Lessons from a Youth Tournament

What can we learn from the play of a group of young players ranging in skill from beginners to seasoned tournament players? I think we can learn quite a bit.

After running the pairings and watching the games of twenty youth players from grades kindergarten through tenth grade, I have been going through their games carefully. There are examples of finding and executing tactical sequences to achieve a decisive advantage, or even a long-term initiative. But, there are also instances of giveaway chess, where a player seems unconcerned with vulnerability. Queens and lesser pieces are placed en prise, and sometimes left alone.

There are well-executed checkmates, and there are draws that followed from a young player missing a simple checkmate in one move. Two games featured three-fold repetition, but only one was claimed. Thirteen of the 49 games lasted 25 moves or less (miniatures), while seven games lasted fifty moves or more. Some of the miniatures revealed strong opening preparation.

King's pawn openings were most popular with the Italian Opening leading. Nearly one-third of the (15) games are classified C50 in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings. Six games began with a move other than 1.e4. One player played 1.d4 three times, while another played 1.Nf3 twice. One game began 1.e3, and one wonders whether it was a mouse slip.

Black and White had an even score, each winning 23 games. Three games were drawn. Twenty participants played 49 games.

Illustrative Games

The first illustrative game pits the eventual tournament winner against one of the youngest players, a second grader.

A Boy (1157) -- A Girl (1634) [C50]
Turkey Trot (1), 21.11.2020

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Nc3 Bc5

White to move

This position appeared in six games in the event.

5.0-0 0-0 6.d3 h6

Black, who is one of my students, understands how a pin of the knight can be a bother in such positions.

7.Bd2 d6 8.Qe2 Oblivious to the danger?

8.h3 prevents the pin

8...Bg4 9.Be3

Keeps the knight off d4

9...Bd4 10.Nb5 a6

White to move

11.Nbxd4 

11.Nc3

11...exd4 12.Nxd4?? 

The game losing blunder. 12.Bd2 Ne5 and Black still has a clear advantage.

12...Bxe2 13.Nxe2-+ Qe7 14.Nf4 Qe5 15.Ne2 Ng4 16.Bd2

16.Ng3

16...Qxh2# 0-1 

Another Italian Four Knights took a different course. When Black blundered, White seized the initiative, winning some material and bringing pressure against the king. It was enjoyable to watch this game as it progressed, trying to find for myself the surest finale.

Another Girl (1446) -- Another Boy (930) [C50]
Turkey Trot (3), 21.11.2020

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.d3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.0-0 d6 6.Nc3 Bg4 7.h3 Bd7 8.Be3 Bxe3 9.fxe3 Nh5??

White to move

10.Nxe5!

10.Bxf7+ is even better 10...Kxf7 11.Nxe5+ Kg8 12.Nxd7 Qxd7 13.Qxh5+-

10...dxe5?

10...Nxe5 11.Qxh5 0-0±

11.Qxh5 g6 12.Bxf7+ Ke7

12...Kf8 13.Qh6+ Ke7 14.Qg5+ Kd6 15.Rf6+ as in the game.

13.Qg5+ Kd6 14.Rf6+ Be6

White to move

15.Bxe6!

15.Rxe6+ is less strong, but is what I might have played. 15...Kc5 16.Rxe5+ Nxe5 17.Qxe5+ Kc6 (17...Kb6 18.Qb5#) 18.Bd5+ Kb6 (18...Kd7 19.Qe6#) 19.Na4+ Ka5 20.Bc6+ Qd5 21.Qxd5+ Ka6 22.Bxb7#

15...h6 16.Qxg6

I wanted her to find 16.Bc8+ Kc5 17.b4+ Kxb4 18.Rxc6!! bxc6 (18...Qxg5 19.Rb1+ Ka5 20.Rb5#) 19.Qxe5 Ka3 (19...Qxc8 20.a3#) 20.Rb1 Qd5 21.Qxd5 cxd5 (21...Rb8 22.Qa5#) 22.Rb3#

16...Nb4

White to move

17.d4!

Again, I was looking for17.Bc8+! Kc5 18.d4+ exd4 19.Na4+ (19.exd4+ Qxd4+) 19...Kb5 20.Bxb7; 17.Bc4+ Kc5 (17...Kd7 18.Qf5+ Ke8 19.Rf8+ Rxf8 20.Qg6+ Rf7 21.Qxf7#) 18.Na4#

17...exd4 18.exd4 Nxc2

White to move

19.Bd5+

My persistent idea is clearly better here: 19.Bc8+ Qxf6 20.Qxf6#

19...Kd7 20.Qf5+ Ke8 21.Re6+

21.Rf8+ Rxf8 22.Qg6+ Rf7 23.Qxf7#

21...Kd7 22.Re5+ Kd6 23.Qe6# 1-0

There are other lessons possible from many of the other 47 games. Perhaps I will write more another day.