50th National Championship of Latvia 2002.     (© G.Valneris & homepage, 2003, first published „Hoofdlijn”.)

G.Valneris (LV) - K.Alexeev (LV)

23. … 0913.

White threatened by 24. 2722 17:30 25. 35:04×. Still black had an interesting, but not solving its problems, move: 23. … 0914?! 24. 4742! [24. 2722? 17:30 25. 35:02 0308! 26. 02:28 1520 27. 26:17 11:31 28. 4136 3137 29. 32:41 1419=] and if black plays 24. … 2328 25. 33:22 17:28 26. 26:17 11:31 27. 32:23 19:28 28. 37:26 it can lose its forwarded piece on 28.

24. 4439 0712 25. 3329! 1218 26. 4742 1924(?).

It’s really bad position for black. After the text move black only had to defend against threats and it anyway lead to a lost position. But the continuation 26. … 1014?! [26. … 1520? 27. 2722! 18:27 {27. … 17:28 28. 26:17 11:22 29. 3933 28:30 30. 35:04×}28. 29:09 03:14 29. 3933 and white should win] 27. 3530 1520 [27. … 0309? is of no use, since 28. 3933 with a threat 29. 3024 19:28 30 5044 23:34 31. 32:03 21:32 32. 38:27×, but if black tries 28. … 1822 29. 29:18 22:31 30. 4136 13:22 31. 36:18 0813 32. 3429 13:22 33. 2924 0913 34. 3328 22:33 35. 38:29×] 28. 3833 0510 [28. … 2025? 29. 2924 0812 30. 3328 0308 31. 2420 0510 32. 20:09 13:04 33. 3429 25:34 34. 39:30 23:25 35. 2822 17:28 36. 32:05×] 29. 4238 1015! [29. … 0309? 30. 2722! 18:27 {30. … 17:28 31. 26:17 11:22 32. 3024 19:30 33. 34:25 23:34 34. 32:03×} 31. 29:18 13:22 32. 3024 20:40 33. 3934 40:29 34. 33:15 with a winning position for white] and now there are two good continuations for white, although I don’t see exactly how to win:
a) 30. 3025 [30.2722? 17:28 31. 33:22? 18:27 32. 29:09 2024 33. 09:29 2731 34. 26:17 31:35 black wins a piece.] 30. … 1924 31. 4842 1419 [Otherwise 32. 2722×, and in case of 31. … 0309? 32. 3430 24:35 33. 3328 23:34 34. 39:30 35:24 35. 2822 17:28 36. 32:03×] 32. 25:14 19:10 33. 29:20 15:24 34. 5044 a promising position for white.
b) 29. 5044 0309 [29. … 2025? 30. 3024 19:30 31. 2722 18:27 {31. … 17:28 32. 33:22 18:27 33. 29:20 15:24 34. 26:17 11:22 35. 32:21 16:27 36. 4842! And white wins a piece} 32. 29:20 15:24 33. 4440 and white has a perspective position]
30. 3025 2024 [30. … 1924? 31. 3430 24:35 32. 3328etc×; 30. … 1822? 31. 27:18 23:12 32. 3228, 33. 4440 and white should win.] 31. 29:20 15:24 32. 4842 and this position should be analysed for a victory [I went through a little bit of 32. 4136 2429 33. 33:24 19:30 34. 3833 1319 35. 3731 1924 36. 3228 23:32 37. 27:38 1823 38. 4842 {38. 3832? 2329 39. 34:23 1722 40. 26:28 0812 41. 25:34 1218 42. 23:12 1117 43. 12:21 16:38 44. 3934=} 38. … 2127! 39. 31:22 17:28 40. 33:22 2429 41. 4440 3035etc.

 27. 29:20 15:24 28. 3933 1014.

Black sets a trap 29. 5044? 2429! 30. 33:24 1420 31. 24:15 0510 32. 15:04 1319 33. 04:22 17:28 34. 26:17 11:31 35. 37:26 28:46×.

29. 4136 1319 30. 3430 1420 31. 4339 0813.

If 31. … 2025 32. 2722 25:43 33. 22:02 4349 34. 5044 49:40 35. 35:44 0308 36. 02:13 19:08 37. 3328 2329 38. 2822×.

32. 3025 0308 33. 25:14 19:10 34. 3934.

Only now black notices the idea of the final position white had been aiming at: 35. 3429 23:34 36. 2722 17:39 37. 26:17 11:22 38. 3833 39:28 39. 32:03×.

34. … 2429 35. 33:24 0812 36. 3429 23:34 37. 2419 13:24 38. 2722 18:27 39. 3731. 2-0

R.Tomass (LV) - V.Bozhenkov (LV)

40. 4035?.

Tomass-the elder has been concentrating for a draw in this game, thus he didn’t pay attention to the subtle difference of black moves. Bozhenkov had earlier to play … 2127. Now his position is completely lost: 40.3329! and now:
a) 40. … 2127 41. 2621 17:26 42. 3731 26:37 43. 42:22 18:27 44. 29:20×
b) 40. … 1419 41. 2520!! 15:33 42. 38:29 and in spite of a piece advantage black has no chance at all
c) 40. … 1319 41. 3731 1520 42. 4035 1924 [42. … 2328 43. 3833 28:30 44. 35:22 17:28 45. 26:08×] 43. 3832 24:33 44. 3227 21:32 45. 4238 33:42 46. 48:10×
d) 40. … 1520 41. 4035 1419 [41. … 2328 42. 3430 1822 43. 3833 28:39 44. 4843 39:48 45. 4238 48:31 46. 36:09 14:03 47. 25:14×] 42. 25:14 19:10 43. 3530 1014 44. 3024 2328 45. 3832 and black loses a piece.
e) 40. … 2328 41. 2924 1822 [1) 41. … 1419 42. 3429 19:30 43. 25:34 1822 44. 4035 {44. 3832?? 2227 45. 32:23 2731 46. 36:27 21:41×}44. … 1318 45. 2924 2127 46. 3732 etc×;; 2) 41. … 1823 42. 4035 1419 43. 3430 2832 {43. … 1218 44. 3832 2833 45. 4843 and there are no moves, because of simple combinations} 44. 37:28 23:43 45. 48:39 2127 46. 2520 2732 47. 3025 19:30 48. 25:34 and white break through the wing.] Now white can play for a winning position after 42. 4035 2127 43. 3732 28:37 44. 42:31 1218 45. 3429 1319 46. 24:13 18:09 47. 2924 0913 48. 4843etc white wins.

40. … 2127 41. 3329 1722 42. 3731 1117 43. 2924 2328.

After combination 43. … 2329 44. 24:33 2732 45. 38:27 1420 46. 25:14 1621 47. 27:16 1319 48. 14:23 18:47 black can’t win.

44. 4237 1319 45. 24:13 18:09 46. 3732 28:37 47. 31:42 2228 48. 4237 1218 49. 3731 1822 50. 4843 0913 51. 4339 1318 52. 3429 1419 53. 3933 28:39 54. 3832 27:38 55. 2924 19:30 56. 25:32 1520 57. 3530 1823. 1-1

M.Juhnevich (LV) – V.Tomass (LV)

26. … 2328?.

Positional mistake . Now, instead of playing for advantage after 26. … 1722 etc, the forwarded black piece on 28 lies under permanent attack.

27. 33:22 17:28 28. 3430 1923 29. 3833 1217 30. 33:22 17:28 31. 4338 0812 32. 4943 1520.

Black is fixed on a combination in case of 33. 3833? 1116! 34. 33:22 2328 35. 22:33 1419 36. 25:23 18:49×.

33. 3934 1319.

The active move 33. … 1419 34. 25:14 09:20? was impossible, because of 35. 3833! 28:39 36. 3025 39:30 37. 35:15×.

34. 3429 23:34 35. 30:39.

White has set a trap: 35. … 1823? 36. 3732 28:37 37. 42:31 26:37 38. 4842 37:48 39. 3934 48:30 40. 35:04×.

35. … 1923.

Black still hopes for the same combination: 36. 3833? 0913 37. 33:22 2328 38. 22:33 1419 39. 25:23 18:49×.

36. 3934 2024(?).

Black should have played more flexible, although white has initiative: 36. … 1419 37. 25:14 19:10 38. 4339 0913 39. 3833 1217 40. 33:22 17:28 41. 4238 1117 42. 2721 [42. 3832 1722 43. 2721 26:17 44. 4843 2227 45. 32:12 18:07=] 42. … 1014 43. 21:12 18:07 and in case of 44. 3833 change two by two=.

37. 4339.

37. … 0913?.

The final mistake and a losing move. The only draw was after 37. … 1420!! 38. 25:14 09:20 and now:
a) 39. 3833? 1217! 40. 33:13 1722 41. 27:29 24:44etc.
b) 39. 4741? 1217 [A threat … 1822×] 40. 2721 1822! 41. 21:12 2631 42. 37:26 1117 43. 12:21 2227 44. 21:32 28:46etc.
c) 39. 3430! 0308 40. 30:19 23:14 41. 3833 1823 42. 33:22 1217 and white can’t win either after 1) 43. 2721 17:28 44. 2116 1117 45. 3731 [45. 4238 1419 46. 3832 2631etc] 45. … 26:37 46. 42:31 1419 47. 3126 2833 48. 39:28 23:32= or 2) 43. 4238 17:28 44. 3833 0812 45. 33:22 1217 46. 4742 17:28 47. 4238 2329 48. 3934 29:40 49. 35:44 2024 50. 3832 2833 51. 4843 2631 52. 27:36 3338etc=.

38. 3833 1217 39. 33:22 17:28 40. 4238 2429.

After 40. … 1117 primitively: 41. 3833 1722 42. 3430 22:42 43. 30:10×.

41. 4842 29:40 42. 35:44 0308.

42. … 1117 43. 2722 18:27 44. 3832 27:38 45. 42:11×.

43. 3833 0812 44. 33:22 1419 45. 4238 1924 46. 4440 1116 47. 4035 1217 48. 22:11 16:07 49. 3732 0712 50. 3933 1319 51. 3328 2329 52. 3833 29:38 53. 32:43 1823 54. 2822 2329 55. 4339 1923 56. 3934 29:40 57. 35:44 2429 58. 4439 1217 59. 22:11 2328.  2-0

Z.Golubeva (LV) – R.Misans (LV)

41. 3227?.

A grave positional mistake. This game was played separately, since it was a postponed game of the 2nd round. Obviously Golubeva had been attempting for an advantage, but unsuccessfully. Now, probably already at the time trouble zone white seeing that a plan 41. 3631? 1117 42. 3127 [ 42. 3328 1822 43. 2621 22:44 44. 20:07 0611 45. 07:16 4450 etc] 42. … 1722 43. 2621 22:31 44. 3228 23:32 45. 38:36 1923!etc is doubtful chooses some not properly checked alternative.
White had to maintain her position flexible: 41. 2621! 1117 [41. … 1116 42. 3328 16:27 43. 32:21 23:32 44. 38:27 and black doesn’t have control over its right wing in spite of two white inactive pieces 25, 35.] 42. 2116 1722 43. 3228 etc.

41. … 0308!.

This is excellent move from a young player, although he is used to be superficial and quick in games. Now a cluster of white pieces: 33; 38; 39; 43 is paralysed, because if 42. 3832? 2328 43. 32:14 1319 44. 14:23 18:49×.

42. 3631(?).

A perilous move. I would have preferred 42. 2621(!) 1116! 
a) 42. … 1117 43. 2116 1721 {After 43. … 1722 44. 3832 22:31 45. 36:27 the combination … 2328 doesn’t work} 44. 3832! And the combination 1) 44. … 2430 45. 25:34! {45. 35:24 19:30 46. 25:34 2328 47. 33:22 0611 48. 16:07 12:01 49. 27:16 18:49×} 45. … 2329 46. 34:14 1319 47. 14:23 18:49 doesn’t work, because of 48. 2722! 49:04 49. 16:27 04:31 50. 36:27=. After 2) 44. … 2126? 45. 1611 06:17 46. 3631 26:28 47. 33:11etc. 
b) 42. … 2328 43. 33:22 1117 44. 22:11 06:26 45. 3832 1923 46. 4338 1319 and, for example, 47. 3833 0813 48. 3328 2329 49. 3934 etc.] 43. 2722! 
1) 43. 3832? 2328 44. 32:14 1319 45. 14:23 18:49×; 
2) 43. 3631? 0611 44. 3126 1117 45. 2722 {45. 3832 1722 46. 4338 22:31 47. 26:37 16:27 48. 32:21 2328 49. 33:22 18:16 with one piece advantage for black.}45. … 16:27! 46. 22:11 1217 47. 11:31 2328 48. 33:22 18:36 etc×] 43. … 16:27 44. 22:31 0611 45. 3328! [45. 3126? 2328 46. 33:22 18:27 47. 3833 1218 with a very bad position for white, even taking into account 48. 3530 24:35 49. 3329 etc; 45. 3127? 1116! And no moves for white, since after 46. 3631 1621 47. 27:16 2328 48. 33:22 18:36 49. 1611 1217 50. 11:22 3641×, and after 46. 3832 the same combination 46. … 2328, 47. … 1319×] 45. … 23:32 46. 38:27 1217 [ 46. … 1923 47. 4338 2329 48. 3832 1217 49. 3228 2933 50. 3934 33:22 51. 3530 24:35 52. 2520 =] 47. 4338 [ 47. 3530? 24:35 48. 2520 1924 49. 20:29 3540 50. 2924 4045 51. 2420 1722! {51. … 4550? 52.3933 50:28 53. 2722×} and white is in trouble] 47. … 0812 [ 47. … 1823 48. 3530 24:35 49. 2520 3540 50. 3934 40:29 51. 2015 2934 52. 1510 3440 53. 2722 17:28 54. 1004=] 48. 3934 1923 [48. … 2430 49. 35:24 19:39 50. 3833 39:28 51. 2722=] 49. 3430 1319 50. 3833 2329 51. 3328 1823 52. 2520 23:21 53. 2015 2127 54. 31:22 17:28 [A threat 55. … 1923] 55. 3025etc=.

42. … 1117 43. 3832.

43. 2721 1722etc.

43. … 0611 44. 3328 1116.

45. 4338?.

Last and the final mistake. After this move it is impossible to escape. Although white position looks extremely bad there still was a draw: 45. 3530! 24:35 46. 3934 and now
a) 46. … 1722 47. 28:17 12:21 48. 26:17 1924 49. 3126 2429 50. 1711 29:40 [50. … 16:07? 51. 3228 23:21 52. 34:01×] 51. 1107 4045 52. 2520 and white will have 2 kings with the most probable result – a draw.
b) 46. … 3540 47. 34:45 2329 48. 2823! 19:37 49. 31:42 1721 50. 26:17 12:32 51. 2520 and now if 1) 51. … 1621 52. 2014 2126 53. 1410 3237 54. 42:31 26:37 55. 1005 3741 56. 4338 42:33 57. 0523=;; 2) 51. … 2933 52. 2014 and now either 52. … 1823 53. 1410 1318 54. 1004 3238 55. 04: 39 38:47 56. 3917 0813 57. 1722 1319 58. 2217 etc or 52. … 3338 53. 42:33 3237 54. 1410 3742 55. 1005 and black can’t play 55. … 4248? 56. 3329etc.
c) 46. … 1924 47. 28:30 35:24 48. 4339 1823 49. 3933 1318 [49. … 1218 50. 3329 24:33 51. 2520 0812 52. 2014 2328 53. 32:23 18:40 54. 1410 and white forces a draw, for example, 1) 54. … 1218 55. 1004 1722 {White threatened by 2621, 2722=} 56. 0410 and 57. 1023=;; 2) 54. … 1318 55. 1004 1722 56. 0413 18:09 57. 27:07=;; 3) 54. … 4045 55. 1004 1319 56. 2621 17:37 57. 2721 16:27 58. 04:26=] 50. 3430 24:35 51. 2520 3540 52. 2014 4044 53. 1410 and black can’t win :
1) 53. … 4450 54. 1004 50:41 55. 04:06 4136 56. 06011218 2721=
2) 53. … 4449 54. 3329 23:34 55. 2621 17:28 56. 1004 49:21 57. 04:02=
3) 53. … 1721 54. 26:17 12:21 55. 1005 4450 56. 05:28 2126  [56. … 0813 57. 2811 50:26 58. 1102 21:32 59. 02:46=] 57. 2721 16:29 58. 2846 26:37 59. 46:03=
4) 53. … 0813 54. 1004 4450 or … 4449 55. 2621! 17:39 56. 2722 18:27 57. 04:03=
5) 53. … 1722 54. 1004 etc=.

45. … 2329 46. 3934 29:40 47. 35:44 2429 48. 4439.

After 48. 4440 the easiest win is 48. … 2934 49. 40:29 1923 50. 28:19 13:42 51. 2520 4248 and 52. … 1822 53. 27:07 0812 54. 07:18 1721×.

48. … 1924 49. 2823 1722 50. 23:34 2228 51. 32:23 18:40 52. 3832 1318 53. 3933 4044 54. 3329 24:33 55. 2520 1217 56. 2014 4449 57. 3228 33:22 58. 1409 49:21 59. 0903 0812.  0-2