Northern New York resident Dr. David Kistler won the 2019 Jefferson County Chess Championship, which is his ninth championship, thanks in part to his ability to hold a draw against rising star national master Jason Liang in the second round on October 5, 2019. Unfortunately, Dr. Kistler missed a chance to tie for first in the Open section when he was held to a fourth-round draw versus CNY class A player Ramon Madrid. Chess players from Potsdam, Watertown, Evans Mills and the Syracuse area participated in the 14th Jefferson County Championship & Open which was first held in 1995. The second-round game follows.
)Dr. David Kistler (2099)-Jason Liang (2315)
2019 Jefferson County Championship & Open, round 2,
Caro-Kann Defense, Exchange Variation
Watertown, NY, October 5, 2019
1.e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Nf6 6. Nf3 (6. Bf4 has often been seen here, however Nf3 appears more natural. Qc7 7. O-O Bg4 8. Bg5 Ne4 9. Bh4 e6 10. Nbd2 Nxd2! 11. Qxd2 Bxf3 12. gxf3 Bd6 13. Bg3 h5 14. Rae1 O-O-O 15. a4 Rh6 16. b4 Rdh8 (16… Rf6 would be more appropriate. 17.Qg5 Ne7 18. Qxh5 Kb8) 17. a5 Rf6(at this point 17… h4 18. Bxd6 Qxd6 19.a6 b6 seems to maintain the Black kingside attack. Black’s rook still has the option of Rf6) 18. Qe2? (…premature, but protecting f3 is understandable.18. a6 h4 19. axb7+ Kxb7 20. Bxd6 Qxd6 21. Qa2 and now White has the initiative.) 18… Bf4 19. Kg2 (Dr. Kistler considered 19. Bxf4 Qxf4 20. Kg2 h4 , but 21. Rg1 h3+ 22. Kh1 Qxf3+ 23. Qxf3 Rxf3 seems to accelerate Black’s kingside attack!) 19… h4 20. Bxf4 Qxf4 21. Qe3 h3+ 22. Kh1 Qxf3+ 23. Qxf3 Rxf3 24. Re3 Rf4 25. Rg3 g6 26. Kg1 Ne7 27. Re1 Kd7 28. Ree3 Rfh4 29. Ref3 f5 ?! (29… Nf5 30. Bxf5 exf5 is better!) 30. Bf1 Kd6 31. Rxh3 Rxh3 32. Bxh3 g5 33. Bf1 f4 34. Rd3 Nf5 35. Bh3 ?! (Questionable, according to Fritz, which suggests 35. Rh3 Rh4 36. Kg2 g4 37. Rxh4 Nxh4+ 38. Kg1 e5) 35… Nh4?? (With this knight move the game is nearly even. The better move, the invasion with 35… Ne3! 36.Bg2 Nc2 offers an attack of the backward ‘c3’ pawn ) 36. Bg4 Rc8 37. Kf1 b6 38. axb6 axb6 39. Ke2 Ra8 40. Rd2 (Position after 40. Rd2)40…. Ra1 (Black need not hurry his rook invasion, as the black knight is required as support. Pulling the knight back first with 40… Nf5 41. h3 Nh6 42. Bf3 Ng8 with the intent of reaching the ‘b5’ square to attack the backward ‘c3’ pawn seems to be in order.) 41. Kd3 Rg1 (With this move the position becomes completely equal.) 42. h3 Ra1 43. Re2 Nf5 44. Bxf5 exf5 45. Re5 Rh1 46. Rxf5 Rxh3+ 47. Kd2 Rf3 48. Rxg5 Rxf2+ 49. Kd3 Rf3+ 50. Kd2 Kc6 51. Rf5 Rf2+ 52. Kd3 Rf1 53. Ke2 Rc1 54. Kd2 Rf1 55. Ke2 1 56. Kd2 Rf1 ½- ½
Watertown Chess ClubAdmin