Christopher Stapleton (1245) - David Noe (1051)
Calvin College, Grand Rapids
December 5, 2009

Notes by Eugene Brumley

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bd2 Nf6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.a3 Bxc3 7.Bxc3 dxc4 8.e3 b5

In the Queen's Gambit, Black should usually prefer to develop his pieces and castle over attempting to hold the gambited pawn.

9.a4 Ba6

The Bishop belongs on b7, where it eyes the White King, and more importantly, influences the center. 9...c6 10.axb5 cxb5 11.b3 Black cannot hold the gambited pawn.

10.axb5 Bxb5 11.Ra5

This is a one-move threat which does nothing to help White develop his pieces and castle.

11...a6 12.b3 Ne4

This is also a one-move threat which does not help Black to castle.

13.Qc2 Nxc3 14.Qxc3 cxb3 15.Bxb5 axb5 16.0-0

Good! Now White's king will be safe from any collateral damage resulting from the activity on the Queenside.

16...c6 17.Rxa8 Qxa8 18.Qb4

Good idea. White is trying to forestall Black from castling. With Black's King in the center, his Rook is out of the game, and his King is easier to harass.

18...Qa4 19.Qd6 b2 20.Qxc6

20.Nd2 After 21.Nb1 the b-pawn won't Queen and Black still isn't castled.

20...0-0 21.Qxd7 Qa1 22.Nd2

22.Qxb5 Prevents Black from queening the b-pawn.

22...Qc1 23.Qxb5

23.Nb1 Saves the Knight and prevents the pawn from queening.

23...Qxd2 24.Rb1 Qc1+

24...Rc8 A tactic. Now White cannot take the b-pawn due to his back-rank weakness. But if he doesn't take it, the pawn will Queen. White is lost here.

25.Qf1 Qxf1+ 26.Kxf1 Rb8 27.Ke2 Kf8 28.Kd2 Ke7 29.Kc2 Kd6 30.Rxb2 Rxb2+

30...Rc8+ This endgame should be a draw. Life Master Eric Fischvogt says, "All Rook Endgames are Drawn(!)" With the Rooks off of the board, Black lost the ability to harass the White King by checking it from a distance. The game is now lost for Black, although White still must show his ability to win from here.

31.Kxb2 Kd5 32.f3 f5 33.Kc3 g5 34.Kd3 h6 35.e4+ fxe4+ 36.fxe4+ Kd6 37.Ke3 Ke7 38.e5 h5 39.h4 g4 40.Kf4 Kf7 41.Kg5 g3 42.Kxh5 Kg7 43.Kg5 Kh7 44.Kg4 Kg6 45.Kxg3 Kf5 46.Kf3 Kg6 47.g4 Kh6 48.Kf4 Kg6 49.h5+ Kh6 50.Ke4 Kg5 51.d5 exd5+ 52.Kxd5 Kxg4 53.h6 Kf4 54.h7 Ke3 55.h8R Kd3 56.Rh4 Ke3 57.e6 Kf3 58.Ke5 Kg3 59.Ra4 Kf3 60.e7 Ke3 61.Ra3+ Kd2 62.Ke4 Kc2 63.Kd4 Kb2 64.Rh3 Kc2 65.e8R Kb2 66.Re2+

Black resigned.

1-0