1. d4 c6 2. c4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 5. Nf3 g6 6. Bd3 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. b3 Bg4 9. Bb2 Nbd7 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 e6 12. Rfe1 Re8 13. cxd5 exd5 14. Rac1 Nf8 15. Na4 Ne6 16. Nc5 Nxc5 17. dxc5 Nd7 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Qf4 Qa5 20. Re2 Re7 21. b4 Qd8 22. Qd4+ Kg8 23. Rce1 f5 24. a3 Qf8 25. Rb2 Rae8 26. Rbe2 Ne5 27. Kf1 Qf6 28. a4 Kg7 29. a5 g5 30. f4 Nxd3 31. Qxd3 gxf4 32. exf4 Re4 33. g3 Qh6 34. Kg2 Qe6 35. Kf2 Kf6 36. Qc3+ Kg6 37. Qd3 h5 38. Qd2 Rxe2+ 39. Rxe2 Qxe2+ 40. Qxe2 Rxe2+ 41. Kxe2 h4 42. Kf3 hxg3 43. Kxg3 Kh5 44. h4 d4 45. Kf3 Kxh4 46. Ke2 Kg4 47. Kd3 Kxf4 48. Kxd4 Kg3 49. Ke5 f4 50. Kd6 f3 51. Kc7 f2 52. Kxb7 f1=Q 53. Kxc6 Qb5+ 54. Kd5 Kf4 55. Kd6 Qxb4 56. Kc6 Ke5 57. Kc7 Qxc5+ 58. Kb7 Qxa5 59. Ka8 Qb5 60. Ka7 Qa5 0-1

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nbd2 d5 4. b3 Bg7 5. Bb2 O-O 6. e3 Bf5 7. Be2 Nbd7 8. O-O c5 9. Re1 Qc7 10. Rc1 Rac8 11. h3 Ne4 12. c4 Qa5 13. Nxe4 Bxe4 1/2-1/2

1. d3 Nf6 2. Nd2 g6 3. e4 d6 4. Ngf3 Bg7 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 c5 7. O-O Nc6 8. c3 Ne5 9. Nxe5 dxe5 10. Nc4 Qc7 11. h3 b5 12. Ne3 e6 13. f4 Nh5 14. Qf3 Bb7 15. Ng4 f5 16. Nxe5 Bxe5 17. fxe5 fxe4 18. Qe3 Qxe5 19. g4 Rxf1+ 20. Bxf1 Rf8 21. gxh5 Rf3 22. Qe1 Rg3+ 23. Bg2 e3 24. Qf1 e2 0-1

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Bd3 Bb4 7. Nge2 Nc6 8. O-O O-O 9. a3 Bd6 10. Bf4 Bxf4 11. Nxf4 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Qxd4 13. Qxd4 Nxd4 14. Rfd1 e5 15. Nfd5 Nxd5 16. Bxd5 Bg4 17. f3 Bh5 18. Rd2 Rad8 19. Re1 Bxf3 20. Rxe5 Bxd5 21. Nxd5 Nc6 22. Re3 h6 23. Kf1 Kh7 24. Red3 Rd6 25. b4 Rfd8 26. Ke2 Re6+ 27. Kd1 Rde8 28. b5 Re1+ 29. Kc2 Ne5 30. Rc3 Ng4 31. h3 Ne3+ 32. Kb3 Nxd5 33. Rxd5 R8e7 34. Kc4 Kg6 35. Rd6+ f6 36. Kd5 Kf7 37. Rc2 0-1

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Qe2 Qe7 6. d4 d5 7. g3 Be6 8. Bf4 Nc6 9. Bg2 O-O-O 10. O-O f6 11. Nbd2 g5 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Qxe4 gxf4 14. Qxf4 Qf7 15. b3 Bd6 16. Qe3 Rhe8 17. Qc1 Rd7 18. c4 Bf5 19. d5 Ne5 20. Nxe5 Bxe5 21. Qa3 Kb8 22. Rad1 Bd6 23. Qb2 Rde7 24. a4 Bb4 25. d6 cxd6 26. Bd5 Qg6 27. Qd4 Be4 28. Bxe4 Rxe4 29. Qxd6+ Bxd6 0-1

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 c6 5. Qd2 Bg7 6. Bh6 O-O 7. Bxg7 Kxg7 8. h4 h5 9. Ng5 b5 10. O-O-O Nbd7 11. e4 b4 12. Na4 Qa5 13. b3 Nxe4 14. Nxe4 dxe4 15. Bc4 Nb6 16. d5 c5 17. Qe2 Nxa4 18. bxa4 Qxa4 19. Bb3 Qa3+ 20. Kb1 Bf5 21. f3 a5 22. g4 a4 23. gxf5 axb3 24. cxb3 c4 25. bxc4 exf3 26. Qb2+ Qxb2+ 27. Kxb2 Ra3 28. c5 Rfa8 29. d6 exd6 30. cxd6 Rxa2+ 31. Kb3 R2a7 32. fxg6 Rd7 33. gxf7 Kxf7 1/2-1/2

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 d6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. f3 g6 7. Be3 Bg7 8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O a6 10. g4 b5 11. Nxc6 Qc7 12. Nb4 Be6 13. Bh6 Ra7 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. h4 Rc8 16. Bd3 Qc5 17. h5 Qxb4 18. hxg6 h5 19. gxh5 fxg6 20. hxg6 Ng8 21. Rh7+ Kf8 22. g7+ Ke8 23. e5 Kd7 24. Rh8 dxe5 25. Rxg8 Bxg8 26. Bf5+ Ke8 1-0

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Bc4 d5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. O-O Bg4 8. d4 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. h3 Bh5 11. Re1 Re8 12. g4 Bg6 13. Nbd2 Bf6 14. Rc1 Na5 15. c4 Nxd2 16. Nxd2 dxc4 17. Nxc4 Nxb3 18. Qxb3 Be4 19. Red1 Bf3 20. Rd2 Qd5 21. Qc3 Rad8 22. Kh2 c5 23. Qa3 cxd4 24. Qxa7 Ra8 25. Qb6 Bd8 26. Qb3 Bc7+ 27. Kg1 Bh1 28. f3 Qxf3 29. Bxd4 Qg3+ 1-0

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Qb6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Bd3 Bb5 7. O-O Nc6 8. a4 Bxd3 9. Qxd3 cxd4 10. cxd4 Nb4 11. Qe2 Rc8 12. Nc3 a6 13. Be3 Ne7 14. Rac1 Nec6 15. Rfd1 Be7 16. Qd2 Rc7 17. Bg5 h6 18. Bxe7 Rxe7 19. Qf4 Kd7 20. Qg4 Rg8 21. Ne1 Na5 22. Ne4 Nb3 23. Nc5+ Nxc5 24. Rxc5 g5 25. Rdc1 Ree8 26. Qf3 Ref8 27. Qf6 Nc6 28. Qxh6 Nxd4 29. Rxd5+ exd5 30. Qxb6 Ne2+ 31. Kf1 Nxc1 32. Qxb7+ Ke6 33. Qc6+ Kf5 34. Qxc1 Rc8 35. Qe3 Rc4 36. Nd3 Rxa4 37. Qb6 Rg6 38. Qb7 Ke4 39. Nc5+ 1-0

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. a3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Qd3 Nge7 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 Qd7 9. Nbd2 Nf5 10. Qe4 Nxh4 11. Nxh4 Be7 12. Nhf3 O-O 13. g3 Rad8 14. Bg2 Bf5 15. Qd5 Qc8 16. Qb5 Bc2 17. c5 Rd5 18. b4 Nxe5 19. Nxe5 Rxe5 20. Qxb7 Bd3 21. O-O Rxe2 22. Rfe1 Bf6 23. Rxe2 Bxe2 24. Ne4 Be5 25. Qd5 Qe6 26. Qxe6 fxe6 27. Re1 d3 28. Bf1 Bxf1 29. Kxf1 Bb2 30. Rd1 Rd8 31. a4 Rd4 32. f3 Rxb4 33. Rxd3 Bd4 34. a5 Rc4 35. c6 e5 36. g4 Rxc6 37. Ng3 g6 38. Ne4 Rc2 39. h3 Kf7 40. Rb3 Rb2 41. Ra3 c5 42. Nd6+ Ke6 43. Ne4 c4 44. h4 Rb3 45. Ra4 Rxf3+ 46. Kg2 Rf4 47. Ng3 c3 48. Rc4 Rf2+ 49. Kh3 Kd5 50. Rc7 c2 51. Rc8 Bc5 52. Rxc5+ Kxc5 53. Ne4+ Kd4 54. Nxf2 c1=Q 0-1

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Be7 4. Bd3 c5 5. exd5 exd5 6. c3 Nf6 7. Ne2 O-O 8. h3 Nc6 9. Nf3 c4 10. Bc2 b5 11. a3 a5 12. Bd2 Bd7 13. O-O b4 14. axb4 axb4 15. b3 cxb3 16. Bxb3 Na5 17. cxb4 Nxb3 18. Qxb3 Qb6 19. Ne5 Bb5 20. Rfe1 Bxe2 21. Rxa8 Rxa8 22. Rxe2 Ra1+ 23. Re1 Qxd4 24. Rxa1 Qxa1+ 25. Kh2 Qxe5+ 26. g3 Qe2 27. Be3 Qc4 28. Qxc4 dxc4 29. b5 Nd5 30. Bd4 c3 0-1

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 b5 6. dxc6 bxc4 7. Qe2 Bd6 8. Na3 Bxa3 9. bxa3 O-O 10. Qxc4 Ng4 11. d3 h6 12. Nf3 Be6 13. Qc3 Bd5 14. h3 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nf6 16. Rg1 Kh7 17. Qc4 Qd4 18. Qxd4 exd4 1/2-1/2

1. d4 c6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. O-O Bg4 6. Ne5 Nf6 7. Nxg4 Nxg4 8. e3 Nf6 9. b3 O-O 10. Bb2 Nbd7 11. c4 e6 12. Nd2 a6 13. Qc2 Rc8 14. Rad1 b5 15. e4 dxe4 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 Nf6 18. Bg2 Qa5 19. Bc3 b4 20. Bd2 Rfd8 21. a3 Qb6 22. axb4 Qxd4 23. Be3 Qe5 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Bxc6 Qd6 26. b5 axb5 27. Bxb5 Qb8 28. Rd1 Rc8 29. Qd3 Ng4 30. Qd6 Qxd6 31. Rxd6 Nxe3 32. fxe3 Bf8 33. Rd3 Bc5 34. Kg2 Kg7 35. Kf3 Kf6 36. Rd1 h5 37. h3 Ke5 38. e4 g5 39. Rd7 Kf6 40. Ba6 1/2-1/2

1. Nf3 c5 2. g3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Bg2 g6 6. O-O Bg7 7. c4 O-O 8. Nc3 Ng4 9. Nf3 Qb6 10. Rb1 Re8 11. Nd5 Qd8 12. Bf4 d6 13. Qc2 e6 14. Nc3 e5 15. Bg5 f6 16. Bd2 Be6 17. b3 Rf8 18. e4 f5 19. Ng5 Nd4 20. Nxe6 Nxc2 21. Nxd8 Rfxd8 22. exf5 gxf5 23. Bxb7 Rab8 24. Bd5+ Kf8 25. Nb5 Nd4 26. Nxd4 exd4 27. Ba5 Re8 28. Bc7 Ne5 29. Bxd6+ Re7 30. Bxb8 Rd7 31. Bxe5 Bxe5 32. Rfe1 Re7 33. c5 Bf6 34. Rxe7 Bxe7 35. Be6 1-0

1. d4 Nf6 2. e3 d5 3. Bd3 Nc6 4. f4 Bg4 5. Nf3 g6 6. Nbd2 Bg7 7. c3 O-O 8. O-O a6 9. h3 Bd7 10. Ne5 b5 11. e4 dxe4 12. Nxe4 Nd5 13. Qf3 Nxe5 14. fxe5 Bc6 15. Qg3 b4 16. c4 Nb6 17. d5 Bb7 18. Nc5 Bc8 19. Bf4 e6 20. Bg5 f6 21. Bxf6 Bxf6 22. Rxf6 Rxf6 23. exf6 Qxf6 24. Qe3 Qxb2 25. Rb1 Qxa2 26. dxe6 Kf8 27. Rf1+ Ke8 28. Qh6 1-0

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d5 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 e6 5. e3 Be7 6. Bd3 Nbd7 7. O-O O-O 8. e4 dxe4 9. Nxe4 Nxe4 10. Bxe4 Nf6 11. Bc2 b6 12. Qd3 g6 13. b3 Re8 14. Bb2 Bf8 15. Rad1 Bg7 16. Rfe1 Bb7 17. Ne5 Nd7 18. Qg3 Qc7 19. h4 Nxe5 20. dxe5 Red8 21. h5 Rxd1 22. Rxd1 Rd8 23. hxg6 Rxd1+ 24. Bxd1 fxg6 25. Bg4 Bc8 26. Qh3 Qe7 27. Qe3 Bb7 28. f4 c5 29. Qd3 Bc8 30. Bc3 Qd7 31. Qxd7 Bxd7 32. Kf2 Kf7 33. Bf3 h6 34. a3 g5 35. g3 Ke7 36. Ke3 Kd8 37. b4 cxb4 38. axb4 Kc7 39. b5 Bf8 40. Bd4 Bc5 41. fxg5 hxg5 42. Kd3 Be8 43. Be3 Bxe3 44. Kxe3 Bg6 45. Be4 Bxe4 46. Kxe4 Kb7 47. Kf3 a6 48. bxa6+ Kxa6 49. Kg4 b5 50. cxb5+ Kxb5 1-0

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. O-O Bg4 6. Re1 a6 7. b3 Ne5 8. Be2 Bxf3 9. Bxf3 Nd3 10. Re3 Nxc1 11. Qxc1 e5 12. Na3 b5 13. Qd1 Be7 14. d4 O-O 15. dxe5 dxe5 16. Rd3 Qc7 17. Nc2 Rad8 18. Ne3 Rxd3 19. Qxd3 c4 20. Qe2 Rd8 21. Rd1 Rxd1+ 22. Qxd1 Qd8 1/2-1/2

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 e5 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 exd4 6. Nxd4 Nf6 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. Qa4 Bc5 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O Qb6 11. Nc3 h6 12. e5 Nd5 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Bf3 Ba6 15. Bxd5 Bxf1 16. Bxa8 Be2 17. Qe4 Bxf2+ 18. Kh1 Bh5 19. Bd5 Qd4 20. Qxd4 Bxd4 21. Bf4 g5 22. Bg3 Bg6 23. Rf1 Bxb2 24. Rf6 Kg7 25. h4 gxh4 26. Bf4 a5 27. Kh2 Bc3 28. Kh3 Be1 29. Bxf7 Rxf7 0-1

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bd2 Bg7 6. e4 Nb6 7. Be3 O-O 8. Be2 Nc6 9. Nf3 Bg4 10. d5 Bxf3 11. gxf3 Ne5 12. Qb3 Qd7 13. h3 e6 14. f4 exd5 15. exd5 1-0

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Nf3 e6 8. h3 Be7 9. Be3 b5 10. Qd2 Bd7 11. O-O Qc7 12. Rfd1 e5 13. Be2 O-O 14. Bg5 Be6 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. Qxd5 Nb4 18. Qb3 Qxc2 19. Qe3 Qc5 20. Qh6 Qc2 21. Qe3 Qc5 22. Qh6 Qc2 23. Nh4 Qxe4 24. Bg4 Qf4 25. Qh5 Qg5 26. Nf5 Qxh5 27. Nxe7+ Kg7 28. Bxh5 Rfd8 29. Bf3 Ra7 30. Nf5+ Kf8 31. Ne3 Rc7 32. a3 Nc6 33. Rac1 Rdc8 34. Nd5 Ra7 35. Nxf6 Ke7 36. Nd5+ Ke6 37. Nb6 Rcc7 38. Bd5+ 1-0

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d6 4. Nf3 g6 5. O-O Bg7 6. c4 O-O 7. Nc3 Qe8 8. d5 a5 9. Nd4 Na6 10. b3 Bd7 11. Bb2 Nc5 12. Qd2 Rb8 13. Rae1 e5 14. dxe6 Nxe6 15. Nd5 Ne4 16. Bxe4 fxe4 17. Nxe6 Qxe6 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Qd4+ Kg8 20. Nxc7 Qf7 21. Nd5 Bh3 22. Qxe4 Bxf1 23. Rxf1 Rbe8 24. Qd3 Re5 25. e3 b5 1/2-1/2

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nbd2 g6 4. b3 Bg7 5. Bb2 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. c4 Nh5 8. Qc2 Nc6 9. d5 Nb4 10. Qb1 Nf6 11. a3 Na6 12. Bd3 Nc7 13. O-O a6 14. e4 e6 15. Re1 Re8 16. h3 h6 17. Qc2 b6 18. Bc3 a5 19. Qb2 Bb7 20. Nf1 Na6 21. Ne3 Nc7 22. e5 dxe5 23. Bxe5 exd5 24. cxd5 Nh5 25. Bxg7 Nxg7 26. Rad1 b5 27. Ng4 Rxe1+ 28. Nxe1 h5 29. Nf6+ Kh8 30. Be4 Ra6 31. d6 Rxd6 32. Rxd6 Qxd6 33. Bxb7 Qe7 34. Nf3 Nce6 35. Be4 Nd4 36. Nxd4 Qxf6 37. Bd3 b4 38. axb4 axb4 39. Bc4 Kg8 40. Qd2 Qxd4 41. Qc2 Kf8 42. Qe2 Nf5 43. Qf3 Nd6 44. Bd5 f5 45. Kh2 Kg7 46. g3 Ne4 47. Kg2 0-1

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 Be7 4. h4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. d4 Bg4 7. Bxf4 Nh5 8. Bg5 Ng3 9. Rh2 Nxf1 10. Kxf1 Nc6 11. Qd2 Bxf3 12. gxf3 Bxg5 13. hxg5 Qd7 14. Kf2 O-O-O 15. Rah1 h6 16. gxh6 gxh6 17. Rxh6 Rhg8 18. Nd5 Rg6 19. c3 Rdg8 20. Rxg6 Rxg6 21. Rh8+ Nd8 22. Qf4 b6 23. Qf5 c6 24. Ne7+ Kc7 25. Qxd7+ Kxd7 26. Nxg6 fxg6 27. Rg8 a6 28. Rxg6 Ne6 29. Ke3 Ke7 30. f4 b5 31. Rh6 a5 32. f5 Ng5 33. Kf4 Nf7 34. Rh7 a4 35. e5 dxe5+ 36. dxe5 Kf8 37. Rxf7+ Kxf7 38. Ke4 Ke7 39. Kd4 Kd7 40. Kc5 Kc7 41. f6 Kd7 42. f7 Ke7 43. Kxc6 Kxf7 44. Kd7 1-0

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. e3 Nc6 6. Nc3 Ngxe5 7. Be2 O-O 8. a3 a5 9. O-O d6 10. Ne4 Bb6 11. b3 Bf5 12. Ng3 Be6 13. Bb2 a4 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Bxe5 dxe5 16. b4 c5 17. b5 Qe7 18. Qc2 f5 19. f4 Bc7 20. Rad1 exf4 21. exf4 Qh4 22. Qd2 b6 23. Qe3 Rae8 24. Qf3 Qf6 25. Rd2 Qf7 26. Qc3 Rd8 27. Rc2 Rd4 28. Qe3 Bxc4 29. Bxc4 Rxc4 30. Rxc4 Qxc4 31. Qe2 Qd4+ 32. Qf2 Qd3 33. Qe2 Qxa3 34. Qe6+ Kh8 35. Qe7 Rc8 36. Qd7 Qe3+ 37. Rf2 Qe8 38. Qxf5 Rd8 39. Re2 Qxb5 40. Re7 Qc6 41. Qf7 Qf6 42. Qxf6 gxf6 43. Rxc7 Kg8 44. Rb7 Rd1+ 45. Kf2 Rd2+ Flag Fall 0-1

I would like to share my 7th round game at the Supernationals IV held in Nashville, Tennessee last April 3-5, 2009. I played in the K-3 Championship section where there were 248 players in my section representing 47 states. Our topseed was USCF rated above1900. The venue was awesome! No wonder why there were more than 5280 kids who joined the event from Kindergarten to 12th grade in 21 different sections from all over the USA. There are several reasons why I choose this game. First, I know before the round that if I win, I will be getting a trophy for being in the top 20. Second, my opponent is a friend of mine as well as a family friend from Tyler, Texas. She was playing so well also, that if she wins, she gets the trophy and I won't. I have played her before in the State Championships event and I have been lucky to be on top. Third, I was suprised with her opening. She brought me to an unknown territory and I was very uncomfortable. I know her to always play Sicillian with the black pieces. However, her dad knows me so well that I play Smith-Morra Gambit and I played him so many times in ICC and have won against players with ratings 1700 to 1800 with this opening. Well, I guess, she was prepared by her dad to play me. Fourth, even if I was surprised in the opening, I was able to stick to the principles of the game. I was able to control the center, develop my pieces, early king safety and most importantly I was able to control of being nervous. Fifth, this is my most difficult scholastic tournament that I have been to. My coach even said that rating does not matter at the nationals. True enough, our topseed (rated over 1900) lost to a player rated 1500! And in this game, you will see that my opponent somehow played descent at a level beyond 1200's until at the very end when both of us were so tired and she started making mistakes at her level. Hopefully, with this experience, I can now handle better my nerves in future big events.

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bc4 O-O 6. Bf4 c6 my opponent indeed prepared an opening that I am not familiar (Pirc Defense). This really made me so nervous during the game. However, I stick to the opening principles! Control the center and develop my pieces, king safety as soon as possible and play it on. I know, once I reach the middle game I am in a better position because I am higher rated than my opponent. 7. e5 dxe5 8. dxe5 Qxd1+ 9. Rxd1 Ng4? This is the first bad move by my opponent. This was a wasted move and the black knight will be totally out of place. 10. h3 this makes black's knight retreat. After which I can castle to make my king safe and I gained tempo while black wasted 2 moves. 10... Nh6 11. O-O b5?? This is the 2nd mistake by black. I thought developing pieces at this point was needed because black lost tempo and needed more active pieces out. 12. Bb3?! this is unclear move to me. But with too much pressure, at that time I thought this was an "OK" move. I did not see the best tactic move for white which is 12. Nxb5!! cxb5 13. Bd5 Nc6 14. Bxc6 Rb8 this position gives white positional advantage and have more active pieces. 12... b4 I think my opponent over-extended his pawn too much. This will make her defenses less coordinated. Note: My opponent last three moves was a retreat of the knight and 2 pawn moves. I am starting to get more comfortable after the opening. I know we are in the middle game at this time. Better for black maybe is 12... Na6 13. Bg5 Re8 13. Ne2 Again, I did not see the best tactic move 13. Nd5! threatening Nc7 or Nxe7 13... cxd5 14. Bxd5 Nc6 15. Bxc6 Rb8 13... Nd7 14. e6 This is unclear to me because after Nc5, my advantage maybe is not much. A good move is 14. Ned4! Nc5 (If 14... c5 15. Bd5 Ba6 (15... cxd4 16. Bxa8 Nc5 17. Rxd4 Ne6 18. Rxb4) 16. Bxa8 Bxf1 17. Bc6 cxd4 18. Kxf1 Nb6 19. Rxd4) 14... Nc5 14... fxe6?? 15. Bxe6+ note that my opponent cannot take my e6 pawn because black's knight is hanging with a check. 15. exf7+? my first real bad move? Better is 15. Bxh6 Bxh6 16. exf7+ Kg7 15... Nxf7 my opponent now is able to equalize . Blacks knight now is active and both sides have active pieces. 16. Bc4 Kh8 Probably my opponent was thinking of moving away from the pin. 16... Be6 This is maybe better. This will connect black's rooks and even if we exchange pieces now, black's pawn advance is already inside my territory. 17. Bxf7 Rxf7 18. Rd8+ Rf8 19. Rxf8+ Bxf8 20. Rd1 Ba6 21. Ned4 Rd8 black could have just protected the c6 pawn with Rc8. 22. Re1?! I did not find the right response which is 22. Ne5 Kg8 23. Nexc6 Rd7 24. Be5 (24. Nb8 Rd5 25. Nxa6 Nxa6 26. Rd2 Ra5 27. Ne6 Bg7 28. Rd8+ Kf7 29. Nxg7 Kxg7 30. Rd7) 22... Rc8 23. Ne5 Maybe better is 23. Bd2 Nd7 24. Ne6 Kg8 ( Even worse for black is 24... Rb8 25. Nxf8 Nxf8 26. Rxe7) 25. Nxf8 Kxf8 26. Bxb4 23... Bb7 24. Nb3 this is a weak move. Still better is 24. Bd2 a5 25. c3 bxc3 26. Bxc3 24... Nxb3 25. axb3 Bg7 Black pins my knight and my pawn on b2. This was actually a mistake, but then again I did not see the right response. 26. Nd3 This is the right response 26. Nf7+ Kg8 27. Rxe7 Ba6 28. Nh6+ Kh8 (Even worse is 28... Bxh6 29. Bxh6) 29. Ng4 Bxb2 30. c4 Threatening Rxa7 26... a5 27. Rxe7 Ba6 28. Nc5 Bf8 29. Ra7 Bxc5 30. Be5+ I do not know why I really want it complicated, but my coach sometimes is upset why I do not go for simple moves. 30. Rxa6! Clearly, this is simple and a better move! 30... Kg8 31. Rxa6 Re8 32. Bg3 Bd4 33. Rxc6 Bxb2 34. Ra6 Re2 35. Rxa5 Rxc2 36. Ra4 At this point I thought I was heading for a draw. I missed so many chances to try to win this game. I was so tired also and my opponent was offering me a draw. During this game, black offered me draw 4 times. 36... Ba3? 37. Bd6! Finally, I find the right response! 37... Bb2 38. Rxb4 I was hoping my opponent will fall for an apparent pin. Hope chess is not good way to play chess especially if you are aiming for a trophy in the Nationals. But then, it was a right move even though I was hoping for my opponent to make mistake. 38... Ba3?? Black blundered here. My hope becomes a reality! Black hanged its bishop. 39. Rb8+ Now I am winning! 39... Kg7 40. Bxa3 Rc3?? My opponent made another mistake! 41. Bb2 and the rest was easy for me. 41... Kh6? Another mistake, now white can forced-mate black. I do not even need my outside passed pawn. 42. Bxc3 g5 43. Rb6+ Kh5 44. g4+ Kh4 45. Rh6# After almost a 4-hour game, after my last move, I extended my hand to my opponent. I really cannot celebrate because she was my friend. I know that I will have trophy and she will not. We both deserve to have trophies. She really played so well during the whole tournament and I hope next time, we will both be in the top 20 receiving awards. 1-0 [Capocyan,Sam Lander]

1. e4 e5 2. Qh5 Nc6 3. Bc4 g6 4. Qf3 Nf6 5. g4 d6 6. g5 Bg4 7. Qg3 Nd4 8. Na3 d5 9. Qxe5+ Be7 10. Qxd4 dxc4 11. Qxc4 Be6 12. Qb5+ Bd7 13. Qxb7 O-O 14. gxf6 Bxf6 15. Qd5 Qe7 16. d3 Be6 17. Qc6 Bg4 18. Bh6 Rfe8 19. f3 Bxb2 20. Rb1 Bxa3 21. fxg4 Qd8 22. Qc3 Bf8 23. Bxf8 Kxf8 24. Qc5+ Qe7 25. Qxe7+ Rxe7 26. Ne2 Rd8 27. O-O h5 28. h3 h4 29. Nf4 g5 30. Ng6+ Kg7 31. Nxe7 Re8 32. Nf5+ Kg6 33. Rb7 Re6 34. Rxc7 f6 35. Ne7+ Kf7 36. d4 Rxe4 37. Nf5+ Kg6 38. d5 a5 39. d6 Re8 40. d7 Rd8 41. Ne7+ Kf7 42. Nc6 1-0

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 dxc4 4. Bxc4 Nf6 5. Ne2 e6 6. O-O Bd6 7. Nbc3 O-O 8. f4 Nbd7 9. e4 Nb6 10. b3 Bb4 11. a3 Bxc3 12. Nxc3 Nbd7 13. h3 b5 14. Bd3 Bb7 15. e5 Nd5 16. Ne4 Qb6 17. Bb1 c5 18. Nd6 Bc6 19. Qd3 g6 20. Bb2 cxd4 21. Bxd4 Qa6 22. g4 N7b6 23. f5 Nc8 24. Nxc8 Qxc8 25. f6 a6 26. Qd2 Kh8 27. Ra2 Qd7 28. h4 Rad8 29. Qh6 Nxf6 30. Bc5 Qd5 31. exf6 Qh1+ 32. Kf2 Qf3+ 33. Ke1 Rd1# Black mates 0-1

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. a4 a6 5. Bxd7+ Qxd7 6. Qe2 Nc6 7. c3 g6 8. O-O Bg7 9. Re1 e5 10. d3 Nge7 11. Be3 O-O 12. Nbd2 f5 13. exf5 Nxf5 14. Nb3 Nxe3 15. Qxe3 Qf5 16. Rad1 Rae8 17. Re2 Qf4 18. Qe4 Qxe4 19. dxe4 Rd8 20. Red2 Rf6 21. Nxc5 dxc5 22. Rxd8+ Nxd8 23. Rxd8+ Rf8 24. Rd5 b6 25. Rd6 Rb8 26. b4 cxb4 27. cxb4 Bf8 28. Rd5 Rc8 29. g3 Bxb4 30. Nxe5 Rc1+ 31. Kg2 Ra1 32. Rd8+ Kg7 33. Rd7+ Kg8 34. Nc4 Bc5 35. Rb7 Rxa4 36. Nxb6 Bxb6 37. Rxb6 Rxe4 1/2-1/2

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. h3 Be7 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. a4 Nd4 8. b4 d5 9. Nxd5 Nxf3+ 10. Qxf3 Nxd5 11. Bxd5 Bxb4+ 12. Bd2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2 c6 14. Bc4 Qf6 15. Rab1 Rb8 16. Qxf6 gxf6 17. g4 Be6 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. Rhg1 b6 20. Ke3 h6 21. f4 exf4+ 22. Kxf4 c5 23. Ke3 Kf7 24. Rbf1 Ke7 25. h4 Rg8 26. e5 Rbf8 27. g5 hxg5 28. hxg5 fxg5 29. Rxf8 Kxf8 30. Kf3 Kf7 31. Kg4 Ke7 32. Rf1 Rh8 33. Kxg5 Rh2 34. c3 Rg2+ 35. Kf4 Ra2 36. Rh1 Rf2+ 37. Ke3 Rf7 38. Ke4 a6 39. Rh8 Rf8 40. Rxf8 Kxf8 41. d4 cxd4 42. cxd4 Ke7 43. d5 b5 44. d6+ Kd7 45. axb5 axb5 46. Kd4 1-0

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. e3 cxd4 5. exd4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Bxd2+ 7. Qxd2 O-O 8. Nc3 d5 9. b3 Nc6 10. Be2 a6 11. O-O Qc7 12. Rac1 dxc4 13. bxc4 Rd8 14. Rfd1 e5 15. d5 e4 16. Ng5 Bf5 17. Qe3 Ne5 18. Ncxe4 Neg4 19. Bxg4 Nxg4 20. Qg3 Qxg3 21. Nxg3 Bg6 22. Nf3 Rac8 23. h3 Nf6 24. d6 Ne4 25. Nxe4 Bxe4 26. c5 Bf5 27. g4 Be6 1-0

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nxe4 4. O-O Bc5 5. d3 O-O 6. dxe4 Re8 7. Bg5 Re7 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. Nc3 Nc6 10. Nb5 Rb8 11. Nxc7 d6 12. Nb5 Bd7 13. Ng5 Qxg5 14. a4 Bg4 15. Be2 Be6 16. Nc7 Bd7 17. Bb5 Rc8 18. Nd5 Be6 19. Nc3 a6 20. Bxc6 Rxc6 21. Rb1 b5 22. b3 Bg4 23. axb5 Bxd1 24. bxc6 Bxc2 25. c7 Qe7 26. c8=Q+ Qf8 27. Qxf8+ Kxf8 28. b4 Be3 29. fxe3 Bxb1 30. Rxb1 d5 31. Nxd5 f6 32. Ra1 Kf7 33. Rxa6 Kg6 34. b5 Kg5 35. b6 1-0

1. e4 c5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Nf3 d6 4. d3 Nf6 5. Be3 e6 6. Nc3 Bd7 7. a3 a6 8. Qd2 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Ne2 Qc7 11. Ng3 d5 12. Bb3 b5 13. c4 d4 14. Bg5 Rfe8 15. e5 Ng4 16. Bxe7 Nxe7 17. Qg5 Nh6 18. Nh5 Ng6 19. Nh4 Qxe5 20. Qxe5 Nxe5 21. cxb5 Bxb5 22. Nf4 Nxd3 23. Nxd3 Bxd3 24. Rfd1 Be4 25. f3 Bd5 26. Ba4 Rec8 27. Rac1 g5 28. Rd3 gxh4 29. Rf1 Bc4 30. Bd7 Rc7 31. Bxe6 fxe6 32. Re1 Bxd3 33. Rxe6 Nf7 34. a4 Kf8 35. Re1 Rb8 36. Rd1 c4 37. h3 Rxb2 38. Kh2 Ng5 39. Rg1 Nxf3+ 40. Kh1 Nxg1 41. Kxg1 Rf7 42. Kh1 Rff2 43. Kg1 Rxg2+ Black resigns 0-1

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Be7 4. a3 O-O 5. Bg5 a6 6. h4 h6 7. Be3 b5 8. Ba2 c5 9. Qd2 Ng4 10. Nf3 Nxe3 11. fxe3 d6 12. Nc3 Bb7 13. Nd5 Bxd5 14. Bxd5 Ra7 15. O-O-O a5 16. g4 Nd7 17. Rdf1 a4 18. Qg2 b4 19. axb4 cxb4 20. g5 h5 21. g6 a3 22. bxa3 Rxa3 23. Ng5 Qc7 24. Bxf7+ Kh8 25. Qe2 Ra1+ 0-1

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 Bf5 5. g3 Nbd7 6. Bg5 e6 7. Bg2 Bb4 8. O-O O-O 9. a3 Bxc3 10. bxc3 h6 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. c5 e5 13. e4 dxe4 14. Nh4 exd4 15. Nxf5 Qxf5 16. cxd4 Rad8 17. Rc1 Ne5 18. Qb3 Nf3+ 19. Bxf3 exf3 20. Rc3 Rxd4 21. Rxf3 Qxc5 22. Qxb7 Qb6 23. Qe7 a5 24. Rc1 f6 25. Qc5 Rd1+ 26. Kg2 Qxc5 27. Rxc5 Rc8 28. Rxa5 c5 29. Rc3 c4 30. Ra4 Rd3 31. Rcxc4 Rxc4 32. Rxc4 Rxa3 1/2-1/2

1. d4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. Bf4 Nd7 5. Nc3 e6 6. e5 dxe5 7. dxe5 Ne7 8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O a6 10. Ne4 Nd5 11. Bh6 Qe7 12. Bxg7 Kxg7 13. h4 h6 14. g4 Nc5 15. Qd4 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 f5 17. gxf5 Rxf5 18. Rg1 Qf7 19. Bd3 Rxf3 20. Rxg6+ Kf8 21. Rdg1 Qf4+ 22. Qxf4+ Rxf4 23. Rg8+ Ke7 24. Rh8 Kd7 25. Rg7+ Kc6 26. Rgg8 Nb6 27. f3 Kc5 28. Rd8 Rxh4 29. c3 a5 30. a3 a4 31. b4+ axb3 32. Kb2 white resigns 0-1

1. e4 e6 2. d4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Nc3 b6 5. e5 Bb7 6. d5 exd5 7. Nxd5 c6 8. Bg5 Qc8 9. Nf6+ Nxf6 10. exf6 Bf8 11. Qe2+ Kd8 12. Ne5 Kc7 13. Nxf7 Rg8 14. Bf4+ d6 15. Rd1 Ba6 16. c4 Nd7 17. Qe6 Nc5 18. Bxd6+ Kb7 19. Nd8+ Qxd8 20. Qxg8 Bxd6 21. Qf7+ Kb8 22. Qg7 Qe8+ 23. Be2 Bxc4 24. Rd2 1/2-1/2

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nc3 a6 7. c5 b6 8. b4 Bb7 9. Bd3 Nc6 10. Qb1 Nd7 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. Bxh7+ Kh8 13. Bd3 Qf6 14. O-O g6 15. b5 axb5 16. Nxb5 bxc5 17. Nxc7 Rab8 18. dxc5 Ba6 19. Qd1 Bxd3 20. Qxd3 Nxc5 21. Qe2 Rb2 22. Qd1 Ne4 23. Na6 Nc3 24. Qd3 Na5 25. Nc5 Rd8 26. Qd4 Ne2+ 27. Kh1 Nxd4 0-1

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Bf5 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 e6 7. Bd3 Bg6 8. Bxg6 hxg6 9. Ne5 Be7 10. c5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Ne4 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Qd4 Rd8 15. Qxe4 Qxc5 16. O-O Rd5 17. f4 Rh4 18. g3 Rxe5 19. Qxe5 Qxe5 20. fxe5 Re4 21. Rad1 Rxe5 22. Rd3 f5 23. Rfd1 g5 24. Kf2 Rb5 25. b3 Ke7 26. Rd7+ Kf6 27. Rc7 g6 28. Rdd7 Ra5 29. a4 Rc5 30. Rxb7 Rc2+ 31. Kf3 g4+ 0-1