White insists on keeping his dark-square Bishop, even though it sinks him.

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. Nf3 Be7 4. e3 h6 5. Bh4 Nc6 5... b6 and 5... Ne4 are the book moves. 6. Bd3 b6 7. Nbd2 Bb7 8. a3 O-O 9. Qe2 d6 10. O-O Nd7 11. Bg3 e5 12. Ba6 Qc8 13. Bxb7 Qxb7 14. c3 I like 14. d5!? Ncb8 15. c4 , gunning for a Queenside space advantage. 14... f5 15. dxe5 Ncxe5 16. Rad1 Rae8 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Nf3 It's better to keep the Knight, since the wBg3 has trouble finding something to do. 18. Bxe5 dxe5 19. e4 18... Nxf3+ 19. Qxf3 Qxf3 20. gxf3 g5 21. f4 g4 22. Kg2 h5 23. h3 Kf7 23... h4 is more accurate. 24. hxg4 h4 25. Bh2?! White should sacrifice this useless Bishop for three pawns. 25. gxf5 hxg3 26. fxg3 25... fxg4 26. Rh1 Rh8 27. Rdg1 Burying all the pieces in the corner can't be right. 27. f3 h3+ 28. Kf1 Reg8 29. fxg4 Rxg4 30. Rd2 puts up more resistance, although Black's still better. 27... Reg8 28. Kf1? 6rr/p1p1bk2/1p1p4/8/5Ppp/P1P1P3/1P3P1B/5KRR b - - 0 28 28... g3! 29. Rg2 The Bishop's gone, so why not kamikaze it for the enemy passed pawn? 29. fxg3 hxg3 30. Bxg3 Rxh1 31. Rxh1 Rxg3 29... gxh2 30. Rgxh2 Rg7 and Black won. 1-0 [Ryan/Fritz 9]

This game feels almost identical to Santillan-Hammad from the Albuquerque Open! Again, White is allowed to launch a crushing attack.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. O-O Nbd7 9. f4 exf4 10. Bxf4 Ne5 11. Kh1 Be7 12. Qe1 O-O 13. Rd1 Qc7 14. Qg3 Rad8 15. Nd4 b5 I'm guessing this move isn't book because some preliminary defense of the K-side is needed. 15... Kh8 and 15... Rfe8 both accomplish this goal. 16. a3 Ng6 17. Bc1 Qc8? One moment's breath is all White needs to gain a formidable initiative. 17... Qb7 18. Bf3 Qd7 18. Nf5! Bxf5 18... Kh8 19. Nxe7 Nxe7 20. Bg5 Nfg8 21. Rxd6 is just as bad. 19. exf5 Ne5 20. Bh6 If Black had played 15...Rfe8, he could have answered this with ...Bf8. 20... Ne8 20... g6 21. Qh4! zeros in on the loose Nf6. Saving the Rook makes matters worse: 21... Rfe8 22. Bg5 Ned7 23. fxg6 fxg6 (23... hxg6 24. Rf3 is a killer Rook-lift) 24. a4! takes over the whole board. Once wBe2 lands on c4, Black's game will collapse. 21. Nd5 Qb7 Sadly, Black's 'best' is 21... Kh8 . The text invites a vicious assault. 3rnrk1/1q2bppp/p2p3B/1p1NnP2/8/P5Q1/1PP1B1PP/3R1R1K w - - 0 22 22. f6 Bxf6 23. Nxf6+ Kh8 24. Nxe8 24. Bxg7+ Nxg7 25. Qh3 is even more sadistic. 24... Ng6 25. Bxg7+ Kg8 26. Bxf8 Kxf8 27. Nxd6 1-0 [Ryan/Fritz 9]

Black is rather fortunate that his gift of a pawn is returned.

1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. g3 Nc6 5. Bg2 Nf6 6. Ngf3 Qc7 7. O-O Be7 8. Re1 O-O 9. Nf1 dxe4 10. dxe4 Rd8 11. Qe2 e5 12. c3 Bg4 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Ne3 This is probably why 12...Bg4 isn't book. 15... Be6 16. b3 a6 17. Rad1 b5 18. Nd5 Bxd5? Loses the e5 pawn, and gives White a passed d-pawn. 19. exd5 Ne7 20. Nxe5 Rab8? Black had two tricks to watch out for - this avoids only one of them. 1r1r2k1/2q1npp1/p4b1p/1ppPN3/8/1PP3P1/P3QPBP/3RR1K1 w - - 0 21 21. f4 After 21. Ng4! Black must choose between a fractured K-side or 21... Bxc3 22. Qxe7 Rd7 23. Qe4 Bxe1 24. Rxe1 and the minor pieces can harass any blockaders of the d-pawn. 21... c4 22. Qh5 22. bxc4 bxc4 23. Qxc4 wins a 2nd pawn. 22... Bxe5 23. Qxe5 Qc5+ 23... Qa7+ 24. Kh1 Nc8 25. f5 24. Qd4 More accurate is 24. Kh1 , diverting the N from the d-pawn's path before playing Qd4. 24... Qxd4+ 25. Rxd4 Nf5 26. Rd2 cxb3 26... Nd6 and a defensive stance is indicated. 27. axb3 Rbc8 28. Rd3 28. Bh3! is a really annoying pin. 28... Rc5 29. Kf2 Kf8 30. Ra1 Rd6 31. Rc1 Ke7 32. c4 Kd8 32... Rb6 33. b4? Returns the favor of Black's 18th. 33. g4 boots the horse and paves the way for wK to advance. 33... Rxc4 34. Rdc3? 34. Rxc4 bxc4 35. Rc3= 34... Ne7 34... Rxb4 puts Black in the driver's seat with his two connected passers and extra pawn. 35. Rxc4 bxc4 36. Rxc4 Kd7 37. Rd4 Rb6 38. d6 Rxd6 39. Rxd6+ Kxd6 40. Bb7 Nd5 41. Bxa6 Nxb4 1/2-1/2 [Ryan/Fritz 9]

Both players throw caution to the wind, and an amusing Q trap results.

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Bc4 e6 6. Bf4 a6 7. Nf3 b5 8. Bb3 d6 8... Nge7 9. O-O Ng6 10. Bg3 Be7 11. Qe2 O-O is a more solid line for Black. 9. Rc1 Bb7 10. O-O Nf6 11. Qe2 Be7 12. Rfd1 Nh5 13. Be3 g6? Wasting time and weakening the dark squares. Priority #1 is getting the K to safety. 13... O-O 14. e5 Na5 15. g4 Nxb3 16. axb3 Nf6 17. exf6 Bxf6 gives Black compensation for his slight material deficit in the form of weak White pawns. 14. Nd4? 14. e5 Qc7 15. exd6 Bxd6 16. a4! gains a nice initiative with Black still uncastled. 14... Nxd4 15. Bxd4 O-O 16. e5 Nf4 17. Qg4 b4 18. exd6? 18. Qxf4 Bg5 19. Qg3 Bxc1 20. Rxc1 bxc3 21. exd6 cxb2 22. Bxb2 is fine for White. Black has to worry about both the dark squares and passed d-pawn. 18... Bg5? A trap that shouldn't work. 18... Bxd6 19. Be3 h5 20. Rxd6 hxg4 21. Rxd8 Rfxd8 22. Bxf4 bxc3 23. bxc3 r2q1rk1/1b3p1p/p2Pp1p1/6b1/1p1B1nQ1/1BN5/PP3PPP/2RR2K1 w - - 0 19 19. Be3?? 19. h4 Bh6 20. Ne2! Nxe2+ 21. Qxe2 gets White out of the jam. 21... Bxc1? 22. Qe5! f6 23. Qxe6+ Kg7 24. Rxc1 gives White a winning attack. 19... h5 20. Qg3 h4 21. Qg4 f5 22. Bxe6+ Kh7 23. Bxf5 gxf5 0-1 [Ryan/Fritz 9]

Munir avenged his ABQ Open loss to Carlos. In a sharp Sicilian struggle, Black's e-pawn emerges as the deciding factor.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Be7 8. Kh1 O-O 9. a4 Nc6 10. Be3 Bd7 11. f4 Rc8 12. Nb3 Re8 The book move 12... Na5 seems better, ensuring the N can get to c4. 13. a5 Bf8 14. Bf3 e5 14... Nb4 and if 15. g4 then 15... Bc6 . 15. f5 15. g4! shows that Black's last move wasn't timed well. 15... exf4? isn't possible because 16. Bb6 Qe7 17. g5 wins a piece. 15... Nb4 16. Qd2 d5 17. Bb6 Qe7 18. exd5 18. Rad1 d4 19. Nxd4!? exd4 20. Bxd4 and White's pawn duo gives him compensation. 18... e4 18... Bxf5 19. d6 Qxd6 20. Bxb7 Bxc2 21. Bxc8 Rxc8 22. Qxd6 Bxd6 23. Nc1 and Fritz believes Black's two Bishops and passed e-pawn gives him more than enough compensation for the material. 19. Bd1 White cooperates too readily with his opponent's wishes. 19. Rae1 Bxf5 20. g4 pries a defender off the e-pawn. 19... e3 20. Qd4 Bb5 Aggressive, but it should also cost Black his passed pawn. 20... Rxc3! 21. bxc3 e2 22. Bxe2 Nxc2 23. Qd1 Qxe2 24. Qxe2 Rxe2 21. d6? 2r1rbk1/1p2qppp/pB1P1n2/Pb3P2/1n1Q4/1NN1p3/1PP3PP/R2B1R1K b - - 0 21 21. Re1 e2 22. d6 Qd7 (22... exd1=Q? 23. dxe7 Qxd4 24. exf8=R+ Kxf8 25. Nxd4 leaves White up a pawn) 23. Nxe2 Nxc2 24. Bxc2 Rxc2 21... Qxd6 21... Qd7! stops the pawn cold and threatens both ...Rc4 and ...Bxf1. 22. Nxb5 Re4 is merely a different way to lose the Queen, while ( 21... Qd7 ) 22. Nc5 Rxc5 23. Bxc5 Bxf1 24. Bxb4 e2 wins a piece for two pawns. 22. Qxd6 Bxd6 23. Nxb5 axb5 24. Re1 Nfd5 25. Bd4? Nxc2 26. Bxc2 Rxc2 27. g3 27. Rac1 Rxc1 28. Nxc1 exchanges the troublesome Black Rook and gives White a chance to blockade the pawn. 27... Bb4 28. Rec1 Rec8 29. Rxc2 Rxc2 30. Rc1 e2 31. Rxc2 e1=Q+ 0-1 [Ryan/Fritz 9]

White invades the Queenside early and remains dominant there for the remainder of the game.

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bc4 Bg4? 7. Qb3 7. Bxf7+! Kxf7 8. Ng5+ wins a pawn and displaces the enemy King. 7... e6 8. Qxb7 Qc8? 8... Nge7 9. Bb5 Qc8 10. Qxc8+ Rxc8 limits the damage. 9. Ba6 Nge7 10. Nb5 Qxb7 11. Bxb7? The intermezzo 11. Nxd6+! Kd7 12. Bxb7 Rb8 13. Nxf7 Bxf3 14. gxf3 Rg8 15. Bxc6+ Nxc6 16. Bf4! keeps White on top. 11... Rd8 12. Be3 Bxf3 13. gxf3 Rd7 14. Rd1 14. O-O-O connects the Rooks and defends the b2 pawn. 14... Nd8? 14... d5 15. exd5 Na5 16. Ba8 Nxd5 17. Bxd5 exd5 18. Bxa7 Bb4+ at least completes development, although Black's still down a pawn. 15. Nxd6+ 15. Ba6 threatens Nxa7/d6 and Bb5. At best, Black will have to lose an exchange. 15... Nec6 16. Bc8 15... Rxd6 16. Rxd6 Nxb7 17. Ra6 Nc8 18. Ke2 Bd6 19. Rc1 Kd7 20. Bxa7 20. h3 Bb8 20... Bxh2 21. Bd4 e5 22. Bb6 Nbd6? The Knights are now just targets. 22... Nxb6 23. Rxb6 Nd8= 23. Rc7+ Ke6 24. Ra8 24. Bc5 and Rxc8 wins 2 Knights for the Rook. 24... Re8 25. Bc5 Bf4 26. a4 h5 27. a5 h4 28. a6 h3 29. Kf1 h2 30. Kg2 Rh8 31. Kh1 Rh6 R1n5/2R2pp1/P2nk2r/2B1p3/4Pb2/5P2/1P3P1p/7K w - - 0 32 32. Be3! Quashes Black's bid to steal the game with ...Rg6-g1#. 32... Nb6 33. Rb8 Nbc4 34. Bxf4 exf4 35. a7 and White won. 1-0 [Ryan/Fritz 9]

1. Nc3 d5 2. e4 e6 3. exd5 exd5 4. d4 f5 5. Bf4 Nf6 6. f3 Prevents ...Ne4, but Fritz prefers 6. Qf3 . 6... Be7 7. Qd2 Nc6?! 8. Nb5 Bb4 9. c3 Better is 9. Nxc7+ Qxc7 10. Bxc7 Bxd2+ 11. Kxd2 Nxd4 . 9... Ba5 10. Qe3+ 10. O-O-O 10... Kf7 11. O-O-O Re8 12. Qf2 a6 13. Na3 Qe7 threatening ...Bxc3, but better was 13... b5 starting an attack on the Q-side. 14. Nc2 Be6 15. Nh3 h6 16. Bd3 Kg8 17. Rde1 Qd7 18. Rhg1 18. Qh4 18... Bf7 19. Qd2 Rxe1+ 20. Rxe1 Kh7  20... Re8 21. g4 Now white is winning as the defence of the kingside creates awkward piece placement. 21... Bg6 22. g5 hxg5 23. Bxg5 Threatening to destroy the K-side pawns with Bxf6. 23... Qd6? a blunder that seals Black's fate. Black overlooked the continuation 23... Qd6 24. Bxf6 Qxf6 25. Ng5+ Kg8 26. Re6 winning the bishop. Better was 23... Nh5 with chances. 24. Bxf6 gxf6 25. Nf4 Ne7 r7/1pp1n2k/p2q1pb1/b2p1p2/3P1N2/2PB1P2/PPNQ3P/2K1R3 w - - 0 26 25... Rg8 is the last chance for counterplay. 26. Re6 Qd7 27. Qe1 Re8 28. Qh4+ Kg7 29. Qxf6+ Kh7 30. Nxg6 Nxg6 31. Qxg6+ Kh8 32. Qh6+ Kg8 33. Rg6+ Kf7 34. Qg7# 1-0 [Damian Nash/Fritz 8]

1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 e5 White was carrying a "New In Chess" magazine with him, so Black uses the oldest defence, played by Philidor. 4. O-O Be7 5. c3 Nf6 6. Re1 Bg4 7. h3 Bh5 8. a4 8. d4 8... Nxe4 9. Bxf7+ Bxf7 10. Rxe4 O-O 10... d5 11. d3 Kh8 12. Re1 Bh5 13. Nbd2 Bg5 14. Qc2 Bxd2 15. Nxd2 d5 An interesting tactic follows 15... Rxf2 16. Kxf2 Qh4+ 17. Kf1 Rf8+ 18. Nf3 Bxf3 19. Be3 Bd1+ 20. Qf2 Rxf2+ 21. Bxf2 . 16. Nf1 Qf6 17. Ng3 Bg6 18. Rf1 Rae8 19. f3 19. Be3 19... Qd6 20. Qf2? Bxd3 Black has had the better game since move 8 and after White's mistake is now clearly winning. 21. Rd1 Bg6 21... e4 is bolder and better. 22. b4 e4 23. b5 Ne5? Black returns the favor with interest. 23... Ne7 24. Ba3 Qe6 24... e3! and Black is still in the game, because if 25. Qxe3 Nxf3+ 26. Qxf3 Qb6+ 27. Rd4 Rxf3 28. gxf3 . 25. Bxf8 Rxf8 26. Qc5 Qf6 27. fxe4 b6 28. Qd4 28. Qe3 28... Qg5 29. Rf1 29. Kh2 avoids what follows. 5r1k/p1p3pp/1p4b1/1P1pn1q1/P2QP3/2P3NP/6P1/R4RK1 b - - 0 29 29... Nf3+! This sacrific e simultaneously 1) forks the King and Queen (making 30. Kf2?? impossible), 2) closes off the f-file to stop white's mate threat on f8, and 3) forces open the g-file for Black's Queen to enter White's King position with great effect. 30. Kh1? 30. Rxf3 is the only playable move here, although it leads to an inferior endgame. If 30. gxf3 , Black has the wicked continuation 30... Qxg3+ 31. Kh1 Qxh3+ 32. Kg1 Qg3+ 33. Kh1 Rf4! when mate can only be stopped by sacrificing the Queen with 34. exd5 . 30... Qxg3 31. Qf2?? Time pressure creates hallucinations, but in any case White is already lost. 31... Qh2# 0-1 [Damian Nash/Fritz 8]

White first shuts down Black's Queenside play before attacking on the other wing.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 Na5 9. Bc2 c5 10. h3 O-O 11. d4 cxd4 12. cxd4 Qc7 13. Bg5 Bb7 14. Nbd2 Rac8 15. Rc1 h6 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. d5 g6? 17... Qb6 18. Nf1 18. b4 Nc4 19. Bd3 uses the pin to win the b5 pawn. 18... Bg7 19. Ne3 Qb6 20. Qd2 Rc7 21. Bd3 Rxc1 22. Rxc1 b4 23. Nc4 Nxc4 24. Rxc4 a5 25. Qc2 Bf6 26. Nh2 Bd8 27. Ng4 Kg7 28. b3 f5 29. exf5 Bxd5 3b1r2/6k1/1q1p2pp/p2bpP2/1pR3N1/1P1B3P/P1Q2PP1/6K1 w - - 0 30 30. f6+ Kh8? 30... Bxf6 31. Rc7+ Rf7 32. Nxf6 Kxf6 33. Rc8= White's pressure is enough to recover the pawn. 31. Bxg6 31. Rc8 Bb7 (31... Be6 32. Bxg6! Bxc8 33. Qd2 invades decisively on h6) 32. Bc4! (threatens Qxg6) 32... e4 33. Rb8 threatens both Bd5 and Qd2 (attacking h6 and d6 at once). Black is lost. 31... Bxc4 32. Qd2 Rxf6?? Black has nothing better than a pawn-down endgame. 32... Qc7 33. Qxh6+ Kg8 34. Be4! Rxf6 (34... Rf7 35. bxc4 Qxc4 36. Qd2!! Qxe4 37. Nh6+ Kf8 (37... Kh7 38. Nxf7 is just as bad) 38. Qxd6+ Ke8 39. Qe6+ wins the Rook and the Bishop after 39... Re7 40. fxe7 Bxe7 41. Nf5 [ 41... Qb7?? 42. Nd6+ ].) 35. Nxf6+ Bxf6 36. Qxf6 . 33. Qxh6+ Kg8 34. Qh7+ Kf8 35. Qh8+ Bg8 The scoresheet stops here, but 36.Nxf6 is an easy win for White...Black cannot even recapture. 1-0 [Ryan/Fritz 9]