Henry finishes in 2nd place in Temecula Chess Club tournament
Temecula Chess Club Tournament Director Rod Cleveland presents Henry with the $60 2nd place prize.
February 25, 2025: Henry finished in 2nd place in the February Temecula Chess Club 8-round tournament (TCC 137) with 6 wins and two losses. “Mighty” Marius Gabriel Lucan (who clobbered Henry in round 3) finished in first with 8 points.
Henry and 1st place winner “Mighty” Marius.
Final Standings.
Following are two games: Henry's loss against Marius in Round 3 (with commentary by Marius), and Henry's win against John Barraco in round 7.
White: Marius Gabriel Lucan (1992).
Black: Henry Doktorski (1746).
TCC137, Round 3 (February 1, 2025)
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Bg5
{lol, I wanted to invert the moves order a little bit and I end up getting into Lasker Variation! Playing against Mr DoKtorsKi have brought me hypnotized in LasKer Variation}
4... Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nc3
{After Nc3 game is pretty draw and this variation is definitely not the best for white}
6... h6 7. Bh4 Ne4
{Very bold move from black, saying that there is no place for concessions or defensive play. Black is putting up a fight - well done Henry}
8. Bxe7 Qxe7 (8... Nxc3
{In the variation of the queens exchange black is losing a quality or the knight because of Bishop back to e7 attacking the rook and if the rook attacks Ba3 defending b2 and basically black knight is lost.}
9. Bxd8 Nxd1 10. Be7 Re8 11. Ba3 ) Nxe4 dxe4 10. Nd2 $1 (10. Ne5
{Ne5 is =/+ for black because the knight is quite isolated and can’t come back easily}
10... f5
{It seems that even more accurate than f5 would be e5! For black! White is not castled yet and black is trying to take advantage of this weakness}
(10... e5 11. d5 f5 ) 11. Be2 e5
{Black still have the e5 resource and he use it immediately!} 12. d5 {d5 is the only way white can hold the position that is already in it’s disadvantage!}
12... c6 13. O-O {White castles quickly as dark times are showing to horizon}
13... Rd8
{Instead of moving the rook (same piece twice in the opening) computer recommends the knight move! Each piece have to be developed}
14. Qb3 Kh8
{Kh8 is preventing many unpleasant surprises ;) very subtle move. Although computer still likes Nd7 better, Kh8 gave black piece of mind or psychological confidence, knowing that the King is on a safe spot}
15. Rad1 b6 16. Nb1
{It seems computer likes more dxc6 not giving black the time to double the rooks. Good to know for a similar situation!}
16... Bb7 17. Nc3 Na6 18. a3
{I was thinking here to move the f pawn as computer recommends but a3 is looking more calm and safe!}
18... Rd7 19. Qa2 (19. dxc6 Bxc6 20. Rxd7 Bxd7 21. Rd1 Rc8 22. Qc2 Nc5 23. b4
Ne6 24. Qd2 Nf8 25. Qd5 Bc6 26. Qd6 Qxd6 27. Rxd6 ) Rad8 20. b4
{Even if I didn’t take as computer wants in this variant I am happy for my b4 move. It looks slight weaker than dxc6 at this point but it keeps the black knight in a leash which is very uncomfortable}
Nc7
{Of course after Nc7 I have no other alternative than to take :( at this point I was kinda disappointed because black have seen my fork plan and prevented it. This is becoming a little frustrating! What kind of 1700 player is this??}
21. dxc6 Bxc6 (21... Rxd1 22. Rxd1 ) Rxd7 Rxd7 23. Qc2 Qd8 24. Rd1
{I had to trade rooks because black was putting too much pressure on my position}
Rxd1+ 25. Nxd1 f4 26. g3 (26. Nc3 f3 27. Bf1 Qg5 28. b5 Bd7 29. Qxe4 fxg2 30.
Bd3 Kg8 31. Qb7 Qd8 32. Be4 Qc8 33. Qxa7 Be6 34. Qxb6 Bxc4 35. Qc5 Be6 36. b6
Na6 37. Qxe5 Qc5 (37... Bh3 38. b7 Qc4 ) ) 26... f3 27. Bf1 Qd7 28. Nc3 Qf5
28... Ne8
{Ne8 would have been much better for black because if I dare to take immediately in e4 I will either lose my knight or a draw after Qf5 Bd3, Qh3, Bf1, Qf5 draw}
29. Nxe4 Qf5 30. Bd3 Qh3 31. Bf1 Qf5 ) 29. b5
{I am happy to see b5 so quickly. This move is basically winning for white and from a relatively equal position white is getting into a huge advantage just because of Qf5 that can be considered a blunder but an understandable one when Black was in time crisis}
29... Bb7 30. Qa4 a6 31. bxa6 Bxa6 32. Qc6 Qf7 33. Qxe4 Qe7 34. Bd3 Kg8 35. Qh7+
Kf8 36. Qf5+ Qf6 37. Qe4 Kf7 38. Nd5 Nxd5 39. Qxd5+ Kf8
{Kf8 was the final blunder that secured White’s win } 40. Qa8+ Ke7 41. Qxa6 Qd6
42. Bf1 Kf6 43. Qb7 Qxa3 44. Qxb6+ Kf5 45. Qb7 e4 46. Qxg7 Qd6 47. Bh3#
1-0
White: Henry Doktorski (1746).
Black: John Barraco (978).
TCC137, Round 7 (February 25, 2025)
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d3 h6 5.Nd5 Bc5 6.Qe2 O-O 7.Be3 Bxe3 8.Nxe3 d5 9.O-O-O d4 10.Nc4 Re8 11.h3 b5 12.Ncd2 a5 13.g4 Nh7 14.Bg2 Be6 15.Kb1 a4 16.h4 Bxg4 17.Bh3 Qd7 18.Bxg4 Qxg4 19.Rdg1 Qe6 20.a3 b4 21.Nc4 Reb8 22.Nfd2 Qe7 23.Qg4 g6 24.Kc1 bxa3 25.Nxa3 Rxb2 26.Ndc4 Ra2 27.Nb1 Qb4 28.Ncd2 Qb2+ 29.Kd1 Qxc2+ 30.Ke1 Qxd3 31.Rg3 Qc2 32.Rhg1 d3 33.Kf1 Ra1 34.f4 Qxd2 35.f5 Rxb1+ White resigns
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