Tactics Time Newsletter: Millionaire Open

Published: Mon, 10/13/14

Newsletter Issue Tactics Time Newsletter Millionaire Open Tactics Time 
Millionaire Open

They are working so hard to put on a world class event. ~ Susan Polgar on the work of Maurice Ashley and Amy Lee on the Millionaire Chess Open

chess tactics position
 
 
T
 
 
 
his position comes from my game against Ed Yetman (1846), Round 5, Millionaire Chess Open, October 11, 2014, Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, Nevada.
 
   Black to move
 
   Answer below.
 
   I just finished playing in the Millionaire Chess Open!  http://millionairechess.com/
 
   This has been an amazing event!  I have so many good memories!
 
   The event started off Thursday morning with a free group breakfast buffet which was really great.  They even had a comedian to entertain the crowd.  It was a very tough crowd (not a lot of laughter), with a bunch of nervous and anxious completely sober chess players.  I kind of felt bad for the comedian, but there was one woman in the crowd who was laughing hysterically at his jokes, which I think he appreciated.
 
   The first round was a little slow to start.  They had TSA style security with metal detectors that everyone had to go through in order to get into the playing area.  
 

 
   You even had to pass through metal detectors to go to the bathroom!
 
   No electronic devices were allowed in the playing area.  No phones, cameras, monrois, etc.  This was to prevent any kind of cheating. 
 
   Everything was provided.  Clocks and sets.  The sets were really nice, with purple and white squares.  Everything had a beautiful purple and white theme.
 
 
 
   After the first round, all of the other rounds started on time - literally to the second!  
 
   The competition was really stiff, but at the same time all of my opponents were super nice and friendly.  
 
   In round 3 I played Peter Moss.  The pairings were posted early on Friday morning, and after the game Peter told me he had spent three hours playing through my games to get an idea of my playing style!  He said he wished he had my tactical ability, which was really nice.  He gave me a good pep talk as well, as I got off to a rough start with 1 win and 2 losses.
 
   In round 6 I played Benjamin Tancinco, who told me after the game that he had been subscribed to my newsletter for over a year, so he felt like he knew me!  I thought that was really cool.  We had a fun game where I won a pawn in the opening, but couldn't figure out a way to win, and ended up in a draw.  This has unfortunately been a theme in my games lately.  I win some kind of material with a tactic, and then either end up losing or drawing the game (see the debacle with Ed that is today's puzzle for a perfect example!)  
 
   I ran into some old chess friends and people I have played at various tournaments.  Some I have not seen for years, like Leonardo Sotaridona who used to live in Denver ten years ago, then moved to North Carolina.
 
   The Planet Hollywood was a really great place to play.  The casino has a really fun atmosphere to it.  It is a great location, right near famous casinos like the Bellagio, Caesar's Palace, Paris, etc.  It is much nicer than some of the places I have played in Nevada in the past (like the Riveria for the National Open, or the (gasp) Sands in Reno which is a total dump lol).
 
   I am not sure who all the winners are yet, because the tournament is still going on.  They have a "Millionaire Monday" with all of the playoffs.  You can watch http://millionairechess.com/ for all of the final standings.
 
   The organizers did a REALLY amazing job with this tournament.  They should be congratulated for their vision and hard work!  
 
 
   Here is the game in PGN
 
[Event "Millionaire Chess Open"]
[Site "Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, NV"]
[Date "2014.10.11"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Brennan, Tim"]
[Black "Yetman, Ed"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "1929"]
[BlackElo "1846"]
[PlyCount "95"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. e3 Be7 5. Bd3 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. Ne5 Ne4 8. Bxe7
Qxe7 9. c3 Nd7 10. Nxd7 Bxd7 11. Nd2 e5 12. O-O Nxd2 13. Qxd2 e4 14. Be2 f5 15.
c4 c6 16. f4 exf3 17. Rxf3 dxc4 18. Bxc4+ Kh8 19. Raf1 Rad8 20. Bd3 Qg5 21. Qf2
Be6 22. b3 Rfe8 23. Bxf5 Bxf5 24. Rxf5 Qe7 25. Rf7 Qb4 26. Qg3 Rg8 27. Rc7 Rd5
28. h4 Qd6 29. Qxd6 Rxd6 30. Rff7 b5 31. Rxa7 Re6 32. Kf2 Rge8 33. Rxg7 Rxe3
34. Rh7+ Kg8 35. Rag7+ Kf8 36. Rg6 Re2+ 37. Kg1 Rxa2 38. Rxc6 Kg8 39. Rhxh6
Ree2 40. Rhg6+ Kh7 41. h5 Kh8 42. Rc7 b4 43. Rb7 Rab2 44. Rg3 Re1+ 45. Kh2 Rh1+
46. Kxh1 Rb1+ 47. Kh2 Rh1+ 48. Kxh1 1/2-1/2

 
   You can play through this game here: http://www.viewchess.com/cbreader/2014/10/12/Game1342034995.html
 
 
   Answer:
 
   When Ed played 44...Re1+ I didn't think anything of it, and played the only legal move 45.Kh2.  But when he played 45...Rh1+! I laughed out loud, realizing I had just been swindled out of a "easy" win and into a draw.  I smiled, because I love a good tactic, even when I am on the receiving end.  I played it out, 46. Kxh1 Rb1+ 47.Kh2 Rh1+ 48.Kxh1 Stalemate! 
 
   Ed and I went over the game.  He knows A LOT about 2 rook endgames, and taught me some good tips. He is from Tucson, and said that he is known for these types of swindles, which I have no trouble believing!
 
 
   Happy Tactics!
 
   Your Friend,
 
 
 
 
Tactics Time
 
     Like Tactics Time on Facebook.
     Follow TacticsTime on Twitter!Follow Tactics Time on Twitter.
     Check out the Tactics Time BlogCheck out the Tactics Time Blog.
     Check out the Tactics Time eBookRead the Tactics Time Kindle eBook.
     If you know someone who could benefit from this, please feel free to forward it to them!
 
     Not a subscriber yet?  Like what you read? 
     Sign up to get future issues delivered straight to you at http://tacticstime.com!  
 
     © Copyright 2011-2014 Timothy Brennan, All Rights Reserved.
Tactics Time   |   Podcasts   |   Product Information   |   101 Tactical Tips Unsubscribe to this newsletter