1st Place DOCA Swiss Grand Prix

I faced Life Master Vladimir Polyakin in round 3 after a 2-0 start at the DOCA Grand Prix

Vladimir Polyakin

                                                             
.

Polyakin, Vladimir, (2128) - Joseph, Paul, (1881)
Doca Swiss Grand Prix, Flemington, NJ March 27, 2011

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Bb7 9. O-O a6 10. e4 c5 11. e5 Nd5 12. Ne4 cxd4 13. Bg5 Qb6 14. Rc1 h6 15. Bh4 g5  16. Bg3 Bg7!? 

I decided to  pressure his center indirectly and delayed g4 to keep things under control.

 17. Nd6+  Ke7 18. Qd2 

                                                                      Polyakin, Vladimir

Joseph, Paul

This is not the kind of position I was looking to play against a Master when I opted for the Queens Gambit. From here and out I had to play very actively to extricate my pieces.

18 ...  g4  I have to go for it.

19. Nxd4 Nxe5 20. Nxb7 Nxd3 21. Bh4+ Kf8 22. Qxd3 Bxd4

22 ... Qxd4 but I prefered to keep contact with the Knight on b7

22 ... Qxd4 23. Bd8 Qa7

                                                                     Polyakin, Vladimir

Joseph, Paul

(23 ... Rxd8 24. Nxd8 Kg7 25. Rc6 )

24. Na5! Bxb2  25. Rc2 Qd4 26. Qg3 Qe5

(26. ... Rxd8 27. Nc6)

27. Qb3 Bc3 28. Nc6  Qg7 29. Rd1 b4 30. Qc4 Qg6  31. Re2  Kg7 32. Bh4  Rhc8
33. Qc5 Qh5 34. Bg3 Qg5 35. Qd6 Bf6!

I finally complete my development. White is quickly running out of tricks and is behind on time.

36. Rc2  Nc3 37. Re1 h5 38. h4  gxh3 39. gxh3 Qf5 40. Rd2 Ne4 41. Rxe4 Qxe4 42. Be5 Bxe5
43. Nxe5 Rc1+ 44. Kh2

White's flag fell as he is facing mate after Rh1+  and h4 mate.
0-1


Joseph,Paul (1881) - Chi,Patrick (2041)
DOCA Grand Prix, Round 4




Joseph, Paul


I only needed a draw to guarantee clear 1st  place but I had to first shake ghosts of tournaments past.

Joseph,  Paul

After 24 ... Qc7

 25.Rhd4 Rxd4 26.Rxd4 Rd8 27.Rxd8+ Qxd8 28.g4 Qd6 29.f3 Kc7 30.Kc2 Nd7 31.Nd2 Ne5 32.Qe4 Nc6 33.a3 Qd4 34.Qxd4 Nxd4+ 35.Kd3 e5 36.Ke4 Kd6 37.f4 Nc6 38.Nf3 exf4 39.Kxf4 Kc5
40.b3 Nd4  41.Nd2 a5 42.Ne4+ Kc6 43.b4 axb4 44.axb4 b6 45.b5+ Kd7 46.Ke3 Ne6 47.Nc3 Kd6 48.Na4 Kc7 49.Ke4 Ng5+ 50.Kd5 Nf3 51.c5 bxc5 52.b6+ Kb7 53.Kxc5 Ne5 54.Kb5 Nxg4

55.Nc5+ [55.Ka5 Ne5 56.Nc5+ Kc6 57.Na4 (57.b7 Kxc5 58.b8Q Nc6+ 59.Ka6 Nxb8+) 57...Nd7 58.Ka6 f5 59.b7 f4 60.Nb2 Nc5+ 61.Ka7 Nxb7 62.Nd3 Nc5 63.Nxf4 Ne4] 55...Kb8 56.Kc6 Ne5+ 57.Kd5 f6 58.Ne6 Kb7 59.Nxg7 Kxb6 60.Nf5 Ng4 61.Ke4 Kc6 62.Kf4 Ne5 63.Nxh6 Kd6 64.Kf5 Ke7 65.Ng8+ Kf8 66.Nxf6 Nf7 67.Kg6 Ne5+ 68.Kf5 Nf7 69.Kg6 Ne5+ 70.Kf5 ½–½

Mission accomplished!