reetings from snowy Greeley, Colorado, where I am currently playing in the 2013 Colorado Class Championship, March 23-24, 2013.

 

   In the position on the right (from my second round game) it is Black to move. 

 

   Answer below.

 

   We are getting hit with a spring snowstorm here in Colorado, but that didn't stop 75 chess players from playing in the Colorado Class tournament this weekend in Greeley, Colorado (North East of Denver).

 

   Some of you may have seen the soccer (football/fútbol) game that was held on Friday night between the USA and Costa Rica in Denver.  It was literally played in a blizzard.

 

   You can see video here: http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/usa/story/costa-rica-plans-to-file-official-protest-with-fifa-following-snowy-loss-to-united-states-032313.

 

   I am guessing that the Costa Rica players are not used to snow storms!  

 

   I was originally planning on driving up from Colorado Springs to Greeley on Saturday morning, but after watching the weather, I decided that I had better go up on Friday night, and I am glad that I did. 

 

   Randy Reynolds, the tournament director said that there would have been over 80 players if not for the snow.  My friend Jeff Baffo made it within 10 miles of the tournament, but had to turn around because the highway was shut down with accidents, and had to withdraw.

 

   The playing location is beautiful.  One of the nicest that I have ever been at in Colorado.  It is a huge ballroom on the University of Northern Colorado campus.  It is on the third floor, and has a really nice view.  The college students are on Spring Break, so we were able to get the room.  

 

   The tournament is a class tournament, meaning players only play people in their section.  So class "D" players (1200-1400) only play other "D" players, "C" players (1400-1600) only play "C" players, etc.

 

   The winner of each section will represent Colorado in a class tournament against New Mexico.  So that makes it extra fun.  This year that match will be held in New Mexico.

 

   There was a simul on Friday night with IM Keaton Kiewra, and the Colorado Blitz Championship was also held on Friday night.

 

   The Greeley newspaper, The Tribune, wrote a nice article about the tournament, which you can read here (thanks to Shirley Herman, who posted this on facebook), http://www.greeleytribune.com/news/5653776-113/chess-colorado-festival-northern.

 

   I started off the tournament with one draw and one win in the "B" section, with two more games to go today (Sunday).   I had a 8 game winning streak coming into the tournament, which was snapped after the draw :)

[Event "2013 Colorado Class Championship"]
[Site "Greeley, CO"]
[Date "2013.03.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Barkemeyer, Brady"]
[Black "Brennan, Tim"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "1626"]
[BlackElo "1755"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. e3 d5 3. a3 Bf5 4. c4 c6 5. c5 Nbd7 6. Nf3 Qc7 7. Bd3 Bxd3 8. Qxd3
e5 9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. dxe5 Qxe5 11. Qd4 Qg5 12. O-O Ne4 13. b4 Be7 14. Qd1 Bf6
15. Ra2 Qg6 16. Bb2 O-O 17. Nd2 Rae8 18. Nxe4 Rxe4 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 20. Rd2 Rfe8
21. Qa1 Qh6 22. Rd4 f5 23. Rfd1 f4 24. Rxe4 Rxe4 25. exf4 Qxf4 26. Qc1 Qe5 27.
Qa1 d4 28. g3 Qd5 29. f3 Re2 30. Qxd4 Re1+ 31. Kf2 Rxd1 32. Qe3 Qa2+ 33. Qe2
Rd2 34. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 35. Kg1 Qe2 36. a4 Qxf3 37. b5 cxb5 38. axb5 Qd5 39. b6 axb6
40. cxb6 Qc5+ 41. Kh1 Qxb6 42. g4 Qf6 43. h4 b5 44. Kg2 b4 45. Kg3 b3 46. Kg2
Qxh4 47. Kf3 b2 48. Kg2 Qxg4+ 49. Kf2 b1=Q 50. Ke3 Qbe4+ 51. Kf2 Qgg2# 0-1

   Answer:

   Deep Rybka gave 30...Re1+!! a double exclam.  The White Rook is overloaded from taking the Rook because of 31. Rxe1 Qxd4 and if the King moves, which is what happened in the game 31. Kf2 Rxd1 with an X-ray attack/defense winning the rook.  The Black rook is defended through the White Queen.

 

   This is a good tactic to know, and happens fairly often, and is easy to miss.

 

   Happy Tactics!

 

   Your Friend,