Bauer Games from 1999 National Chess Congress

Position after:

(1) Bauer,R (2230) - Kaufman,I (2430) [C47] National Chess Congress, 1999 [RB] 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bd3 0-0 8.0-0 d5 9.exd5 cxd5 10.Bg5 c6 11.Na4 A line that has served me well over the last few years. I had defeated Kaufman's son in this line and wondered whether or not he had reviewed it. 11...Bd6 12.c3 [12.c4; 12.Re1!?] 12...a5?! Aparently not. [12...Re8] 13.Re1!² [13.Qf3 Be5] 13...Rb8 14.Bc2 [14.Qf3!?] 14...h6 15.Bh4 Ba6 16.Qd4 g5 17.Bg3 Bxg3² After 18.fxg3 White has an edge, but I was happy to get an easy draw off an IM, and Virginia Tech was playing onTV! 1/2-1/2

Position after:

(2) Deluane,R (2412) - Bauer,R (2231) [A29] National Chess Congress, 1999 [RB] 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 Bb4 5.Nd5 [5.Bg2 0-0 6.Nd5 e4 7.Nh4 transposes back to the game.] 5...e4 A general rule of thumb: it is good to chase knights AWAY from the center. 6.Nh4! Much stronger than [6.Nxb4 Nxb4 7.Nd4 c5³] 6...0-0 7.Bg2 Re8 8.Nxb4?! [8.0-0!?] 8...Nxb4 9.a3 Nc6 10.d3 d5?! Safer is [10...exd3!? 11.Qxd3 d6=] 11.cxd5? [11.dxe4! dxc4 (11...dxe4 12.Qxd8 Rxd8 13.Bg5²) 12.Qxd8 Rxd8 13.Bg5 Rd6 14.Rc1²] 11...Qxd5! 12.dxe4 Qxd1+ 13.Kxd1 Nxe4³ Black has the initiative, but must be careful lest White's two bishops come into their own. 14.Be3 h6 15.Ke1 g5 16.Nf3 Bf5 17.Nd2 Rad8 18.Rd1 Nd4 19.Bxd4™ [19.Nxe4?? Nc2+ 20.Kf1 Rxd1#] 19...Rxd4 20.Nxe4 Rxd1+ 21.Kxd1 Bxe4 22.Bxe4 Rxe4= The endgame is rather barren 1/2-1/2

Position after:

(3) Bauer,R (2231) - Sarkar,J (2361) [C14] National Chess Congress, 1999 [RB] 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.f4 0-0 8.Nf3 [8.Qh5] 8...c5 9.dxc5 Nc6 10.Bd3 f6 11.exf6 Qxf6 12.g3 Nxc5 13.0-0 Bd7 14.Qd2 Nxd3 15.cxd3 e5 16.Rae1 Bh3 17.Rf2 d4 18.Ne4 Qf5 19.fxe5 Nxe5 20.Nxe5! [20.Nxd4 Qd7©] 20...Qxe5 21.Rxf8+! [21.Nf6+ Qxf6 22.Rxf6 Rxf6= 23.Qb4 Raf8 24.Qc4+ Kh8 25.Qc1] 21...Rxf8 22.Nf2 Qf5 23.Nxh3 Qxh3 24.Qb4! Qh6 [24...Qd7 25.Qe7 Qf5] 25.Qc4+ Kh8 26.Qxd4 Qd2 27.Rf1 Rxf1+ 28.Kxf1 h6 29.h4 Qd1+ 30.Kg2 [30.Kf2] 30...Qe2+ 31.Kh3 Qe6+! 32.Qg4 Qxa2 33.Qc8+ Kh7 34.Qf5+ Kg8 35.Qc8+ Kh7 36.Qf5+ 1/2-1/2

Position after:

(4) Turner,L (1660) - Bauer,R (2231) [A46] National Chess Congress, 1999 [RB] 1.d4 Nf6 After 3 draws with 3 2400 players I was surprised to be paired with a 1660 player. This surely was an omen that it was time to start winning, an omen I seemed unable to heed! 2.Nf3 Prior to this game, I sat down at the wrong board and played out the opening. When the player who was supposed to be at that board arrived 20 minutes late, my error was discovered and I moved to the board that I was assigned. That game had gone... [2.Bg5 e6 3.Bxf6 Qxf6 4.e4 d5 5.e5 Qd8 6.Nf3=] 2...e6 3.Bf4 c5 4.c3 b6 5.dxc5 bxc5 6.Bd6?! White wants to exchange pieces, and is willing to give Black a slight edge in return. I used to love to play against this strategy. There were more pieces than I needed to accumulate a winning advantage through favorable trades! 6...Bxd6 7.Qxd6 Qb6 8.Qxb6 axb6³ 9.e3 Ba6?! I thought I would weaken his white squares and avoid having to lock in my B with ...d5. In fact, this trade helps White, who will play for e4. 9...Bb7 was better. [9...Nc6!?] 10.Bxa6 Nxa6 11.Nbd2 d5 12.0-0!? I first though t of this as a naive move that could be taken advantage of. But when I saw the break e4 coming, I knew that I should follow suit! 12...0-0 13.Rfe1 Rfd8 14.e4 Nc7 15.e5?! Closing the game does not fit with his previous strategy. [15.exd5?! Ncxd5³ also helps Black.; 15.a3!?] 15...Nd7 16.c4?! dxc4 17.Nxc4 Nd5!? 18.a3?! [18.a4!?] 18...b5!? 19.Ne3 Nf4!?ƒ Black is making headway. 20.Nf1 [20.Rad1 c4] 20...Nd3 21.Re2 b4 22.a4 c4 23.Rc2 Rdc8 [23...N7c5! 24.Rxc4 Nxa4 25.b3 Nc3! 26.Rxa8 Ne2+ 27.Kh1 Nxf2#] 24.Ne3 c3! 25.bxc3 b3 26.Rd2 N7xe5?! [26...b2! 27.Rad1 Rxc3 28.Rxb2 Nxb2 29.Rxd7 Rc1+ 30.Nf1 h6-+ is the right way.] 27.Nxe5 Nxe5 28.c4!? Nxc4 29.Nxc4 Rxc4 30.g3 h5?! [30...Rc2 31.Rxc2 bxc2 32.Rc1; 30...g5! is best, giving Black winning chances in the R ending.] 31.Rb2 Rb4 32.Ra3 Rab8!? I had been hoping to keep both rooks on the board. Finally realizing that was impossible, I tried to buy the time necessary to play ...g5. 33.a5 [33.h4! gives White a probable draw.] 33...g5! Now Black has winning chances again. 34.a6 Kg7 35.a7 Ra8 36.Rbxb3 Rxb3 37.Rxb3 Rxa7 38.Kg2 Ra4 [38...Kg6 39.Re3; 38...e5 39.h4 gxh4 40.gxh4 Ra4] 39.h3 Kg6 40.Re3! Ra2 41.g4 Ra4 42.Kg3 Rf4 43.Re5 Ra4 [43...Kf6?? 44.Rxg5!! Kxg5 45.h4+] 44.Re3 Rb4 45.Rc3 [45.Re5] 45...h4+ [45...f5 46.gxf5+ Kxf5 47.Rc5+ e5 48.Rc8] 46.Kg2 f5 47.gxf5+ exf5 48.Rc6+ Kh5 [48...Kf7!?] 49.Rc5 Rf4 50.f3 Kg6!? It will cost a pawn to free the king, but for dominating K and R position, its worth it! 51.Rc6+ Kf7 52.Rc7+ Kf6 53.Rc6+ Ke5! 54.Rg6? White grabs for the pawn. He should have kept up the checks to draw Black's K away from the kingside. 54...Ra4 55.Rxg5 Kf4 56.Rh5 Ra2+ 57.Kf1 Rh2! [57...Kg3? 58.Rxf5=] 58.Rxh4+ Kxf3 59.Kg1 Rg2+ 60.Kh1 Re2! 61.Rb4 f4 62.Rb3+ Re3 63.Rb1 Kg3! [63...Kf2? 64.Kh2!=] 64.Kg1 Re2 65.Rb3+ f3 66.Kf1 Ra2 67.Rb1 Rh2! 68.Kg1 f2+ 69.Kf1 Rh1+ 0-1

Position after:

(5) Bauer,R (2231) - Burnett,R (2460) [E11] National Chess Congress, 1999 [RB] 1.d4 Nf6 I was on two amateur teams with Ron Burnett. We both had excellent tournaments in both events and I have to credit him with part of my success. His thematic way of thinking was infectious! In observing my games he often found key ideas that would have made the win much easier. 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Bb4+ 4.Nbd2 d5 5.a3 [5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.a3 gives Black much more trouble.] 5...Be7 6.g3 b6 7.cxd5 exd5 8.Bg2 a5 9.0-0 0-0 10.b3 [10.Ne5 c5] 10...Bb7 11.Bb2 Re8 12.Re1 [12.Rc1 Bd6 13.e3 Qe7 14.Nb1 Nbd7] 12...Nbd7= 13.Ne5 Nf8 [13...Nxe5 14.dxe5] 14.e4?! Ne6!? Black gains the advantage due to White's weakened structure. 15.Rc1 dxe4 16.Nxe4 Bxe4 17.Bxe4 Nxe4 18.Rxe4 Qd5³ 19.Re3? Bf6? Black likes his position too much! Otherwise he would have gone for [19...Bg5! 20.f4 Nxf4 21.gxf4 Bxf4µ] 20.Qf3! Rad8 21.Qxd5 Rxd5 22.f4 The Ne5 gives some compensation for the bad pawns and bad B. Pressure on d4 is answered with pressure on c7. 22...h5 23.Rc2 Kf8 24.Kf2 Rc8 25.Re4 Rcd8 26.Ree2 R8d6? Placing the rook on this square give White a chance to correct his game. 27.a4 Kg8 28.f5!= Nxd4 29.Bxd4 Rxd4 30.Rxc7 R4d5 31.Nxf7 I was just looking to equalize, but sometimes you get lucky! 31...Rxf5+?? [31...Rd7!=] 32.Kg2+- Rd3 33.Nh6+!! Kh7 34.Nxf5 Kg6 35.Nh4+ Kh7 36.Re6 Bd8 37.Rb7 1-0

Position after:

(6) Shapiro,D (2361) - Bauer,R (2231) [E15] National Chess Congress, 1999 [RB] 1.d4 Nf6 A "money round". A win for Black is worth $800. A draw is worth $0. Of course, didn't know this till later in the game. 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 [4.a3] 4...Ba6 5.Nbd2 Bb7 6.Bg2 c5 7.e4 cxd4 [7...Nxe4? 8.Ne5! (8.Ng5? Nxf2! 9.Kxf2 Bxg2 10.Nxf7 Qf6+ 11.Kxg2 Qxf7 12.Rf1 Qg6³) 8...d5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Qa4+ Nd7 11.Nxe4 dxe4 12.Bh3±] 8.Nxd4 d6 The Hedgehog. This proved to be a good choice, because while the other games that effected potential cash prizes were decided, we were still in the maneuvering stage! 9.0-0 Nbd7 10.Re1 a6 [10...Be7?! 11.e5 Bxg2 12.exf6 Bxf6! 13.Nb5²] 11.b3 Qc7 12.Bb2 g6!? This move g ives black a more active B and covers f5 with a view towards an eventual ...e5. The disadvantage is that Black's d-pawn is not quite as secure. [12...Be7 is the "pure" hedgehog.] 13.Rc1 Bg7 14.Nb1!? 0-0 15.Nc3 Rac8= Classical chess theory rates this position as += due to White's clear spacial advantage. Modern theory (and practice!) gives Black equality due to the dynamic chances afforded by potential pawn breaks at d5 and b5. In either case, a prolonged maneuvering battle now ensues. 16.h3 Rfd8 17.Qe2 Qb8 18.Rcd1 Nc5 19.Kh2 Re8 20.Qf1 Qa8 21.f3 Qb8 22.Qf2 Red8 23.Bc1 Ba8 24.Be3 Re8 25.Kg1 Nh5 26.g4 Nf6 27.g5!? White is fin ally provoked into aggression, which does not turn out that badly for him. 27...Nh5 28.f4!? e5!? The break that Black has been waiting for. Now the game really begins. [28...Nxf4 29.Qxf4 e5 30.Qg3 exd4 31.Bxd4²] 29.fxe5 Bxe5?! [29...dxe5?! 30.Nde2²; 29...Rxe5!?] 30.Nde2 [30.Rf1!?] 30...b5 31.cxb5 axb5 32.Nd5! Bxd5 33.exd5?! [33.Rxd5!? would have given White a chance for the advantage.] 33...Qc7 34.Bf3 Ng7 35.Bg4? [35.b4! Nf5! 36.Bxc5 dxc5 37.Bg4! cxb4 38.Bxf5 gxf5 39.Qxf5=] 35...Ra8! Black's counterattack starts, just as White enters severe time pressure (5 minutes for 5 moves.) 36.Nd4!? [36.Bxc5 dxc5 37.Rd2 Bf4 38.Nxf4 Rxe1+ 39.Qxe1 Qxf4³] 36...Ne4! 37.Qg2 [37.Nxb5 Qb7© 38.Qe2] 37...Nc3³ 38.Rc1 b4 39.Nc6?“ [39.Nb5 Qa5³] 39...Rxa2 40.Qf3 Qb7µ Time control is reached, but now Black has a solid pawn plus. 41.Nxe5 Rxe5 42.Bd4! A tricky move! 42...Ne2+ 43.Rxe2 Raxe2! [43...Rexe2?? 44.Qf6!!+-] 44.Qxe2!? [44.Rc8+ Ne8! 45.Bxe5 (45.Qf6? Qxc8!-+) 45...Rxe5-+; 44.Bxe5 Rxe5 45.Rc8+ Ne8-+] 44...Rxe2 45.Bxe2 Nf5!? 46.Bf6 Black is winning but faces one major problem. The threat of mate on the back rank ties down his queen. This problem was solved in small increments. 46...h5! Mate in one (46...Qxd5 47.Rc8#) is transformed into mate in two (Rc8+, Kh7, Rh8#). By itself, insignificant. 47.Rc6 Kh7!-+ Now Black's Q is free to do damage.. because the rook no longer lands on the 8th rank with check. Furthermore, the defense of ...Ng7 becomes viable. White moves to remove the defender. 48.Bd3 Qa7+ 49.Kh1 Qf2! 50.Bxf5 gxf5!-+ White's mating net has been reduced to a threat of perpetual (Rc8-h8-g8). [50...Qxf5] 51.Rc8 f4! And now there is no net at all. The game is over. 52.g6+ Kxg6 0-1