[Event "Allegheny Chess Congress"]
[Site "Pittsburgh"]
[Date "1995.07.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Richard Lees (1900)"]
[Black "Denis Dancanet (unrated)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Opening "Sicilian Closed"]
[Coments "G/90"]

1. e4  c5
2. Nc3  Nc6
3. g3  
[Somewhat surprisingly my high-rated opponent decides to play the
 Closed Sicilian against me.  I would have expected a wild tactical
 tussle in the Open Sicilian.]
g6
4. Bg2  Bg7
5. d3  Rb8
[Silman recommends this move, to prepare the rapid advance of the b pawn.
 The most common alternative is 5. ... d6.  Amusingly, my opponent seemed
 somewhat taken aback by the move.  It is good to head off the beaten path
 as early as possible (with sound moves, hopefully).]
6. f4  b5
7. Nh3  e6
[The knight from f8 will be developed at e7, exerting pressure on f5.
 The development of the knight was delayed somewhat to prevent a rapid
 Be3-Qd2-Bh6 by White, which leads to a very strong attack.]
8. 0-0  Nge7
9. Be3  d6
10. Qd2  0-0
11. Kh1  
[Black has developed reasonably.  It is now time to play 11. ... b4, and
 after 12. Nd1 start opening up the queenside.  This is where Black's
 counterplay lies.  Instead, I became obsessed with 11. ... b4 12. Na4,
 not realizing that 12. ... Qa5 wins the knight, as White cannot play
 13. b3 without losing the exchange.  Perhaps the weakening of dark squares
 around the Black king is compensation for the exchange.  At any rate, my
 next move is quite bad, cramping up my queenside play.]
Ba6
12. a3  b4
[I should have recognized my mistake and moved the bishop back, before 
 playing this.]
13. axb4  Nxb4
14. g4  
[White continues his attack in thematic fashion.  Now I have to play
 14. ... f5, which puts a damper on the kingside activities.  Instead, I am
 still trying to fix my mistake from move 11, defending the a-pawn prior to
 a bishop move.  This allows White a strong attack.]
Qc7
15. f5  exf5
16. gxf5  Bb5
[An outright blunder that loses a piece.  I was so obsessed with the misplaced
 bishop, that I missed a simple fork.  My opponent shrugged at this move, not
 quite comprehending its purpose.  There was none.]
17. Nxb5  Rxb5
18. f6  Bh8
[It seemed like the lesser of two evils to lose the knight.]
19. fxe7  Qxe7
[I am now down a piece for a pawn, but amazingly I started playing
 better.  White is not able to generate a mating attack, and my pressure 
 on the queenside finally materializes, winning a pawn.]
20. c3  Nc6
21. Nf4  Rfb8
22. Rab1  Qb7
23. Rf2  Ne5
[Threatening Nf4.]
24. Bh3  Rb3
[Fixing the pawn on b2.]
25. Nd5  Qa6
[A good move with dual purpose, threatening Qa2 and Nxd3.]
26. Bh6  Bg7
[Defending against the threatened mate in 1.]
27. Bf1  Qa2
28. Bxg7  
[White has had enough, and forgets about any mating attack and defending
 the b2 pawn for a superior endgame.  I didn't realise my position would
 be hard to defend.]
Kxg7
29. Rc1  Rxb2
30. Rc2  Rxc2
31. Qxc2  Qxc2
32. Rxc2  
[I have 2 pawns for my knight.  Can I gain a draw?  My oponent did not 
 think so, pointing to my weak d and a pawns.  He's probably right.]
a5
[I was afraid of Ra2 followed by Nc7 and Nb5.]
33. Be2  h5
34. Kg2  Nd7
[Preparing Nf6 to get rid of the obnoxious White knight.  I missed
 completely the coming maneuver by the knight which wins a pawn.]
35. Ra2  Ra8
36. Nc7  Ra7
37. Nb5  Ra6
38. d4  Kf6
[Going to defend d6.]
39. Na3  Ra8
40. Nc4  Ke7
41. Rxa5  Rxa5
42. Nxa5
[This is now a clear loss, but my opponent was very short on time so 
 I played on.]
Kf6
43. Bb5  Ke7
[A bad move which hastens the end by losing another pawn.]
44. Nc6  Ke6
45. Nd8  Ke7
46. Nxf7  Kxf7
47. Bxd7  g5
48. Kf3  Ke7
49. Bf5  Kf6
50. h3  Kg7
[By now all other games from the first round had finished so most
 players were looking at this game.  White, his flag quite erect,
 moved very fast.]
51. Ke3  Kf6
52. Kd3  d5
53. dxc5  dxe4
54. Kxe4  Ke7
55. Ke5  Kd8
56. Kd6  g4
57. hxg4  h4
58. g5  Ke8
59. c6  
[I figured that White can easily mate me even with 1 minute on the clock
 so I resigned.  I apologized for dragging out the game but my opponent
 said I was quite right to play on, since he was in time trouble.]
1-0


[Event "Allegheny Chess Congress"]
[Site "Pittsburgh"]
[Date "1995.07.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Denis Dancanet (unrated)"]
[Black "Russel Schuh (1700)"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Opening "Modern"]
[Coments "G/90"]

1. e4  g6
[I didn't expect the Modern in my first outing with White.]
2. d4  Bg7
3. c3  
[Playing the line recommended by Soltis in "Winning with 1. e4."]
d5
[And of course, Black replies with something not covered in my book.]
4. exd5  Qxd5
5. Nf3  
[BCO2 recommends 5. Be2 c5 6. Bf3 Qe6+ 7. Ne2 +=]
c5
6. Bb5  
[Preparing c4.  I had a vague idea of advancing my center pawns,
 but didn't realize how weak my g2 square is.]
Nc6
7. c4  Qe4
8. Be3  
[This is already intensely complicated and it's just move 8.]
cxd4
9. Nxd4  Bxd4
[I think Black gets a clear advantage after 9. ... Qxg2.]
10. Qxd4  Qxd4
[After 10. ... Qxg2 11. Qxh8 Qxh1+ 12. Kd2, the knight at g8 is lost.]
11. Bxd4  Nf6
[This looks like a slightly superior endgame for White, who has the bishop
 pair and can inflict isolated pawns on the queenside.  I was at a loss,
 however, as to what my plan should be.  I decided to exchange on c6 (ok)
 AND on f6 (not good).  I should have kept the dark bishop on and advanced
 my pawns on the queenside where I have a majority.]
12. Bxc6 bxc6
13. 0-0  0-0
14. Bxf6 
[Perhaps 14. Bc5 Re8 15. Re1 Be6 16. b3 would have been an interesting plan.]
exf6
15. Re1  
[A useless move.  I should have developed the knight.  I played miserably
 from here on, missing simple tactics.]
Be6
16. c5  
[With the grandiose plan of establishing my knight at d6.  Of course,
 instead of pie in the sky plans I should have paid attention to the board.
 Now my queenside becomes a complete mess.]
Rab8
17. b3  Rb5
18. Rc1  Rd8
19. Na3  Ra5
20. Nb1  
[I just can't seem to be able to develop that knight, can I.]
Bxb3
21. Nc3  Be6
22. Ne4  Kg7
23. Nd6  
[Oh yes, the knight is in the promised spot, but I should have defended a2.]
Rxa2
24. Rxa2  Bxa2
25. Ra1  Rb8
[Nice.  I don't get the a7 pawn after all.  I managed to lose 2 pawns.
 Truly awful play.]
26. f3  Rb1
27. Rxb1  Bxb1
28. Nc8  
[My knight's newfound freedom is intoxicating, so it goes on a mad gallop
 through the hinterlands of my opponent's position.  Objective?  A breath
 of fresh air.]
a5
29. Nb6  Bd3
30. Na4  Kf8
31. Kf2  Ke7
32. Ke3  Bb5
33. Nc3  a4
34. Nb1  Bc4
35. Kd4  Bb3
36. Kc3  Ke6
37. Nd2  
[Finally able to get that slippery pawn, but this transposes into a lost
 pawn ending.  I saw that, but what else was there to do?]
f5
38. Nxb3  axb3
39. Kxb3  Kd5
[Game over.  I played on for amusement value.]
40. Kb4  f4
41. g3  fxg3
42. hxg3  f5
43. g4  fxg4
44. fxg4  h6
    0-1


[Event "Allegheny Chess Congress"]
[Site "Pittsburgh"]
[Date "1995.07.22"]
[Round "3"]
[White "John Smalec (1763)"]
[Black "Denis Dancanet (unrated)"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Opening "Sicilian Rossolimo"]
[Coments "G/90"]

1. e4  c5
2. Nf3  Nc6
3. Bb5  g6
4. Bxc6  bxc6
[The early capture on c6 is not in any of my books.]
5. 0-0  Bg7
6. c3  Nf6
[Maybe the freeing ... d5 would have been good here.]
7. Re1  0-0
8. d4  cxd4
9. cxd4  d6
10. h3  h6
[I spent 15 minutes on this inocuous move, desperately trying to come up
 with a plan.  After losing the first two games in a passive way, I decided
 that I would attack.  Of course, such `va banque' attacks are silly if
 the position doesn't warrant them, but I didn't care.  I just didn't
 want to go down without a fight.  So my plan was:  make room for the
 knight at h7, also preventing the White knight access to g5; play f5;
 get a file open on the kingside; mass my forces there; attack.]
11. Nc3  Nh7
12. Be3  f5
13. Qd2  g5
[The only sensible way to defend h6.  My kingside is getting to look
 very breezy.]
14. Qc2  f4
15. Qb3  Kh8
16. Bd2  Qe8
[A creeping queen move that was difficult to make since it didn't seem
 active enough.  I had the feeling that I was sitting on a keg of
 dynamite that could go off any moment, so I was itching to play g4.
 But then Nh4 threatening Ng6+ and Nxf4 is problematic.  Qe8 defends g6
 and allows the queen to get over to the kingside.]
17. d5  c5
[I want to keep the center closed so I can play on the kingside.]
18. e5  g4
19. hxg4  Bxg4
20. Nh2  Qg6
21. exd6
[This loses by force.  I was expecting Nxg4 Qxg4 22. f3 Qh4 and Black still
 has an attack.]
Bh3
[At this point I thought "Hey, I might actually win one." The reply is forced.]
22. g3  fxg3
23. Ng4  gxf2
[It seemed faster than Qxg4.]
24. Kh2  Qxg4
25. Rg1  Be5
26. Kh1  Qf3
    0-1


[Event "Allegheny Chess Congress"]
[Site "Pittsburgh"]
[Date "1995.07.23"]
[Round "4"]
[White "John Stonebreaker (1718)"]
[Black "Denis Dancanet (unrated)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Opening "Sicilian Accelerated Dragon, Maroczy Bind"]
[Coments "G/90"]

1. e4  c5
2. Nf3  Nc6
3. d4  cxd4
4. Nxd4  g6
5. c4  
[The Maroczy Bind, the scourge of the Accelerated Dragon player.]
Nf6
6. Nc3  Nxd4
7. Qxd4  Bg7
[The Gurgenidze variation:  Black exchanges a pair of pieces and
 draws the White queen to d4 forcing it to move later.]
8. Be2  d6
9. Be3  0-0
10. Qd2  
[Here I reached the end of my book knowledge, so I spent a long time
 thinking about plans.  The one I chose (fianchetto the queen's bishop,
 play e6-d5) turned out to be way too slow.  The correct plan was to
 play actively on the queenside with Be6, Qa5, Rfc8, a6, etc.]
b6
11. Bh6  Bb7
12. f3  Rc8
[Further waste of time.]
13. h4  Qd7
14. g4  Rfd8
[White's attack rages on, spurred by my slow play.  Normally White
 castles short in this line, because of the Black pressure on the
 queenside, but in this game White is free to do as he pleases, since
 Black is incapable of exerting enough pressure to stick his finger into
 a blob of jello.]
15. Bxg7  Kxg7
[My opponent explained after the game that he had to exchange on g7 as
 soon as I moved the rook from f8, since otherwise I could play Bh8.
 This defensive idea (like most others) was new to me.]
16. h5  e6
[This is a mistake.  Rh8 looks solid, and I see no easy way for White
 to break in: 17. hg hg 18. 0-0-0 Rxh1 19. Rxh1 Rh8]
17. hxg6  fxg6
[So as to protect h7 with the queen.]
18. 0-0-0  a6
[This loses a pawn to 19. Qd5, but other moves probably don't help Black.
 There seems to be no defense to a buildup on the h-file and a timely
 e5 advance.]
19. e5  dxe5
[A gross blunder.  White's move was a mistake, and after 19. ... Nxg4
 Black survives and might actually have an advantage, e.g.,  20. fg Bxh1 
 21. Rxh1 de, or 20. Qxd6 Qxd6 21. Rxd6 Rxd6 22. ed Ne5]
20. Qh6
[Played furiously fast and with trembling hands by my oppponent (the
 little pawn cover that was left around my king was knocked down).
 I played on for a little while out of a desire for self-flagellation.]
Kh8
21. Rxd7  Rxd7
22. Qxg6  Ne8
23. Qxe6  Rcd8
24. Qxe5  Kg8
25. Rd1  Rxd1
26. Bxd1  Nd6
27. Qg5  1-0


[Event "Allegheny Chess Congress"]
[Site "Pittsburgh"]
[Date "1995.07.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Denis Dancanet (unrated)"]
[Black "James Herman (1865)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Opening "King's Gambit"]
[Coments "G/90"]

1. e4  e5
[I couldn't believe my eyes.  After another passive death, finally I have
 the chance to play the King's Gambit.]
2. f4  exf4
3. Nf3  c6
[A move that does not appear in any of my books.]
4. d4  g5
[Now this looks like the Kieseritzky with an extra tempo for White.  After
 4. ... d5 (which would be the only move that makes sense after c6), we have 
 a King's Gambit meets the Caro-Kann.  White might have a slight advantage
 after 5. ed cd 6. Bxf4]
5. h4  f6
[This doesn't seem so good, as it allows White an open h-file.]
6. hxg5  fxg5
7. Nc3  d6
[Again, why not 7. ... d5?]
8. Bc4  g4
[Black has used all of his 8 moves on pawns, and he seems hopelessly
 behind in development.  I spent 10 minutes deciding whether to sacrifice
 the knight or not.  Amazingly (stupidly?), this was a purely psychological
 decision; I spent very little time analysing what would happen after a
 sacrifice.  I did not see an immediate win, but Black looked to be in
 trouble.  Finally, I decided to make it a real King's Gambit, like in the
 good old days.]
9. Bxf4  gxf3
10. Qxf3  Nf6
[This might be the best move.  If Be7 then 11. Qh5+ Kd7 12. 0-0-0
 and Black looks very tied up.]
11. Bg5  Bg7
[This is bad, as White is guaranteed to get his knight back.  Better was
 Be7, when play might go 12. e5 Nd5 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Nxd5 cd 15. Bxd5 and 
 Black will have trouble developing his queenside.]
12. e5  Bg4
[Since the knight at f6 is bound to fall, the bishop is on shaky ground at g4.]
13. Qf4  dxe5
[... d5 doesn't help.]
14. dxe5  Qe7
15. 0-0  Nbd7
[... Qc5+ doesn't really save the knight, as it is also pinned by the
 threat of mate.]
16. exf6  Qc5
17. Kh1  Bxf6
18. Rae1
[Forcing the king to d8 so as to make the capture at f6 with check.]
Kd8
19. Bxf6  Nxf6
20. Qxf6
[Now Black is a piece down and about to lose more material.]
Kc7
21. Qf4  1-0
