The Marshall Spectator
August 6, 2025
In This Issue: From The Skittles Room NY International Games Analyzed, by GM Aleksandr Lenderman Game Analysis By The Winner Of The New York International, GM David Brodsky Chess Toons En Passant Problems, Problems, curated by Alexander George Editor's Note
Welcome back, fellow chess players, to this edition of the Marshall Chess Club's fortnightly bulletin, The Marshall Spectator.
We are super excited to welcome back GM Sam Shankland for a lecture and book signing on his new book Converting An Extra Pawn In Chess, followed by a simul. Limited copies of the book will be available for purchase at the club. The event will take place on August 18, at our historic townhouse located at 23 West 10th Street in New York City.
For our scholastic members, there is still an opportunity to join the Marshall Camps! The top two groups (based on rating) will feature GM Djurabek Khamrakulov and guest GMs Mark Paragua, Alexander Shabolov (current World Senior Champion!), and Oliver Barbosa. In addition to our spectacular coaches, we are also looking forward to inviting other GMs and IMs as special guests in August.
For the updated camp schedule, lunch menu, and other information, please click here.
As a reminder, if you register for multiple weeks, there will be additional perks! (We will reach out to you over the next few weeks if your child has already attended 2 or more weeks).
2 weeks: Marshall Chess Academy T-shirt (pictured below) 3 weeks: MCC Tournament Credit into select tournaments 4 weeks: A complimentary yearly scholastic Marshall Chess Club Membership
If you have any questions about our camps, you can email Kevin at kevinf@marshallchessclub.org.
Looking back over the last two weeks, we have had a plethora of events for our members to participate in.
The Sunday Quads on July 27 had 18 complete quads. The following players won their quad and $50 each: Tim Shvarts, Dazhen Lu, David Campbell, Isaac N Lui, Will Nieder, Anthony Li, Viaan Suthar, Timothy Tran, Kyle Tse, Jesper Liu, Brandon Li, Tai Hong, and Jessica Liu. The following players shared in their quad’s prize, winning $25 each: Lucas Yang, Rohan Lee, Ean Fish, Dervin Kouyate, Winnie Tsuchida-Tomash, Alexandra Liu, Nicholas Kan, and Kenzo Phillips. Finally, the following 3 players split their quad three ways, winning $16.67 each: Akira Endo, Sophie Rohrs, and Devin Wang.
The Rated Beginner Open on July 27 had 33 players registered and concluded with the following 3 players scoring 3 out of 3 to win $137.67 each: Walter Qian, Dhruv Srikanth, and Marcus Tran.
The Under 2000 Morning Action on July 26 had 19 players registered and was won by Kenny T Bollin who scored 3 out of 3 to win $119. Anthony Zhu scored 2.5 out of 3 to win $48, while the following 4 players scored 2 out of 3 to win $18 each: Gabriel Negussie, Aaron Zhang, Brendan Tsang, and Nikita Shapiro.
The Saturday Game 50 Open on July 26 had 29 players registered and was won by GM Mark Paragua and IM Jay Bonin, who scored 3.5 out of 4 to win $125 each. Dhruthi Rao scored 3 out of 4 to win a class prize of $75.
The Saturday Game 50 Under 1800 on July 26 had 51 players registered and was won by Brandon De La Rosa, who scored a perfect 4 out of 4 to win $294. Caleb Garcia won a class prize of $147 for a score of 3.5 out of 4, while Gavin Liu and Manish Suthar won $98 each for their 3.5 out of 4 score.
The FIDE Blitz on July 25 had 56 players registered and concluded with 3 players finishing with 7 out of 9 points and winning $146 each: IM Akira Nakada, FM Linxi Zhu, and FM Marcus Miyasaka. Tim Shvarts and CM Krish Bhandari scored 6.5 out of 9 to win $63 each, while Alexander Golosovker and Anvith Reddy Marri scored 5.5 out of 9 to win $31.50 each.
The Women & Girls Open on July 25 had 9 players registered and was won by WCM Hema Vikas, who scored a perfect 3 out of 3 to win $54, while the following 3 players won $9 each for their performance: Scarlett Kong, Dhruthi Rao, and Shruthi Rao.
The Thursday Action on July 24 had 56 players registered and was won by FM Marcus Miyasaka, who scored a perfect 4 out of 4 to win $207. IM Alexander Katz, FM Aditeya Das, and IM Jay Bonin scored 3.5 out of 4 to win $80.67 each, while Etan Lankri, Cole Markham, and Wan Qin Li won $34.67 each for their performance. The following 5 players shared in the remaining prize funds, winning $20.80 each for their 3 out of 4 score: Daniel Wang, Alan Stolyarov, Joshua Block, WFM Tianhao Xue, and Andrey Pichugov.
The Rated Beginner Open on July 20 had 19 players registered and was won by Julien Kulla, who scored 3 out of 3 to win the $143 first-place prize. Julian Cho and Jack Troast scored 2.5 out of 3 to win $47.50 each.
The Sunday Game 50 Open on July 20 had 33 players registered and was won by IM Justin Sarkar, who scored a perfect 4 out of 4 to win $198. Hunter Quirk and Dervin Kouyate scored 3.5 out of 4 to win $82.50 each, while Aden Deng scored 3 points to win a class prize of $66.
The 13th Annual NY International that concluded on July 20 had 63 registrants and was won by GM David Brodsky, who scored 7.5 out of 9 to win the $3,500 first-place prize. GM Andrew Tang scored 7 points to come in second place, winning $2,500 in the process, while GM Mark Paragua came in 3rd place, winning $1,500 for his 6.5 out of 9 performance. Vedic Panda and Nicholas Belenky won a $500 class prize each for their performances, while the following 5 players shared in the remaining prize funds, winning $300 each for their 6 out of 9 score: IM Liam Henry Putnam, GM Rahul Srivatshav P, GM Gabor Nagy, GM Andrei Maksimenko, and IM Mykola Bortnyk.
The Under 2000 Morning Action on July 19 had 13 players registered and was won by Chris Weldon and John Mekus, who scored a perfect 3 out of 3 to win $57.50 each. Luoxi Lin, Adam Wheeler, and Sebastian Van Dooijeweert scored 2 out of 3 to win $16.33 each.
The Saturday Game 50 Open on July 19 had 32 players registered and was won by WFM Tianhao Xue, who scored a perfect 4 out of 4 to win the $192 first-place prize. Robert Olsen scored 3.5 points to win second with $128, and the following 5 players scored 3 points to win $19.20 each: Arhan Javeri, Will Nieder, Nico Alvarado-Yoshida, Jonathan Tieng, Frederick Zhao.
We look forward to seeing you at the club soon!
Games Analyzed, by GM Aleksandr Lenderman
The 2025 NY International was won by GM David Brodsky. He scored a very strong 7.5/9 with no losses in a very strong field. However, the road wasn't always easy for David, and he was in trouble as early as in round 1.
You can play through the games with annotations here.
Camacho Campusano, David Daniel vs. Brodsky, David
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. g3 O-O 12. Bg2 g6 13. O-O h5 14. c3 h4 15. Nc2 Bg7 16. Nce3 Rb8 17. Qe2 a5 18. Rfd1 b4 19. Rd2 Bh6 20. Rad1 Kg7 21. Rc2 bxc3 22. bxc3 hxg3 23. hxg3 Rh8 24. Rb2 Rxb2 25. Qxb2 Be6 26. Qb7 Qc8 27. Qxc8 Rxc8 28. Nc4 Rb8 29. Nxd6 Rb2 30. a4 Bg4 31. Ra1 Bg5 32. Bf1 Rb8 33. Kg2 Ne7
We will start on White's 34th move. Black is down a pawn but is trying to get some counterplay with his bishop pair and play on the h-file. However, in this position, had White found the strongest move, the whole tournament might've gone in a different direction.
34. Bb5? A missed opportunity. (34. Nc7!! A slightly unusual harmony for White. However, White is simply winning here, since Bc4 is difficult to stop, and the White's knights are amazingly dominant. 34... Rh8 (34... Rd8 35. Bc4 Rxd6 36. Ne8+) 35. Bc4)
34... Rh8?! (34... Nxd5 35. exd5 Rd8 Was objectively stronger with good chances to hold, but perhaps, now, black has even less winning chances than in the game.)
35. c4?! (35. Nc7! Was still very strong.)
35... Bh3+ 36. Kg1 f5?! (36... Bg4 But probably, Black doesn't want a draw here.) 37. Nxe7? Now, White's advantage is gone. (37. Nc7 Last chance to play this.)
37... Bxe7 38. c5 Bg4 39. Ra3 Bxd6 40. cxd6 fxe4 How, Black has equalized and still has some winning chances since Bf3 is always a concern for White.
41. Bf1 Rd8 42. Bg2 Rxd6 43. Bxe4 Rd1+ 44. Kg2 Rd4 45. f3 Bd7 46. Rc3 Kf6 47. Rc7 Be8!? A good way to keep winning chances. Black wants to capture on a4 with a rook. (47... Bxa4 48. Ra7 Would be a relatively easy draw for White.)
48. Rc8 Bf7 49. Rc6+ Ke7 50. Rc7+ (50. Bxg6 Would likely lead to an easier draw.)
50... Kf6 51. Rc6+ Kg5 52. Rc7 Be6 53. Rc5 (53. Rc6 Was again, an easier way to achieve a draw.)
53... Rxa4 54. Rxe5+ Kf6 55. Rb5 Ra2+ 56. Kg1 a4 57. Rb6 (57. Bd5 Again, the rook endgame should be a fairly easy draw. For example, 57... Bxd5 58. Rxd5 a3 59. Ra5 Ke6 60. f4 Black cannot make progress here since White has counterplay on the kingside.)
57... Ke7 58. Bxg6 a3 This is still a draw, but now, it is trickier for White, since the a3 pawn, supported by the bishop, is dangerous.
59. Rb1? (59. Bb1 Ra1 60. Kf2 a2 Would likely eventually, lead to rook and bishop versus rook, which offers black excellent practical chances to win, even if it's objectively, a draw.)
59... Rd2? Black errs in return. (59... Kf6 Would be winning.)
60. Re1? (60. Rb7+ Kf6 61. Bb1)
60... Kd6? Allowed one last chance to play Bb1 safely. } (60... Kf6 61. Bb1 Rb2 62. g4 Kg5)
61. Be4? (61. Bb1)
61... a2 Now, black wins by force.
62. g4 Bd5 63. Bf5 Bxf3 64. Re6+ Kc7 65. Ra6 Bd5 With Rd1 coming up next, White throws in the towel. A close call for Brodsky, and very often, in order to have a tremendous performance that Brodsky had, you need a swing game going your way at some point, and this game might've been his swing game, even as early as in round 1. 0-1
Brodsky, David vs George, Kevin
In round 2, David Brodsky won a nice game thanks to very good opening preparation, inspired from a Fabiano Caruana idea from the Candidates.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1 Bf5 9. c4 c6 10. Qb3 Qd7 11. Nh4!? A rare try, but it has recently become more popular ever since Caruana played it. (11. Nc3) (11. c5 Are main lines.)
11... Be6 12. Qc2 Na6 13. a3 Nc7 A human move but most likely, not the most critical test. (13... f5 { ½- (40) ½ (40) Caruana,F (2783)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2766) Madrid 2022 Is the move that has been seen in the most high-leverage games in this position.)
14. c5 Be7 15. Nf3 Bf6 16. Nc3 Bg4 17. Bxe4 (17. Ne5 Is probably more accurate.)
17... dxe4 18. Ne5 Bxe5 19. dxe5 Rfe8 20. Qxe4 Rxe5 21. Qxe5 Re8 22. Qxe8+ Nxe8 23. Bg5 This endgame was unpleasant for Black and White converted it.
23... f6 24. Bf4 Nc7 25. Bxc7 Qxc7 26. Ne4 h5 27. Nd6 h4 28. Re8+ Kh7 29. h3 Bh5 30. Re4 g5 31. b4 Kg7
32. Re7+ White simplified into an easily winning endgame. 32... Qxe7 33. Nf5+ Kf7 34. Nxe7 Kxe7 35. Re1+ Kf7 36. f4 gxf4 37. Re4 Kg6 38. Rxf4 Kg5 39. Re4 Bg6 40. Re7 Bd3 41. Rxb7 a6 42. a4 Kf4 43. Rb6 Be4 44. Kf2 Ke5 45. Rxa6 Kd4 46. a5 Kc3 47. Rb6 1-0 White wins. 1-0
Barbosa, Oliver vs Brodsky, David
This was another game where Brodsky got an excellent position out of the opening with strong preparation and won a very nice game against GM Barbosa, finishing with a flourish.
1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e6 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bc5 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. O-O O-O 11. Qc2 Bb6 12. e3?! (12. Na4 Is more accurate.)
12... Re8 (12... h5!?) 13. Na4 Qd6 14. Nxb6 axb6 15. b3 Ne4 16. Bb2 Bf5 17. Rfc1 c5 18. Qe2 Rad8 19. Re1 Qe6 20. f3 Nd6 21. g4 Bg6 22. Qf2 Bd3 23. Rad1 c4 24. bxc4 dxc4 25. a4?! b5! 26. axb5 Nxb5 27. Rc1 Ra8 28. Qd2 Qd6 29. Ba1 Qa3 30. e4 Red8 31. Kh1 Nd4 32. Bb2 Qb3 33. Ra1 Qc2 34. Rxa8 Rxa8 35. Qb4 Ne2 36. Be5 h6 37. Bf1 Ra2 38. Qc5
38... Nd4 Black finds the decisive continuation.
39. Qc8+ (39. Qxd4 Bxf1 40. Rxf1 Qg2#) 39... Kh7 40. Qf8 f6 41. g5 Bxf1 0-1 Black wins. 0-1
Brodsky, David vs. Putnam, Liam
After two consecutive draws (one fighting and one quick draw, Brodsky returned to his winning ways against a very strong young IM Liam Putnam.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 a5 15. Bd2 g6 16. Qc1 a4 17. Bh6 Qe7 18. Bd3 c6 19. Bf1 Bxh6 20. Qxh6 Once again, the opening was a success for white. White has a stable advantage.
20... Nf8 21. c4 (21. Rad1) 21... bxc4 22. dxe5 dxe5 23. Bxc4 Ba6 24. Rac1 N6d7 25. Red1 Bxc4 26. Rxc4 c5 27. Rc3 Ne6?!
This allowed White a strong continuation and makes it hard for Black to play practically. (27... Rab8)
28. Nf5! gxf5 29. Rxd7! Qxd7 30. Nxe5 Qd1+? This was a decisive mistake. (30... Qe7 31. Rg3+ Kh8 32. exf5 Rg8 33. fxe6 Rxg3 34. Nxf7+ Kg8 35. fxg3 Re8 Would keep black in the game. Possibly, black isn't even worse here.)
31. Kh2 f4 32. Rd3! Perhaps, this was missed, and black might've only expected Ng4 first.
32... Qe2 33. Ng4 Kh8 34. Nf6 Nf8 35. Rd5 Qxf2 36. Rg5 Now, Black is not in a position to guard g8 and h7 at the same time.
36... Qg3+ 37. Rxg3 fxg3+ 38. Kxg3 Re6 39. e5 c4 40. a3 Rb8 41. Kh2 Rd8 42. h4 Rb8 43. Qg5 Ng6 44. Qh5 Nf8 45. Qxf7 1-0 White wins. 1-0
Lin, Bryan Enming vs. Brodsky, David
This was a back and forth sharp battle against another strong young rising star, Bryan Lin. In this game, I found the endgame to be the most instructive.
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f4 Nbd7 9. g4 Rc8 10. f5 Bxb3 11. axb3 d5 12. exd5 Bb4 13. Bg2 Rxc3 14. bxc3 Bxc3+ 15. Bd2 Bxa1 16. Qxa1 O-O 17. Be3 Qc7 18. c4 Nc5 19. Qb1 e4 20. O-O Nd3 21. Qd1 b5 22. g5 Qg3 23. Bd2 Nd7 24. cxb5 N7e5 25. bxa6 Ra8 26. a7 Nf3+ 27. Rxf3 exf3 28. Qxf3 Qxf3 29. Bxf3 Rxa7 30. Kf1 Ra2 31. Be3 Ne5 32. Be4 Ra3 33. Bd4 Nd7 34. b4 Rxh3 35. Bc2 Rh4 36. Be3 Rxb4 37. g6 h5 38. d6 h4 39. Bd1 Rb1 40. Ke1 h3 41. Bf4 Rb2 42. Be2 Rb4 43. Bg3 Nf6 44. Bf3 Rb1+ 45. Kf2 Rb5 46. Bc6 Rxf5+ 47. Kg1 Rc5 48. Ba4 Rc3 49. Kh2 fxg6 50. Be8 g5 51. Bg6 g4 52. Bf5 Re3 53. d7 Re2+ 54. Kh1 Rd2 55. Bh4 Nxd7 56. Bxg4 Rd4 57. Be6+ Kh8 58. Bg3 g5 59. Bxh3 g4 60. Bf1 Kg7 61. Bf2 Rd1 62. Kg2 Nf6 63. Be2 Rd2 64. Kf1 Kg6 65. Be3 Ra2 66. Bd4 Nd5 67. Bb5 Kg5 68. Bc6 Rd2 69. Ba7 g3 70. Ke1 Ra2 71. Bxd5 Rxa7
This is a theoretically winning endgame, but it is not easy to convert, and Brodsky showed his good endgame technique in this game.
72. Kf1 Rd7 73. Bc6 Rd2 74. Bb7 Kg4 75. Kg1 Rc2 Here, Black is probably making a lot of extra moves to gain time on his clock thanks to the 30-second increment. (75... g2 Would be the quickest way to win, which is very instructive.)
76. Kh2 Best chance. (76. Bxg2 Kg3 77. Bf1 Rd1)
76... Rf2! 77. Bc6 (77. Bxg2 Kh4 78. Kg1 Kg3 Now, Black is winning, since once the bishop moves, black's rook will attack the bishop, and Black will win the bishop.)
77... g1=Q+ 78. Kxg1 Kg3 Now, the rook on f2 is very important since it cuts off the white king from going to f1, and the bishop will be lost.)
76. Bd5 Rc5 77. Bb7 Rc1+ 78. Kg2 Rc2+ 79. Kh1 Rb2 80. Bc6 Rb6 81. Bd5 Rd6 82. Bb7 Rd1+ 83. Kg2 Rd2+ 84. Kg1 Kf4 85. Bc6 Rd6 86. Bb7 Rb6 87. Bd5 Rb1+ 88. Kg2 Rc1 89. Bb7 Rc2+ 90. Kg1 g2 Finally, Black finds the winning plan.
91. Kh2 Ke3 (91... Rf2 I think this is a bit easier though.)
92. Kg1 Kf4 93. Kh2 Rc7 94. Bd5 Rg7 95. Bxg2 Rh7+ 96. Kg1 Kg3 97. Bd5 Rd7 98. Bb3 Rd3 99. Ba4 Ra3 100. Bd1 Ra1 A nice conversion by Black. 0-1
Novik, Maxim vs. Brodsky, David
After a missed winning opportunity in the penultimate round (round 8), Brodsky still found himself tied for first with one round to go with GM Andrew Tang. The White player, GM Maxim Novik was 1 point behind, so he was also aiming to go for a fight. As a result, we got a very interesting sharp struggle.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 a5 6. O-O d6 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 Ba7 9. Na3 g5 10. Bg3 O-O 11. Re1 g4!? 12. Bh4 (12. Nh4 Is also a good alternative.)
12... Kg7 13. Nc2 Ne7 14. Bxf6+ Kxf6 15. Nh4 Kg7 16. d4 Up to here, it was still theory. However, here, White plays the first novelty. (16. Ne3 Has been played before.)
16... Nc6 17. g3 exd4 18. Nxd4 Nxd4 19. cxd4 Qf6 20. e5 dxe5 21. Rxe5 Rd8 22. Qe2 (22. Qc2 Rxd4 23. Bxf7 Qxf7 24. Qe2 Qf6 25. Re7+ Kf8 26. Re8+ Kf7 27. Re1 Rd6 Would likely lead to a draw.)
22... Rxd4 23. Rc1?! This is the first real inaccuracy. (23. Bb3 Was necessary)
23... Bd7! This simple move consolidates Black's pawn advantage.
24. Bb3 a4?! (24... Re8! 25. Rxe8 Bxe8 26. Qxe8 Rd2 Would be winning for Black.)
25. Bc2 Rd8?! (25... Kf8)
26. Rf1?! (26. Nf5+ Bxf5 27. Rxf5)
26... Be6 27. Nf5+ Bxf5 28. Rxf5 Qe6 29. Qb5?! (29. Re5)
29... Bb6 30. b3?!
30... Rd2 Black goes for the decisive invasion.
31. Bb1 axb3 32. axb3 Rd1 33. Re5 Qf6 34. Rf5 Qe6 35. Re5 Qf6 36. Rf5 Qb2! Black correctly plays for a win.
37. Be4 Rxf1+ 38. Qxf1 Qxb3?! (38... Rd2 Would be more precise.)
39. Kg2 (39. Qa1+! Was a chance for white to stay in the game.)
39... Rd2 40. Qe1 Qe6?! (40... Qb4 Was more precise.)
41. Qb1?! (41. Rf4! Was the last chance for White to stay in the game.)
41... Bd4 42. Rf4 b6 43. Bf5 Qe3 44. Qf1 h5 45. Bb1 Bc5 46. Rf5 h4 47. Rf4 h3+ 48. Kg1 Qb3 Down two pawns in a hopeless position, White resigned, giving Brodsky a clear first place, since Andrew Tang ended up drawing his last round game, getting clear 2nd with 7/9. Mark Paragua got clear 3rd with 6.5. Congratulations to the winners! 0-1
GM Aleksandr Lenderman, Marshall Spectator Contributor
Game Analysis by the winner of the New York International, GM David Brodsky
You can play through the games with annotations here.
Barbosa, Oliver vs. Brodsky, David 13th NY Int. Super Swiss
1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e6 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. d4 We transposed into the Tarrasch Defense.
7…cxd4 {The modern move. (7... Be7 is the old main line)
8. Nxd4 Bc5 9. Nxc6 This is the second most popular move, which avoids forcing main lines. (9. Nb3 Bb6 10. O-O d4 is the main line)
9... bxc6 10. O-O O-O 11. Qc2 Bb6 12. e3 A strange move which gives Black an easy game. (12. Na4 is most commonly played, and since the c6 pawn is hanging, Black has to make an inconvenient move like Bd7)
12... Re8 13. Na4 Qd6 Since Bf4 is no longer possible, this is the most sensible way to defend the pawn.
14. Nxb6 axb6 15. b3 Ne4 A natural but inaccurate move. (15... h5 followed by h4-h3 is actually much stronger.) 16. Bb2 Bf5 17. Rfc1
Countering Black's threat of Nxg3 with a counterthreat of taking on c6.
17…c5 (17... Nxg3 18. Qxc6 Ne2+ 19. Kh1 is completely fine for White (19. Kf1 Qxh2))
18. Qe2 Now Black is better again. (18. f3 was more appropriate. After 18…Nxg3 19. e4 Nxe4 20. fxe4 Bxe4 21. Bxe4 Rxe4 22. Qg2 Black has three pawns for the piece and has no problems, but realistically he should not have any advantage here.)
18... Rad8 Bringing the last piece into the game and eyeing d4 ideas.
19. Re1 Qe6 20. f3 Nd6 21. g4 Bg6 22. Qf2 After a series of natural moves, I had a big decision to make. I decided I wanted to open the position on the queenside with c5-c4 in some form, so I prepared it with
22…Bd3 (22... c4 23. bxc4 dxc4 24. e4 is a bad idea because the bishop is sttuck on g6) (22... b5 is possible but allows serious counter-play for white after 23. e4 dxe4 24. Qxc5) (22... f6 {followed by Nf7-e5 is another perfectly valid way to play the position})
23. Rad1 c4 No backing out now! 24. bxc4 dxc4 25. a4 A strange move after which black is close to winning. (I was expecting 25. e4 where Black has a pleasant choice between Nb7 (and} 25... Nb5))
25... b5 White is most likely going to play e4 attacking the b6 pawn on the next move, so I may as well trade it off on my terms.
26. axb5 (26. a5 b4 is a disaster for White) 26... Nxb5 All of Black's pieces are active and c3 is in the air. Meanwhile White's bishop is useless on g2 and he is overextended on the kingside.
27. Rc1 Ra8 28. Qd2 Qd6 My idea was to prevent any counterplay with Qb4. (The engine cold bloodedly suggests 28... Ra2 29. Qb4 Nc7 30. Qc3 f6 31. Ra1 Nd5 32. Qd2 Rea8 where the counterplay has subsided and white is almost paralyzed.)
29. Ba1 (29. Bf1 Red8 30. Bxd3 cxd3 is unpleasant for white but may have offered better chances)
29... Qa3 Bringing the queen into the melee.
30. e4 A natural advance which creates another weakness: the d4 square.
30…Red8 31. Kh1 Nd4 32. Bb2 (32. Bxd4 Rxd4 {is close to winning as well)
32... Qb3 33. Ra1 Qc2 Offering a queen trade. 34. Rxa8 (34. Qxc2 Nxc2 35. Rxa8 Rxa8 36. Rc1 Ra2 37. Bc3 f6 $19)
34... Rxa8 35. Qb4 Ne2 Threatening both c3 and Nf4. (35... Qf2 won easily. I think I missed 36. Qc3 Ra2 $19 {which I should have seen!})
36. Be5 (36. Qb7 Rf8 37. Ba3 {is an attempt to throw a spanner in the works, but I saw} Qc3 38. Qb4 (38. Bb4 Qb2 39. Qe7 Rb8 40. Bd6 Ra8 $19) 38... Qxb4 39. Bxb4 Rb8 $19)
36... h6 Finally making luft for the king so the rook can join the attack as well.} (36... c3 37. Bf1 Qd2 {is easy winning. 38. Ra1 {looks like counterplay but white has nothing after} Rf8)
37. Bf1 Ra2 All the tactics work in black's favor.
38. Qc5 White is threatening to give a perpetual check with Qc8-f5, but I foresaw my next move. (38. Qb8+ Kh7 39. Qc8 (39. Qf8 Ng3+ is Black's other deflection) 39... Nd4 wins just like in the game.) 38... Nd4!
39. Qc8+ Black cannot take the knight with either piece, so this is his last ditch attempt at something (39. Bxd4 Qxh2#) (39. Qxd4 Bxf1) (39. Bh3 Qf2 is mate soon.)
39... Kh7 40. Qf8 f6 (40... Ne6 is also forced mate but black has to calculate a few more checks.)
41. g5 (41. Bxf6 Qxh2# is a nice resource to stop White's attack)
41... Bxf1 White will run out of checks in a couple moves so my opponent resigned. A very nice win that put me in the clear lead with 3/3! 0-1
Brodsky, David vs Putnam, Liam 13th NY Int. Super Swiss
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 So far we were playing a mainline Breyer Defense, but I was in for a small surprise. 14…a5
I was aware of this new sideline but didn't remember what White's best response was. Black claims space on the queenside and maintains a solid structure. (14... g6 is by far the main line. 2-3 years ago, White players started exploring a new direction with 15. Bd2 Bg7 (15... a5 would transpose to the game and doesn't make much sense here) 16. Qc1 and rather than allowing Bh6, Black usually strikes the center with d5)
15. Bd2 A natural move which turns out to be the main move.
15…g6 This surprised me because it allows white to trade the bishops easily. (Locking the queenside down with 15... a4 is best. After 16. Bd3 c6 17. Qc2 White has a comfortable game, but black's position is solid.)
16. Qc1 This is consistent with the 14...g6 15.Bd2 line. (16. a4 is arguably stronger)
16... a4 Preventing any future a2-a4 ideas from White.
17. Bh6 Qe7 (Putting pressure on the center with 17... c5 was worth considering)
18. Bd3 c6 The most normal way to defend the b5 pawn blocks black's bishop.
19. Bf1 A useful move that moves the bishop out of the way the tension on the kingside. Black will have to take on h6 sooner or later.
19…Bxh6 20. Qxh6 Nf8 21. c4 An unnecessarily aggressive approach. I felt overoptimistic about my chances. (Keeping all options open with 21. Rad1 was a wiser choice.)
21... bxc4 22. dxe5 dxe5 23. Bxc4 White has more active pieces and the better pawn structure, but I grossly overestimated my advantage here.
23…Ba6 Black has to eliminate the bishop before white lands Ng5 in.
24. Rac1 N6d7 A strong move which I hadn't seen. Black prepares Ne6 by overprotecting the e5 pawn, and white doesn't have a clear useful move.
25. Red1 Bxc4 26. Rxc4 c5 Black has a simple plan of Ne6-d4 after which he will be completely fine...
27. Rc3 This move steps out of Nb6 ideas and more importantly prepares the rook to come to g3!
27…Ne6 Taking the bait. (Engines recommend 27... Rab8 28. Nh4 Rb6 with cold blooded equality, but this is hard for a human to play.})
28. Nf5 After almost 20 minutes of thinking, I decided to go for my original plan. The sacrifice turns out to be perfectly sound and is clearly white's best move.
28…gxf5 29. Rxd7!
This is the only path for white. Other options actually lose. (29. exf5 Qf8 White has nothing}) (29. Nh4 tempted me, but I eventually realized Qf6 30. Nxf5 Nd4 is hopeless for White)
29... Qxd7 30. Nxe5 White is a rook down, but Black's queen is under attack and Rg3 is in the air. Black has two moves. One holds and one loses.
30…Qd1+ Luckily for me my opponent made the wrong choice. (30... Qe7 was correct. I was planning 31. Rg3+ Kh8 32. exf5 Rg8 This is the only move but not a hard one to find. (32... Qf8 33. Qf6+ Ng7 34. Nd7 Qg8 35. Qh4 threatning both f6 and Nf6}) 33. fxe6 Rxg3 (33... fxe6 34. Ng6+) (33... Qxe6 34. Qxe6 fxe6 35. Nf7#) 34. Nxf7+ Kg8 35. fxg3 White has two pawns for the exchange and a safe king, but black should equalize after a few accurate moves.)
31. Kh2 f4 Stopping Rg3, but the attack is just beginning.
32. Rd3 The key move displacing the black queen and bringing the rook into the attack. (32. Ng4 f6 33. Nxf6+ Kf7 34. Ng4 Qd4 is the defense Black is banking on. The engine suggests White is still clearly better after 35. e5 but he's a rook down and there's no clear mate!)
32... Qe2 Other queen moves also lose.
33. Ng4 Leaving the rook hanging but threatening Nf6+. (33. Nd7 will most likely transpose)
33... Kh8 34. Nf6 Nf8 35. Rd5 Threatening Rg5, which Black cannot defend against. (It's not too late to lose the game with 35. Nh5 Qxb2)
35... Qxf2 36. Rg5 (36. Nh5 is possible here, but the variations get crazy and White is not winning. For example Qxb2 37. e5 Ne6 38. Qf6+ Kg8 39. Rd7 Rf8 40. Qf5 Kh8 41. Nf6 Ng5 42. Qxg5 f3 I saw this during the game and decided to stop wasting my time calculating fantasies when Rg5 was totally winning instead of Nh5.)
36... Qg3+ A sad necessity. 37. Rxg3 fxg3+ 38. Kxg3 Re6 39. e5 Solidifying the knight. Black is paralyzed.
39…c4 (39... Rxe5 40. Nh5)
40. a3 Rb8 41. Kh2 (It's not too late to blunder with 41. Qg5 Nd7) 41... Rd8 (41... Rxe5 42. Nh5 Rxh5 43. Qxh5 is hopeless)
42. h4 Rb8 43. Qg5 Ng6 44. Qh5 Black is helpless.
44…Nf8 (44... Kg7 45. Qxh7+ Kf8 46. Qg8+ Ke7 47. Qxb8) 45. Qxf7 A crushing win! 1-0
GM David Brodsky, Winner of the 13th Annual New York International
En Passant
Divya Deshmukh, the 19-year-old International Master from Nagpur, Maharashtra, etched her name into chess history by defeating Grandmaster Humpy Koneru 1.5–0.5 in the tiebreaks to win the Women’s World Cup.
Magnus Carlsen won the first-ever chess tournament held at the Esports World Cup, defeating Alireza Firouzja with two consecutive 3–1 set wins in the Grand Final. The Norwegian performed convincingly throughout the four-day event, displaying consistent control and clock management in every stage. Earlier on the final day, Hikaru Nakamura edged Arjun Erigaisi 3½–2½ to secure third place. The tournament featured a fast-paced, no-increment format.
Kavutskiy shares how he balances his pursuit of the Grandmaster title with his work as a content creator, coach, and co-founder of ChessDojo. Though his creative and educational work often limits his tournament prep, he remains deeply motivated by a love for the game and a desire to improve. In the interview, he reflects on chess as a tool for personal growth, his admiration for the King’s Indian Defense, and his belief that freestyle chess could shape the game’s future.
Chess Toons
Problems, Problems, curated by Alexander George
J. Pospisil, 1885
White to mate in 3
In this problem, White moves first and then Black has plenty of choices for its first move - but notice how the resulting mates echo one another. Such a problem is called a Bohemian, no doubt because many pioneer contributors to this aesthetic were from Bohemia.
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Last Week’s Problem Benko, 1970
Helpmate in 2
(a) diagram; (b) White bishop to f1.
Solution:
a 1.Nxd6 Kd3 2.Ke5 Bb2 mate b 1.Qxd6+ Nd5+ 2.Ke6 Bh3 mate
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Alexander George
Editor's Note
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