(6) Ceponis,D (1834) - Riese,K (1804) [A35]
Berkeley Marathon (8), 23.04.2004
[Riese,Kayven]

1.Nf3 . . . . . . . . . . . . Diagram

[ 1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 c5 3.c4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nc2 Diagram

I have to get ahead of myself for expediency. In the fatbase, white is 13-3-6 in this line, but in the main text, white can acheive this position by losing a tempo. Veddy interesting. 5...Nc6 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.g3 Bc5 8.Bg2 d6 9.0-0 0-0 10.Be3 Bxe3 11.Nxe3 Be6 12.Qd2 Qd7 13.Ned5 Ne8 14.Rad1 f5 15.f4 Rd8 16.b3 Nc7 17.Nxc7 Qxc7 18.Bd5 Bxd5 19.Nxd5 Qf7 20.e3 Rde8 21.Qg2 Re6 22.Rd2 Rfe8 23.Rdf2 Qd7 24.fxe5 Rxe5 25.Qh3 Ne7 26.Nxe7+ Qxe7 27.Rxf5 Rxe3 28.Qg2 Re1 29.Rxe1 Qxe1+ 30.Rf1 1/2-1/2 Gruenfeld-Alekhine/Amsterdam 1936/FatBase 98 (30)] 1...c5 [ For a while now, I have become quite frustrated with parts of my repertoire, the English being a longstanding major branch of irritation. My friend Rico Adkins plays the English and he has talked my ear off a number of times about the nexus between the English and the Reti. I have toyed with a number of ideas. 1...d5 2.d3 c5 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 f6 5.Nc3 e5 Diagram

is a Saemich King's Indian with colors reversed. I was told that the Gruenfeld with colors reversed is the testing variation in Reno, I think I had a game in that one time. I won, but perhaps that was my opponent's fault, not the line. I haven't been able to find it but I thought I found a game where Spassky played this as black. ; Being that for my English Opening foibles, I made a decision to switch from 1..c5 to 1..e5, I came up with an idea to try to transpose in the Reti to these. 1...d6 2.Nc3 Diagram

( A big issue with 1..d6 is that allows many d pawn games via 2.d4, mainly King's Indian that I have never utilized so am not well versed. Also, I have found that this is quite a popular reaction. 2.d4 Diagram

2...Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.e4 g6 6.h3 Bg7 7.e5 dxe5 8.dxe5 Ng8 9.Bf4 e6 10.Be2 Ne7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Ne4 Nf5 13.Qc2 b6 14.Rad1 Qc7 15.Nd6 Nxd6 16.exd6 Qb7 17.Rfe1 e5 18.Be3 c5 19.Ng5 h6 20.Bf3 Qb8 21.Bxa8 Qxa8 22.Ne4 f5 23.Nc3 Rf6 24.Nd5 Re6 25.Nc7 Black resigns. 1-0 ceesk-riese/FICS, Fremont, California USA 2003 (25)) 2...e5 3.d4 Diagram

This is the testing reaction and competely destroys the idea of tranposing into any closed Sicilian with colors reversed. Oh, the irritations. 3...Nc6 4.d5 Nce7 5.e4 g6 6.Bb5+ Bd7 7.0-0 Bg7 8.Bxd7+ Qxd7 9.Be3 a6 10.Ng5 Nf6 11.Qf3 0-0 12.Rad1 h6 13.Nh3 Nh7 14.b3 f5 15.Qe2 f4 16.Bd2 g5 17.f3 Qe8 18.Qc4 Rc8 19.Qb4 b6 20.Nf2 a5 21.Qc4 Qg6 22.Nb5 Rfd8 23.Na7 h5 24.Nxc8 Rxc8 25.b4 axb4 26.Bxb4 g4 27.fxg4 hxg4 28.Rd3 g3 29.hxg3 fxg3 30.Nh1 Ng5 31.Nxg3 Black resigns. 1-0 IFDThor-riese/FICS, Fremont, California USA 2003 (31)] 2.c4 Nc6 3.d4 [ 3.Nc3 Nd4 Diagram

Allows the Anand line that I had just read before playing into it in Reno (see attached game). Because of this discovery, I decided to again allow the Symmetrical English. This game, sucess or not, might call to question this decision. Whether it does or not depends on this analysis. 4.e3 Nxf3+ 5.Qxf3 g6 6.b3 ( 6.d4 Diagram

In my Reno game, my opponent played 6...Bg7 7.d5 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 f5 I'm going after a "Dzidzi-Indian" type structure 9.Bd3 Nf6 10.0-0 0-0 11.Qg3 d6 12.f3 e5 13.dxe6 Bxe6 14.e4 Nh5 15.Qe1 ( 15.Bg5? Nxg3 16.Bxd8 Nxf1 ( 16...Raxd8? 17.hxg3 fxe4; 16...fxe4 17.hxg3 exd3 18.Be7 Rf5 19.g4 Re5) 17.Be7 Nd2 18.Rd1 Nxc4) 15...f4 16.g4? fxg3 17.f4 a) 17.Bh6 Bh3 18.Bxf8 Bxf1 (a) 18...gxh2+ 19.Kxh2 Bxf1 20.Bxf1 Qxf8; a) 18...Qxf8 19.Qd2 gxh2+) ; b) 17.Qd2 Bh3 18.Re1 Rxf3 (b) 18...gxh2+ 19.Qxh2 (b) 19.Kh1 Rxf3 20.Be2 Rf2) ) ; c) 17.Qe2 Qh4; 17...Qh4 ( 17...gxh2+ 18.Kxh2 a) 18.Kh1 Qd7 19.Kxh2; b) 18.Kf2? Qh4+ 19.Ke2 (b) 19.Ke3 h1Q (b) 19...Ng3 20.Kf3 Bg4+) 20.Rxh1 Qxf4+ 21.Ke2 Bg4#) ; ) 18.hxg3 Diagram

18...Nxg3 19.Rf3 Qh1+ 20.Kf2 Qh2+ 21.Ke3 Nh5 22.Qf2 Qxf2+ 23.Rxf2 Rae8 24.Kf3 Kg7 25.Bd2 Nf6 26.f5 Nd7 27.Rh1 Ne5+ 28.Ke2 Ng4 29.Rg2 Bxf5 30.Kd1 Bd7 31.Kc2 h5 32.Bg5 Rf3 33.Be2 Rf2 34.Rxf2 Nxf2 35.Rb1 Bc6 36.Bf3 Nxe4 37.Bh4 Rf8 38.Be2 g5 39.Be1 Kg6 40.Bd3 h4 41.Bd2 Rf2 42.Rd1 Kh5 0-1 Reyes,E-Riese,K/Reno Far West 2004/[Riese,Kayven] (42)) 6...Bg7 Diagram

7.Bb2 d6 8.g3 Rb8 9.Bg2 Nh6 10.Qd1 0-0 11.0-0 Bd7 12.a4 Bc6 13.d4 Bxg2 14.Kxg2 Rc8 15.Qd3 cxd4 16.exd4 Nf5 17.d5 Qb6 18.Nd1 Bxb2 19.Nxb2 e5 20.dxe6 fxe6 21.Rad1 Rf6 22.Rd2 e5 23.Qd5+ Kg7 24.Qb5 Qc7 25.c5 Qxc5 26.Qxb7+ Rc7 27.Qd5 Qb4 28.Rfd1 Rc5 29.Qa8 Qxb3 30.Nd3 Rc2 31.Qe4 Rc4 32.Qd5 Qc3 33.Rb2 Rd4 34.Rb7+ Kh6 35.Qb5 Ne3+ 36.Kg1 Qc2 37.Rf1 Rxd3 0-1 Tal-Anand/Cannes 1989/FatBase 98 (37)] 3...cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 Diagram

The day of this game was a fairly trying one, I guess with ups and downs. Starting with the downs, but ending with the ups. The spring season in which it was played was the first semester that I went for 9 units in my MSCS program at San Francisco State University. The problems of the day included a very work intensive operating systems course and a fairly frustrating encounter with group members of a graphics course. The graphics group included a very demanding group leader who today had to give me a talking to. If he had been my boss, I would have been fired. It was very interesting in that at this time in my life and in this particular situation I felt no intimidation, but of course it is not a good situation to be in. This was the nadir of the downs. On the upside, the professor for the operating systems course found my bug after two relatively short sessions of code revision and output feedback. Subsequent to that, I felt empowered to do these things on my own, as in this case, as is usually the case with these things, I had the, "oh my god I am so stupid I could have done that," response. Due to the prolonged afternoon computer lab session, not surprisingly, I ran late for the chess game. At this point in the game, I felt despondent and willing to chuck it all. "Consarnt," I thought, "more repertoire issues." I had no idea if this move was "book," and I didn't care. I was ready to get the heck out of there and end the day, hoping for a better tommorrow. 6.Nxc6 David Ceponis put a question mark on this move, but there are precidents in the database. [ During the game, I felt 6.Ndb5 was the best choice, playing like a Shevnikov/Pelikan Sicilian. In light of the database search, Dave Ceponis's move actually has gained some favor (despite his "?") 6...d6 a) 6...a6? Diagram

viewing this as a possible Sveshnikov, this can't best. The hole on d6 in my opinion must be covered. There are some who seem to try to buck this trend in the Sicilian, most seem to agree. 7.Nd6+ Bxd6 8.Qxd6 h6 9.Be3 Qe7 10.Bc5 Qxd6 11.Bxd6 b6 12.e3 Bb7 13.0-0-0 0-0-0 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.cxd5 Nb8 16.Bxe5 f6 17.Bd6 a5 18.Kb1 Na6 19.Rc1+ 1-0 Marco Catala,J-Vazquez Marquinez,F/ESP-Cup5-14 corr 1991/Corr 2000 (19); b) 6...Bb4 Diagram

is somewhat interesting, but the whole on d6 is not being attended to. 7.a3? (b) 7.Nd6+ Bxd6 8.Qxd6 Diagram

transposes to some other lines I would consider better. The pawn on e5 is a bit out there in space, a cripple. 8...Qe7 9.Qxe7+ Kxe7 (b) 9...Nxe7 10.Bg5) 10.Bg5 Nb4 11.Rd1 h6 12.Bxf6+ Kxf6 13.Rd6+) 7...Bxc3+ 8.Nxc3 0-0 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3 Re8 12.e3 d6 13.h4 g4 14.h5 Nh7 15.Bh4 f6 16.Be2 Qd7 17.Ne4 Qe6 18.Nxd6 Rd8 19.c5 Kg7 20.Bc4 Qe7 21.Qc2 Nf8 22.Nf5+ Bxf5 23.Qxf5 Nh7 24.Qg6+ Kh8 25.Qxh6 e4 26.Qg6 Ne5 27.Qxe4 Qxc5 28.Be2 Rac8 29.0-0 Qb6 30.b3 1-0 Prepiora,V-Hlavacek,L/Moravia-ch7 corr9800 1998/Corr 2002 (30); 7.Bg5 Diagram

would be in a Pelikan/Sveshnikov spirit. White concentrates his forces toward the end of occupation of the d5 square. 7...a6 ( 7...Be6 8.Nd5 Bxd5 9.cxd5 1-0 Corti,M-Monica,V/ITA-ch1 email 1997/E-Mail 2000 (9)) 8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.Na3 f5 10.e3 Be6 11.Be2 Rc8 12.0-0 h5 13.Nd5 Bg7 14.Qd2 e4 15.Nf4 Be5 16.Rad1 Qa5 17.Qxa5 Nxa5 18.b3 h4 19.Nb1 Nc6 20.f3 Ke7 21.Nd2 Bxf4 22.exf4 Nd4 23.Kf2 Rhg8 24.Rg1 b5 25.Rc1 bxc4 26.Bxc4 d5 27.Ke3 dxc4 28.Kxd4 Rgd8+ 29.Ke3 Rd3+ 30.Ke2 c3 31.Nb1 Bd7 32.Rge1 Bb5 33.a4 c2 0-1 Brglez,F-Hebert,J/corr 1986/Corr 2000 (33); 6.Nc2 Diagram

would get to a position from Gruenfeld-Alekhine Amerstam 1936 but white has lost a tempo! Wow. I can't paste it into the game properly.] 6...bxc6 7.a3 [ I considered the position 7.e4 To tell the truth, this position in view was part of my despondent mood to end the day and start anew tomorrow. White threatens to clam down on my precious d5 point, but I suppose all is not lost, "it's a game," as they say. 7...Bb4 8.Bd2 Bxc3 9.Bxc3 Nxe4 10.Qg4 Ng5 11.h4 Ne6 12.Bxe5 f6 13.Bd6 Qb6 14.0-0-0 Qxf2 15.Bd3 Qe3+ 16.Kb1 Qh6 17.Rhe1 g6 18.c5 Kf7 19.Bc4 Re8 20.Rf1 a5 21.Qd4 Kg8 22.Rxf6 Ba6 23.Bxe6+ dxe6 24.Qe4 Qg7 25.Rxe6 Qd7 26.Rxe8+ Rxe8 27.Qf3 a4 28.Qc3 Qe6 29.Qa5 Bb5 30.Ka1 Qe2 31.Rc1 Qxg2 32.a3 Qe4 33.Bg3 Qf3 34.Be1 Qb3 35.Qc3 Qxc3 36.Bxc3 Re4 37.Be1 Kf7 38.Bg3 Ke6 39.Rd1 Rg4 40.Bf2 Kf5 41.Kb1 Rf4 42.Rd2 Rf3 43.Kc1 Bd3 44.Kd1 Kg4 45.Kc1 g5 46.hxg5 Kxg5 47.b3 axb3 48.Kb2 Bb5 49.Bg1 h5 50.Rd4 Rg3 51.Bf2 Rg2 52.Rd2 Kg4 53.Kxb3 Kf3 54.Be1 Rg1 55.Bf2 Rf1 56.Bd4 h4 57.Rh2 Kg4 58.Be5 Re1 59.Bd6 Re4 60.Bc7 h3 61.Bd6 Bc4+ 62.Kb4 Bf1+ 63.Ka5 Bg2 64.a4 Rc4 65.Bf8 Kf5 66.Bd6 Ke6 67.Bf8 Kf7 68.Bd6 Ke8 69.Kb6 Rxa4 70.Rxh3 Rb4+ 71.Kc7 Bxh3 72.Kxc6 Bg2+ 73.Kc7 Rb7+ 74.Kc8 Bc6 75.Bc7 Kf7 76.Kd8 Ra7 77.Bb8 Rd7+ 78.Kc8 Ke6 79.Bc7 Kd5 80.Bd6 Bb5 81.Bf8 Kc6 82.Bd6 Ba6+ 83.Kb8 Bb7 0-1 Ouellet,M-Roy,P/CCCA corr 1982/Corr 2000 (83); 7.Bg5 Diagram

From this position, I have found 3 games, white winning 2, and black the other. 7...Be7 ( 7...Rb8 8.Qc2 Qb6 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Rb1 Qa5 11.e3 Bb4 12.Bd3 Bb7 13.0-0 d5 14.a3 Bxc3 15.Qxc3 Qxc3 16.bxc3 Ke7 17.Rb4 Ba6 18.Ra4 Bxc4 19.Bxc4 dxc4 20.Rxa7+ Ke6 21.a4 Rb3 22.Rc7 Rxc3 23.Rxc6+ Ke7 24.Ra1 Rb8 25.Rc7+ Ke6 26.g4 Rc2 27.a5 Rbb2 28.Rf1 Ra2 29.Rc6+ Kd7 30.Rxf6 Ke7 31.Rf5 Ke6 32.Rh5 c3 33.Rh6+ Kd5 34.Rf6 Rcb2 35.Rc1 c2 36.Rb6 Ke4 37.Rc6 Kd3 38.Kf1 Kd2 39.Re1 Rb1 40.Rxc2+ Kxc2 41.Rxb1 Kxb1 42.e4 Kc2 43.Ke2 f6 44.a6 Rxa6 45.h4 Ra2 46.g5 fxg5 47.hxg5 Kc3+ 48.Ke3 Kc4 49.Kf3 Kd3 50.Kg2 Kxe4 51.Kg3 Kf5 52.Kf3 e4+ 53.Ke3 Ke5 0-1 Genius 2-Fritz4/1/97-44 CPT2 1996/FatBase 98 (53); 7...h6 8.Bh4 Bb4 9.Qc2 Qa5 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.a3 Bxc3+ 12.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 13.bxc3 Rb8 14.Kd1 Ba6 15.e3 Rb2 16.c5 Bxf1 17.Rxf1 Ke7 18.Rc1 Rhb8 19.Rc2 Ke6 20.c4 Rb1+ 21.Ke2 Rxf1 22.Kxf1 Rb3 23.Ke2 a5 24.a4 Rb4 25.Kd3 Rxa4 26.Kc3 Ra3+ 27.Kb2 Rd3 28.Re2 a4 29.Kc2 Rb3 30.Re1 Ra3 31.Kb2 Rd3 32.Re2 e4 33.Kb1 Ra3 34.Ra2 Rb3+ 35.Rb2 Rxb2+ 36.Kxb2 d5 37.cxd6 Kxd6 38.Ka3 Kc5 39.Kxa4 Kxc4 40.Ka3 Kc3 41.f3 c5 42.fxe4 c4 0-1 Rolle,P-Santa Torres,J/Dubai 1986/FatBase 98 (42); 7...Bb4 Diagram

) 8.Bxf6 Bxf6 ( Perhaps black should have trie 8...gxf6 Diagram

9.e4 d6 10.Bd3) 9.c5 Ba6 10.g3 0-0 11.Bg2 Rb8 12.Qa4 Qc8 13.b4 e4 14.Rc1 e3 15.fxe3 Re8 16.Ne4 Be5 17.Qb3 Qb7 18.0-0 d5 19.cxd6 Bxe2 20.Ng5 Qxb4 21.Qxf7+ Kh8 22.Bxc6 Bxf1 23.Rxf1 Rg8 24.Qxg8+ 1-0 Acosta Ruiz,F-Martinez,M/CUB corr 1975/Corr 2000 (24)] 7...d5 8.Bg5 [ 8.cxd5 cxd5 Diagram

seems more the way to refute black's play. White has to prove that black's center is weak. Perhaps he can eploit the open nature of the the position with the black king in the center. However, black is closer to castling than white. In the game, I utilized this fact to avoid castling all together, and eventually white's king got into a position worse than black's. 9.e3 a) During postgame analysis, Dave and I looked at 9.Qa4+ Bd7 10.Qb3 (a) Fritz suggests 10.Qa6 d4 11.Nb5 Diagram

11...Qb8 a1) 11...Qb6? 12.Qxb6 axb6 13.Nc7+; a2) 11...Ne4 12.e3 Nc5 (a2) 12...Bc5 13.Bd3) 13.Nd6+; 12.e3) 10...Bc6 11.Bg5 Be7 12.Rd1 Diagram

12...d4 a1) Fritz perfers either 12...Qa5 13.e3 0-0; a2) or 12...Rb8 13.Qc2 (a2) 13.Qa2) ; 13.Qc4 (a) 13.e3) 13...Qd6 (a) 13...Qb6 14.Bxf6) 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.e4 0-0 16.Nd5? Bxd5 17.exd5 Rfd8; b) 9.g3 Diagram

was another post-game consideration. 9...Be6 10.Bg2 d4 11.Ne4 (b) 11.Bxa8? Diagram

is not actually analogous to a Gruenfeld where white sacrifices an exchange (here you would view it as colors reversed), it's just an outright mistake for white. 11...Qxa8 Diagram

the Rh1 and Nc3 are both hanging. 12.Qa4+ Bd7) 11...Nd5 12.Bd2 Be7 13.Rc1 0-0 14.0-0 Qb6 15.b4 Rac8 16.Rxc8 Rxc8 17.Qb1 f5 18.Ng5 Bxg5 (b) 18...Nc3 is possible! but i think I perfer to keep my light squared bishop above the dark squared bishop.) 19.Bxg5-/+ Diagram

here, the c3 square is a beautiful outpost for either the rook or the knight.; 9...a6 10.Be2 Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.b4 Be6 13.Bb2 Qb8 14.Rc1 Rc8 15.Na4 Rxc1 16.Qxc1 a5 17.Nc5 axb4 18.axb4 0-1 Bumgardner,G-Hanegby,A/cr compuserve 1996/FatBase 98 (18)] 8...d4 Diagram

[ 8...dxc4 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.Ne4 Be7 11.Rd1+ ( 11.Bxf6 gxf6) 11...Kc7 12.Nd2 Be6 ( 12...c3 13.bxc3 Bxa3 14.Bxf6) 13.e3 Diagram

I don't especially like black's swiss cheese pawns, but the king on c7 seems content. ( 13.e4) ; 8...Bc5 Diagram

Post-game, we felt the text might have been the only move, however this position is clearly playable. 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.Bxf6 Qxf6 11.Nxd5? Qxf2+] 9.Ne4 Be7 10.Bxf6 gxf6 Diagram

I can really tell I am maturing as a chess player. I totally expect the game continuation, but instead of robotically implementing what had been only considered at the end of some analysis where only a cursory vision was possible, I carefully reconsidered the alternative capture. My center is all over his butt and I have the two bishops. I have played enough French Winauwers to be comfortable here.11.b4 f5 12.Ng3 e4 [ If 12...h5 Diagram

I didn't like the possible destruction of my monster center. 13.e3 h4 14.Ne2 Diagram

the text prepares a pawn push from a position like this.] 13.Qc2 h5 14.Rd1 a5! [ even Fritz agrees. 14...h4? Diagram

15.Nxe4 fxe4 16.Qxe4 Diagram

mainly, white gets three pawns for his piece, but also the black king could get into real trouble. White still needs to develop, but after d4 files he will have comfortable options. Long term, result will be decided based on what black can try to accomplish before this takes place. He must quickly utilize his extra piece to raise havoc and/or retrieve some pawns and/or create some compensation for his dangerous situation.] 15.Nxe4 axb4 Diagram

Instead of happily accepting the forced win of the knight, black strives for more. If white saves his knight, black now takes on a3 and has a monster passer. 16.a4 white choses to try to have a passer of his own, however, according to the engines, white is very bad now. 16...fxe4 [ Fritz rates 16...b3 as higher. 17.Qxb3 fxe4 18.Ra1 ( 18.Rd2 Qa5) 18...Qa5+ 19.Kd1] 17.Qxe4 Rxa4! Diagram

Fritz's favorite. 18.Qxc6+ Bd7 19.Qe4 Qa5! Diagram

continuing to compound threats. 20.f3 b3+ 21.Kf2 Kf8! Diagram

unpinning the Be7 so he can in turn pin a possible capturer of d4. 22.g3 h4 Diagram

I spy all sorts of weaknesses in white's current king camp. These include diagnols and the fact that the Bf1 and Rh1 can't play. My moves strive to ensure that these weaknesses are not rectified. 23.Bg2 h3 Diagram

this was the idea behind white's last move. 24.Bf1 b2 25.g4 Ra1 26.Qc2 [ I considered the fun possibility of 26.Rb1 Be6 27.Rxb2?? Diagram

27...Qe1+ 28.Kg1 Qxf1#] 26...Rxd1 27.Qxd1 Bh4+ [ Dave thought I should have played 27...Qa1 28.Qxd4 Diagram

28...b1Q 29.Qxd7 Qe1+ 30.Kg1 Qxf1#] 28.Kg1 Qc3 [ or maybe it was 28...Qa1 that Dave suggested. ] 29.Bxh3 Qe3+ mate in 1 0-1