[Event "2026 Idaho Open (Open Section)"]
[Site "Boise, ID"]
[Date "2026.06.27"]
[Round "1.110"]
[White "Wu, Ryan"]
[Black "Gorman, Cody"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[ECO "C24"]
[WhiteElo "1439"]
[BlackElo "1900"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[GameId "2326358866997329"]
[EventDate "2026.06.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceVersionDate "2026.06.29"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. O-O Be7 (6... Bg4 7. Re1 Be7 8. h3) 7. Re1 Nb6 8. Bb5 (8. Bb3 $14) 8... f6 9. Bxc6+ (9. d4) 9... bxc6 10. d4 Bg4 11. dxe5 Qxd1 12. Rxd1 Bxf3 13. gxf3 fxe5 14. Re1 O-O 15. Rxe5 Bd6 16. Re2 Rxf3 17. Kg2 Raf8 18. Be3 R3f5 19. Nd2 Nd5 20. Rf1 $6 (20. Ne4) 20... Nb4 ({A neat tactical opportunity:} 20... Bxh2 $1 21. Kxh2 Nxe3 22. Rxe3 Rxf2+ 23. Rxf2 Rxf2+ 24. Kg3 Rxd2 25. Rc3 Rd6 $15 {This would be clearly winning for Black, if not for those pesky pawn weaknesses.}) 21. c3 Nxa2 $2 (21... Nd5) 22. Nc4 Bc5 23. Bxc5 (23. Ra1 Bxe3 24. Nxe3 Ra5 25. Nc2 (25. Kf1 Ra6 26. Nc2 $16) 25... c5 26. Na3 $16) 23... Rxc5 24. Na3 Rg5+ 25. Kh1 Rf3 26. Rc2 (26. Ra1 $16) 26... Rd3 27. Nb1 (27. Ra1 $14) 27... Rgd5 28. Re2 h5 (28... Rd1 $1 29. Ree1 Rxe1 30. Rxe1 Rb5 $15) 29. Na3 h4 (29... Rd2 30. Rxd2 Rxd2 31. Nc4 Rc2 32. Kg2 Rc1) 30. Ree1 Rd2 (30... h3 31. Nc4 Rc5 32. Re4 $13) 31. Nc4 R2d3 32. Ra1 Rc5 33. Na3 Nxc3 34. bxc3 Rcxc3 35. Nb1 Rc2 36. Rxa7 h3 37. Rxc7 (37. Kg1 c5 38. Na3 Ra2 39. Nb5 Re2 40. Rxc7 $16) 37... Rxf2 38. Rg1 Rf7 (38... Rc2 39. Rcxg7+ Kf8 40. R7g3 Rxg3 41. Rxg3 $14 {is a different unclear technical problem.}) 39. Rxc6 Rfd7 40. Rcg6 ({Or} 40. Nc3 $16) 40... Kh7 41. R6g3 Kh6 42. Nc3 g5 (42... Rxg3 43. Rxg3 Re7 44. Rxh3+ Kg6 45. Kg1 Re6 $16) 43. Ne4 (43. Rxd3 Rxd3 44. Rg3 Rd7 45. Rxh3+ $16) 43... Rxg3 44. Rxg3 Rd1+ 45. Rg1 Rd5 46. Nf2 Kh5 47. Nxh3 Rf5 48. Rg2 Rf1+ 49. Ng1 g4 50. Re2 Rb1 51. Kg2 Kh4 52. Rf2 Kg5 53. Ne2 Rb3 54. Ng3 Kh4 55. Rf5 Rb2+ 56. Kg1 $4 (56. Rf2 $18 {allows White to continue the torture indefinitely... but is it objectively winning? Yes!} Rb4 57. Re2 Ra4 58. Ne4 Rb4 (58... Kh5 59. Nf2) 59. Nf2 Rc4 (59... Kh5 60. Re5+) (59... Rb8 60. Re4 Rg8 61. h3) 60. Re4 {suggests the start of the winning plan.}) 56... Rg2+ $3 57. Kh1 Rxh2+ $1 58. Kxh2 {Black is saved by stalemate.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "2026 Idaho Open (Open Section)"]
[Site "Boise, ID"]
[Date "2026.06.27"]
[Round "2.104"]
[White "Wei, James"]
[Black "Liang, Candice"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[ECO "B34"]
[WhiteElo "2120"]
[BlackElo "1807"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[GameId "2327044131762245"]
[EventDate "2026.06.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceVersionDate "2026.06.29"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 (5. c4 {enter Maroczy Bind territory.}) 5... Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Nxc6 $5 (7. Bc4 O-O 8. Bb3 d6 (8... a5 9. O-O d6 (9... a4 10. Nxa4 Nxe4 11. Nb5 {is something you need to study before you attempt.}) 10. Ndb5) 9. f3 Bd7 10. Qd2 {is a main line.}) 7... bxc6 8. e5 Ng8 (8... Nd5 9. Nxd5 cxd5 10. Qxd5 Rb8 {offers a gambit approach.} 11. Bc4 O-O 12. O-O Bb7 13. Qd3 Bxe5 14. Bxa7 Rc8 15. Bd4 Bxh2+ 16. Kxh2 Qc7+ 17. Kg1 Qxc4 18. Qxc4 Rxc4 19. c3 {is a fun line settling with about equal chances, but there are other possibilities.}) 9. Bd4 (9. f4 Nh6 (9... f6 10. Bd4) 10. Qd2 O-O) 9... c5 (9... f6 {is also played here.}) 10. Bxc5 Bxe5 $2 (10... Qc7 11. Bd4 Bxe5 12. f4 (12. Qd2 Nf6 13. O-O-O $13) 12... Bxd4 (12... Bf6 13. Qd2 Bb7 14. O-O-O) 13. Qxd4 Nf6 14. O-O-O $14) 11. Qd5 Qc7 (11... Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Qa5 13. Bc4 Qxc3+ 14. Kd1 Qxa1+ 15. Kd2 Qf6 16. Qxa8 Qc6 (16... Qf4+ 17. Kc3 Qc7 18. Qxa7 $16) 17. Qxc6 dxc6 $16) 12. Qxa8 $6 (12. Nb5 $1 Qb8 13. Bc4 Nh6 (13... e6 14. Qd3 d5 15. O-O-O $1 Ne7 16. Qa3 $1 Nf5 17. Nc3 $16 {since} dxc4 $4 18. Qa4+ {forces mate.}) 14. O-O-O a6 15. Rhe1 Bf4+ 16. Kb1 O-O 17. Nc3 {White should enjoy a fair advantage due to piece activity and centralization.}) 12... Qxc5 13. Ne4 (13. Ba6 $5 Bxc3+ 14. Kf1 Nf6 15. Qxc8+ Qxc8 16. Bxc8 Bxb2 17. Rb1 Bd4 18. Ke2 $14) (13. Qf3) 13... Qc7 14. c3 e6 15. Ba6 Ne7 16. Bxc8 Nxc8 17. Nd2 $2 (17. f4 $5 Bxf4 18. Nf6+ Ke7 19. Qe4 {with some complications, but the engine now says Black has good chances.}) 17... d5 18. c4 O-O $2 (18... Bxb2 19. Rd1 ({Or} 19. Rb1 O-O 20. O-O Nb6 21. Qxf8+ Kxf8 22. Rxb2 dxc4 {, when Black's queen and pawns, especially that dangerous passed c-pawn, tend to outweigh the two rooks.}) 19... dxc4 20. O-O O-O 21. Qe4 Nd6 22. Qc2 c3 $17 {gives Black more than sufficient compensation for the exchange.}) 19. cxd5 Bxb2 20. Rd1 Qe5+ 21. Kf1 Qd4 22. Qc6 $6 (22. d6 $5 Nxd6 (22... Qd3+ 23. Kg1 Nxd6 (23... Qe2 $2 24. Qf3 Qa6 25. Ne4 $16) 24. Qf3 Qa6) 23. Qf3 $13) 22... Qd3+ 23. Kg1 Qe2 24. Qc2 Bd4 25. Rf1 Nd6 $6 (25... Ne7 26. Qc1 (26. d6 Nd5 27. Qc1 Nf4 $17) (26. Qd1 $4 Bxf2+) 26... Rc8 (26... Nxd5 27. h4 $13) 27. Qe1 Qxe1 28. Rxe1 Bc3 {and Black regains material.}) 26. Qc1 (26. Qc7 $5 Qxd2 27. Qxd6 Rc8 (27... Bxf2+ 28. Rxf2 Qd1+ 29. Rf1 Qd4+ 30. Rf2 Qd1+) 28. h4 Rc1 (28... Bxf2+ 29. Rxf2 Rc1+ 30. Kh2 Rxh1+ 31. Kxh1 Qxf2 32. Qd8+ Kg7 33. d6) 29. Kh2 Rc5) 26... exd5 27. Nb3 $6 (27. h4 $5 Rc8 28. Qe1 Re8 29. Qxe2 Rxe2 30. Nb3 Bb6 31. Nc1 $15 {White is still a bit befuddled.}) 27... Bb6 28. Qd2 Qb5 (28... Qe6) (28... Re8) 29. h4 (29. Qf4 Ne4 30. g3 Qe2 $15 {Black will pick up another pawn, while White must still untangle somehow.}) 29... Ne4 $17 30. Qf4 Nc3 $2 ({Much of the advantage goes away with this.} 30... Qe2 $17 {Black can put quite a bit of pressure on f2. For example} 31. Nc1 Qc2 32. g3 Bxf2+ 33. Rxf2 Nxf2 34. Qxf2 (34. Rh2 Nh3+ $3 (34... Rc8 {works less spectacularly.}) 35. Rxh3 Re8 $1 36. Qf1 Re3 $1 $19 {Black threatens ...Qe4 or ...Qc3, in both cases suggesting ...Re1, pinning the queen.}) 34... Qxc1+) 31. Nc1 h5 (31... Qc4 $1 32. Qxc4 dxc4 {Black can envision an arrangement of ...Rd8-d2, ...Ne4, possibly with ...f5 supporting the e4-knight. This should offer full compensation, given the tangle of white pieces, the weaknesses on f2 and a2, and the squares controlled by the passed c-pawn.}) 32. Rh3 d4 (32... Ne4 $13) 33. Re1 Qb1 $2 ({Fortunes shift.} 33... Re8 34. Rxe8+ Qxe8 35. Qd2 {With the pressure on f2 alleviated, White's losing chances are much reduced. Winning chances? Not yet really in evidence.}) 34. Qd2 (34. Rf3 Nxa2 $6 35. Nd3 $16 {Suddenly White's pieces are coordinated, with f7 looking like a target.} ({Stockfish points out the unlikely tactic} 35. Qh6 $1 Nxc1 36. Rxf7 $3 Ne2+ $1 (36... Rxf7 37. Re8+) (36... Kxf7 37. Qh7+ Kf6 38. Qe7+ Kf5 39. Qg5#) 37. Kh2 $1 Rxf7 38. Rxb1 Rf6 39. Qg5 {White should win.})) 34... Ba5 35. Nd3 Qb6 36. Qc2 Kg7 37. Ne5 $6 (37. Rf3) 37... Qb7 $6 (37... Re8 $1 38. Nd3 (38. Rf3 Qe6 39. Nd3 (39. Rxf7+ $2 Qxf7 40. Nxf7 Rxe1+ 41. Kh2 Kxf7 $17) 39... Ne2+ $15 {regains the exchange.}) 38... Rxe1+ 39. Nxe1 Qe6 40. Nd3 Nxa2 $13) 38. Rf3 Nxa2 $2 (38... Re8 $5) 39. Ra1 ({More complicated:} 39. Rxf7+ Qxf7 (39... Rxf7 40. Qxg6+ Kf8 41. Qh6+ Ke8 (41... Ke7 42. Nc6+ Kd7 43. Qe6+ Kc7 44. Nxa5 $18) 42. Nxf7+ Bxe1 43. Nd6+) 40. Nxf7 Bxe1 41. Ng5 Bxf2+ 42. Kh2 $18) 39... Nb4 40. Qc5 f6 41. Rxa5 Na6 42. Rxa6 Qxa6 43. Qe7+ Kg8 44. Nd7 Qa1+ 45. Kh2 Rf7 46. Nxf6+ 1-0

[Event "2026 Idaho Open (Open Section)"]
[Site "Boise, ID"]
[Date "2026.06.28"]
[Round "5.101"]
[White "Wei, James"]
[Black "Price, Josh"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[ECO "B02"]
[WhiteElo "2120"]
[BlackElo "1986"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[GameId "2327081119962318"]
[EventDate "2026.06.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceVersionDate "2026.06.29"]

{[%evp 0,73,25,24,52,5,36,38,43,37,24,31,45,58,46,5,39,4,34,10,38,42,37,47,55,26,27,15,19,13,6,15,44,45,37,31,51,24,70,63,67,75,94,67,85,99,93,103,76,89,88,75,84,83,101,78,82,65,171,170,287,309,329,309,317,160,133,141,183,156,235,225,233,206,233,289]} 1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 (2. e5 {is more common by an order of magnitude.} Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 {is the most likely continuation against the Alekhine Defense.}) 2... d5 {We've shifted into a Scandinavian line, usually reached by 1.e4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6. Black could have created a Vienna Game with 2...e5. Transpositions abound.} 3. exd5 (3. e5 Nfd7 4. d4 c5 5. f4 cxd4 6. Nb5 Nc6 7. Nf3 {is a different path.}) 3... Nxd5 4. Bc4 Nb6 5. Bb3 g6 ({The fianchetto is slightly suspect due to the game continuation.} 5... Nc6 6. Nf3 (6. Qf3 $5 e6 7. Nge2 Be7 8. d3) 6... Bf5 7. d4 e6 8. O-O Be7 {looks normal.}) (5... c5 6. Qh5 $5 e6 ({The move White's queen sorting is designed to discourage,} 6... c4 $5 7. Bxc4 Nxc4 8. Qb5+ Nc6 9. Qxc4 e5 $13 {, actually seems a decent gambit. White's queen is out early, providing a target for developing black pieces. The central space and half-open c- and d-files guarantee Black pressure.}) 7. d3 Nc6 8. Nf3) 6. Qf3 e6 7. d4 Bg7 ({After} 7... Qxd4 $6 8. Nge2 {, White will complete development and start working the dark squares, with more than sufficient compensation for the pawn.}) 8. Be3 O-O (8... Bxd4 $6 9. Rd1 (9. O-O-O Bxe3+ 10. Qxe3 Qe7) 9... Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 Qe7 11. h4 $14) 9. O-O-O $14 c6 10. h4 a5 11. a4 h6 12. Bf4 (12. h5 g5 13. Ne4 f5 14. Nxg5 hxg5 15. h6 {is an interesting piece sacrifice.}) 12... Nd5 13. Be5 Nd7 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. Nge2 N7f6 (15... b5 $5 {tries to get something going against the white king.}) 16. g4 Nxc3 17. Nxc3 Nd5 18. Ne4 f5 19. gxf5 exf5 20. Nc5 $14 Qd6 21. Nd3 ({White denies the queen exchange, but} 21. Rhe1 Qf4+ 22. Qxf4 Nxf4 23. Nxb7 {is also pretty good.}) 21... f4 22. Ne5 (22. Rhe1 Bf5 23. Re5 $14) 22... Bf5 23. Rdg1 Kh7 (23... Rf6 24. c3 b5 $13 {Just defending on the other wing isn't a recipe for success.}) 24. c3 Rad8 25. Bc2 Ne7 26. Bxf5 Rxf5 27. h5 g5 28. Qd3 $2 (28. Re1 $14) 28... Qf6 $2 (28... Qxe5 $5 {doesn't win a piece, but it's still Black's best chance to simplify and change the narrative.} 29. Re1 Qf6 30. Rxe7+ Qxe7 31. Qxf5+ Kh8 $13) 29. Re1 Nd5 (29... Ng8 30. Re2 (30. Ng4 Qf7 31. Re5 $16) 30... Kg7 31. Rhe1 $16) 30. Ng4 Qf7 31. Re5 Rf8 32. Rhe1 (32. Qe4 $5 Kg7 33. Re6 {may be even stronger.}) 32... Kg7 33. Re6 (33. Qe4 Rxe5 34. Qxe5+ Nf6 35. Qd6 Ng8 36. Re6 Qxh5 37. Ne5 $18) 33... Qxh5 34. Rg1 f3 35. Rxh6 Nf4 (35... Qxg4 36. Rxg4 Kxh6 37. c4 Nf4 (37... Ne7 $16) (37... Nb4 38. Qe3 $16) 38. Qxf3 $16 {White is clearly for choice, but resistance is still possible.}) 36. Qxf3 Qe8 (36... Qxg4 37. Qxg4 Kxh6 38. Kb1 {should be winning for White. This is similar to the last note, if perhaps more solid and with slightly better coordination.}) 37. Kb1 Ng6 38. Qh3 Rh8 39. Ne3 Qe4+ 40. Ka1 Rxf2 41. Rxh8 Nxh8 42. Rxg5+ Ng6 43. Ng4 $4 {(This move is a blunder due to 43...Qe1+} Rg2 (43... Qe1+ 44. Ka2 Rxb2+ $3 45. Kxb2 Qd2+ 46. Kb3 Qxg5 {winning back the rook and probably a draw) this variation was barely missed as I had 5 seconds on the clock.--Josh Price.}) 44. Qh6+ Kf7 45. Qh7+ Ke6 46. Rxg6+ Kd5 47. Qf7+ 1-0

