Double Trouble friday

Good evening all.  Today we tried running two tournaments alongside each other and I think it went very well.  I had expected to have fewer in the Open section and more in the U1350 section, but I was delighted that so many opted for the open section.

U1350 Section
This section finished faster than expected.  It was intended to be 4 rounds and it may be that I made it 3 by mistake, or it maybe that the computer changed this due to a the number of players.  We will try 4 rounds again on Tuesday and we will see if we get 4 rounds.

The results...
Very well played to MeanCactus, winning a first SJC tournament on ChessKid.  Congratulations also to BentHuskyBullfrog in 2nd, and AbleLopsidedGiraffe in third place.

Open Section
As there were more players in the open section than I had expected, this section will be a four round tournament when we re-convene on Tuesday.
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The results...
A brilliant first win for LeftGroovyUnicorn, with RichSmoothPanda in second and Rowantree in third place.

Opening of the Week

The Fried Liver
The Fried Liver is a very attacking game for White and Black needs to be very careful when defending against it.  The position to the right is from one of the games this evening.  The game had proceeded as follows:
1. e4, e5; 2. Nf3, Nc6; 3. Bc4, Nf6; 4. Ng5
White played Ng5 to take advantage of the weakness created by black's Knight on f6. A safer option for black at move 3 may have to play Bc5.  Blacks move does work, but you have to be very careful or you can get into big trouble and your King can be drawn out.

This was a  really good game to watch and you can see it here if you have a ChessKid account.  https://www.chesskid.com/fastchess/game/24207338

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Chess Problem

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U1350 section
Can you find Checkmate in 1 in this position?  Can you also find Checkmate in 2?
​This position is taken from SillyLimit's game in Round 1 this evening.




​answer:
Mate in 1: Qxe8#
Mate in 2: Qd8, Rxd8; Rxd8#

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Move of the Week...

This is a brilliant winning move from tonight's decider in the Open section.  LeftGroovyUnicorn has played Rd7.  This appears to blunder the Rook.  But, why does taking this Rook cost Black the game?
Brilliant play! 

You can see the whole game here if you have a ChessKid account.
https://www.chesskid.com/fastchess/game/24207337

Answer:
..., Rd2;
Qxd2, Qg5 threatening Checkmate
White best solution is to take the Knight thereby sacrificing the Queen and maybe the game as well

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