After 18 . Qf5
18 . Qg5 should be played , denying Black a tempo to control g4 .
18 . ... Bc8 ! 19 . Qg5 Ng4 ! 20 . Nd4
20 . Kf1 was forced , but White is in deep trouble .
20 . ... Qa7 21 . Be2 Be7 22 . Qh5 g6 23 . Qh3 Nf2 24 . Qc3 Nxd1 25 . Bxd1 b4 26 . Qd3 Bc5 27 . Be3 Rd8 , White resigned .
A crisp win by James ; a sharp pawn sacrifice in the opening , a strongly developed initiative , and a precise finish .
ISAAC
On almost any middle school team in the country , expert-rated Isaac Barayev would be the star . When he was in seventh grade , 318 assistant coach and alumnus Pobo Efekoro referred to Justus , James , and Isaac as the “ big 3 ,” placing Barayev in the company of the school ’ s greatest ever players . The Forest Hills native gained 100 rating points in December of 2011 , cracking 2100 for the first time . In his final year at 318 , Isaac had become irreplaceable , a predictor of the team ’ s fortunes . During grade school nationals in Dallas , with Justus and James representing the United States at the World Youth , Isaac led the charge with 5 / 7 as 318 captured the eighth grade championship . At the city championships , Isaac ’ s dominant 5-0 led his team to a convincing victory in the junior high school division . The only time he slipped , at the high school state tournament in Saratoga , 318 was upset by a team of its own alumni , representing Edward Murrow . After the final round , Justus grinned at Isaac . “ Don ’ t worry . We ’ ll get them back at high school ( nationals ).”
Isaac recently began a new training regimen , taking Spiegel ’ s recommendation to study with GM Alexander Stripunsky . Among other things , they study thematic positions for topics Stripunsky selects . Examples include rook versus pawns , the Bxh7 sacrifice , or mating nets . Isaac is often asked to evaluate a certain idea or continuation within 15 minutes before further study . He also works hard at home , memorizing opening theory and solving problems . Isaac credits his new 1 . d4 repertoire , learned from his coach , for “ lots of good wins with white .”
Isaac started the tournament well , reaching 4 / 5 . His draws were mutually well played , and one of the wins featured a characteristically dynamic Exchange sacrifice against Tin Phan ( shown below ). In the penultimate round , he faced NM Sam Schmakel , the lynchpin of Chicago ’ s Whitney Young school . We were able to predict the opening variation , and Isaac developed a serious initiative . Alas , the master slipped away with a full point , and Isaac returned shaking his head . With 4 / 6 , it was time to regroup for the last round — a key game as black .
French Defense ( C18 ) Tin Phan ( 1688 ) Isaac Barayev ( 2124 ) National High School Championship ( 3 ), 04.14.2012
1 . e4 e6 2 . d4 d5 3 . Nc3 Bb4 4 . a3 Bxc3 + 5 . bxc3 Ne7
Taking on e4 is more popular , but the text has been played by Petrosian and Vaganian , among others .
6 . Qg4 0-0 7 . e5 c5 8 . Bd3 rwq- + -trk + + l + - + pzpp p + -vl-sn- + + p + - + Q + - - + - + PzP- + + - + L + - + - PzP- + N + PzP tR-vLR + -mKrsnlwq-trk + zpp + -snpzpp - + - + p + - + + -zppzP- + - - + -zP- + Q + zP-zPL + - + - - + P + -zPPzP tR-vL-mK-sNR
After 8 . Bd3
From an unusual move order , we have arrived at an important theoretical position .
8 . ... c4
This move is not so common and seems to have suffered a fair bit in practice ; 8 . ... Nbc6 would be normal .
9 . Be2 f6 10 . f4 Nbc6
The first completely new move ; the only master game to reach this position saw 11 . ... fxe5 .
11 . Nf3 Qb6
11 . ... Qa5 followed by ... Qa4 looks more concrete .
12 . 0-0 Ng6 13 . Kh1 Bd7 14 . h4 Rf7 15 . h5 Nge7 16 . Bd2 Raf8 !
- + - + -trk + zpp + lsnrzpp -wqn + pzp- + + - + pzP- + P - + pzP-zPQ + zP-zP- + N + - - + PvLL + P + tR- + - + R + K
After 16 . ... Raf8
17 . Rfb1 Qc7 18 . a4 Qc8 19 . Bc1 Be8 20 . Ba3
By moving the bishop , White loses the option of recapturing on e5 with the d- pawn . The next ten moves from Isaac are a tour de force .
20 . ... fxe5 21 . fxe5 Rf5 22 . Rb2 Qd7 23 . Rab1 b6 24 . Kg1 Bxh5 !?
- + - + -trk + zp- + qsn-zpp -zpn + p + - + + - + pzPr + l P + pzP- + Q + vL-zP- + N + - -tRP + L + P + + R + - + -mK-
After 24 . ... Bxh5
The computer prefers taking with the rook , but Isaac has a very specific idea based on pressuring f3 .
25 . Qh3 Ng6 26 . Bd1 Nf4 27 . Qh4 Nxg2 ! There it is !
28 . Kxg2 Bxf3 + 29 . Bxf3 Rxf3 30 . Bxf8 Rxf8 31 . Rh1 h6 32 . Rh3 Qf7 33 . Rb1 Qg6 + 34 . Kh1 Qe4 +
34 . ... Qf7 improves , followed by the eventual transfer of the knight to a better square .
35 . Qxe4 dxe4 36 . Kg2
For tactical reasons , not the best square for the king ; imagine a knight on f4 !
36 . ... Ne7 37 . Re1 Rf4 37 . ... Nd5 !
38 . Kg3
38 . Rhe3 should be played , with very reasonable drawing chances .
38 . ... Nd5 39 . a5 b5
39 . ... bxa5 is simplest , with ideas of advancing both the a- and e-pawns .
40 . a6 Rf3 + 41 . Kg4 Rxh3 42 . Kxh3 Nxc3 43 . Kh4 g6 44 . Rf1 Nd5 45 . c3 e3 46 . Re1
uschess . org Chess Life — July 2012 23