess-Analysis-Board-and-PGN-Editor.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1986\" srcset=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-01-51-30-Chess-Analysis-Board-and-PGN-Editor.png 500w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-01-51-30-Chess-Analysis-Board-and-PGN-Editor-300x48.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Accuracy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"371\" height=\"203\" src=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-01-50-56-Chess-Analysis-Board-and-PGN-Editor.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1985\" srcset=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-01-50-56-Chess-Analysis-Board-and-PGN-Editor.png 371w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-01-50-56-Chess-Analysis-Board-and-PGN-Editor-300x164.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 371px) 100vw, 371px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Performance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>A relatively balanced game at first that White got the better of and steadily increased the pressure.  Both played a good opening (London met with Indian Defense), but the middle game was a bit reckless with the first blunders and missed opportunities.  White was the one first at risk with <strong>16. Rxb7??<\/strong> which allowed <strong>16&#8230;h5!<\/strong>  This would have trapped the g4 knight and turned the game over to Black significantly. But neither Black nor White was not focused on the kingside at the moment.  <strong>16. h4<\/strong> was the only way to give the knight an out.  Instead Black seemed desperate to simplify after the second error <strong>17&#8230;Rb8<\/strong>?  Ultimately White obliged the precarious piece trades Black designed despite having some effective counterplay options.  Black was right to head to the endgame as play improved for both, but White was confident enough to convert thanks to some significant pawn advantages.  One final attempt to stalemate didn&#8217;t pan out and White won by resignation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-joseph-burns-vs-stephane-derveaux\">Joseph Burns vs. Stephane Derveaux<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/lichess.org\/embed\/game\/f6MURMIo?theme=auto&#038;bg=auto\"\nwidth=600 height=397 frameborder=0><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"588\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-01-53-43-Rapid-Chess-\u2022-Damian-Bias-vs-Jacob-Kim-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1990\" srcset=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-01-53-43-Rapid-Chess-\u2022-Damian-Bias-vs-Jacob-Kim-1.png 588w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-01-53-43-Rapid-Chess-\u2022-Damian-Bias-vs-Jacob-Kim-1-300x122.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Evaluation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"80\" src=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-02-03-33-Chess-Analysis-Board-and-PGN-Editor.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1988\" srcset=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-02-03-33-Chess-Analysis-Board-and-PGN-Editor.png 500w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-02-03-33-Chess-Analysis-Board-and-PGN-Editor-300x48.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Accuracy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"411\" height=\"209\" src=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-02-02-25-Chess-Analysis-Board-and-PGN-Editor.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1991\" srcset=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-02-02-25-Chess-Analysis-Board-and-PGN-Editor.png 411w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-02-02-25-Chess-Analysis-Board-and-PGN-Editor-300x153.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 411px) 100vw, 411px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Performance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>A tough game lost by a mistake. Black missed a chance to get ahead early with move 6 in this Rossolimo Sicilian.  <strong>6&#8230;Nxc3! <\/strong>would have removed the defender for the b5 bishop while winning a tempo on the queen while disrupting White&#8217;s plans significantly.  A relatively hard to see idea so early on when the focus is more on position but <strong>6&#8230;Nc7?<\/strong> turned out to be too passive. Funny enough, White did something similar on the very next move pulling the bishop back instead of trading in a similar fashion.  The beginning of the end came with <strong>13&#8230;f6??<\/strong> Black was hyper focused on the e5 pawn and wanted it out of there but this allowed <strong>14. Qh5+<\/strong>! Addressing e5 became a self fulfilling prophecy and all of Black&#8217;s worst fears were realized when that pawn made its way to the f file and promoted.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-tom-nassisi-vs-kareem-khan\"> Tom Nassisi vs. Kareem Khan<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/lichess.org\/embed\/game\/NiFDN9BI?theme=auto&#038;bg=auto\"\nwidth=600 height=397 frameborder=0><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"588\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-02-28-04-Rapid-Chess-\u2022-Tom-Nassisi-vs-Kareem-Khan.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1997\" srcset=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-02-28-04-Rapid-Chess-\u2022-Tom-Nassisi-vs-Kareem-Khan.png 588w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-02-28-04-Rapid-Chess-\u2022-Tom-Nassisi-vs-Kareem-Khan-300x122.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Evaluation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"80\" src=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-02-23-06-Chess-Analysis-Board-and-PGN-Editor.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1995\" srcset=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-02-23-06-Chess-Analysis-Board-and-PGN-Editor.png 500w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-02-23-06-Chess-Analysis-Board-and-PGN-Editor-300x48.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Accuracy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"408\" height=\"209\" src=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-02-23-17-Chess-Analysis-Board-and-PGN-Editor.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1994\" srcset=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-02-23-17-Chess-Analysis-Board-and-PGN-Editor.png 408w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-02-23-17-Chess-Analysis-Board-and-PGN-Editor-300x154.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 408px) 100vw, 408px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Performance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>This was a wild game with lots of back and forth favoring Black until Black allowed a winning attack.  <strong>17&#8230;N37<\/strong>?? to block the rook check was ill advised pinning the only material advantage and giving White time to create the rook battery.  Castling was also shortsighted as it disregarded the king as an effective defender of the knight so<strong> Kd7<\/strong> was actually preferable.  The endgame started evenly but White managed to shoulder Black&#8217;s king and convert for the win. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-billy-zifchak-vs-peter-graham\">Billy Zifchak vs. Peter Graham<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/lichess.org\/embed\/game\/sc7Icjrh?theme=auto&#038;bg=auto#15\"\nwidth=600 height=397 frameborder=0><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"588\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-02-56-34-Rapid-Chess-\u2022-Billy-Zifchak-vs-Peter-Graham.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1998\" srcset=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-02-56-34-Rapid-Chess-\u2022-Billy-Zifchak-vs-Peter-Graham.png 588w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-02-56-34-Rapid-Chess-\u2022-Billy-Zifchak-vs-Peter-Graham-300x122.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Evaluation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"80\" src=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-02-54-56-Chess-Analysis-Board-and-PGN-Editor.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-02-54-56-Chess-Analysis-Board-and-PGN-Editor.png 500w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-02-54-56-Chess-Analysis-Board-and-PGN-Editor-300x48.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Accuracy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"402\" height=\"201\" src=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-02-55-04-Chess-Analysis-Board-and-PGN-Editor.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1999\" srcset=\"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-02-55-04-Chess-Analysis-Board-and-PGN-Editor.png 402w, https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-27-at-02-55-04-Chess-Analysis-Board-and-PGN-Editor-300x150.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 402px) 100vw, 402px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Performance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>This was was lost soon after the opening for White.  White tried to increase offensive pressure on the d4 square with too few attackers instead of neutralizing Black&#8217;s attackers, for example<strong> 8. h3?! <\/strong> where <strong>8. Qa4! <\/strong>pinning the knight would have been much better as b5 was not possible impeded by the bishop. Black&#8217;s pawns tied things up on the dark squares and White was too distracted by the queenside pressure and fell too far behind to capitalize on the opportunities they had tried to create in the center.  One such tactic that was hard to see: After <strong>19. Bd5 Rab8<\/strong> White had the simple <strong>20. e5!<\/strong> After the obligatory-or face a discovered check-<strong>20&#8230;dxe5<\/strong> there was <strong>21. Bxf2!<\/strong> luring the king but also winning a pawn, cracking open the center, and preparing to take the knight while delivering check with <strong>Rxd7+!<\/strong> But Black expertly used rooks, pawns, and tempo to keep White on their heels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Great start to the first round of the tournament! Challenging games for all. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1983","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-recent"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1983","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1983"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1983\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2166,"href":"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1983\/revisions\/2166"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1983"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1983"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/piermontchess.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1983"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}