8.3 Vela vs. Ramirez, the game...

Vela vs. Ramirez last game of the Spanish Torture round robin Match:

The End is near!!

After 23 exciting games we are here, at the sunset of the Spanish Torture 2011 Round-Robin Match.

As we all know by now, my game against Jauregui ended in a draw, therefore, he was "eliminated" from the race for first place. He now awaits the result of the last game of the Match, Vela vs. Ramirez to see if he'll end up in second place or will share first, though in this case, he'll actually be the third place by tie-breaks.

The important thing here right now is the last battle of the year that will take place next Monday, November 21st, 2011!!  

So, let's see what the situation is:

Jauregui is temporarily in first place with 8 points. He already played his 16 games, so he's finished. Ramirez and I, Vela are tied in points with 7.5 and I play white versus my Cuban friend.

These are the possibilities based on the 3 results:

Whoever wins the game, will win the Match, finishing with a +1 performance and 8.5 points out of the 16 possibles. The loser will finish the Match with -1, only 1 point behind the Champion, and just 1/2 point behind second place Jauregui. This is clear.

If the game is drawn, all three of us would finished tied in points with 8. And it is now that a special tie-break rule that we all three agreed upon before the beginning of the tournament will take effect. According to that rule, in case that one or both challengers (Ramirez and/or Jauregui) finish the Match equal in points with the current Champion, He will retain the title and the crown. This is called 'draw-odds'.

For a challenger to be crowned as the new Champion, he would have to prove himself superior to the Champion, otherwise he (or they) would only be his equal, but didn't prove to be better, if at least for half a point, therefore, I would keep my title for one more year...

Now, let me assure anyone who reads this post of one thing: I do not...and I repeat: I DO NOT want to finish with a draw, nor in the game, much less in the whole Match. I want to finish with clear first place, just like a Champion should.
The 'draw-odds' rule was implemented (and my idea) a couple of years ago, when Jose and I used to play our matches and decided to change the format, from "The champion will be the first player to reach 6 wins, draws not counting" a la Fischer, to "16 total games per match, with draw odds for the current champion"

Last year, 2010, was the very first time since 1999, when these friendly matches began, that we actually finished tied in points 8-8, and since I had won in 2009, I also retained the title in 2010.

I know that feeling pretty well. And even though it feels good not to lose the match (and the title!) it feels way, way better to actually WIN the whole thing!! It doesn't matter if you're repeating as champion or if you win it as the challenger, the sweetness of Victory has no comparison with anything else!

But we'll see. On paper I have better chances of repeating as the Champion due to the fact that I have the white pieces (this is the least important one, I think) but more than that, I only need a draw and the match is over in my favor. That situation will make Jose even more dangerous than he normally is, because he is coming out for this battle with foam on the lips! He will try to win at all costs and that's when he becomes really dangerous, although he  could also slip more easily under the pressure of having to win by force, and I have to be ready to grab my opportunity with both hands.
I have white and will try to maintain a steady initiative, and a balanced position. He's the one who has to risk his underwear looking for victory.
This is the last battle of the year and the Match.
Strong nerves and psychology are of the essential to prevail here.
I can only wish my opponent a good game and may the force be with you...
Let's fight!!!

8.2 Jauregui vs. Vela (The game)

In another tough fight, the french survived once again against the galactic preparation.

I planned to play the Tarrasch in case of 3.Nd2 and even though Juan Pablo had the advantage pretty much during the whole game, I was able to keep it level all the time and was never in great danger of losing.

I did feel the pressure and had to spend large amount of time playing precise and some times even a little risky. The game faded into a Rook and Bishop versus Rook and Knight ending with pawns on both sides of the board, but again, I was able to position my pieces defensively in the best squares, and Jauregui decided not to risk too much in this ending where the knight could become active if a slip had happened on his part...

And now, here is the game:

Next to last game: 8.2 Jauregui vs. Vela

There are only 2 games left to finish the Spanish Torture Match of 2011, and this game coming up between El Galactico with White, and The Aztec warrior with Black will be crucial in every aspect of the competition.

It doesn't matter what the result will be, but win, draw or loss, it will define who stays in the fight for first place...and who leaves the race...to finish second or third.

This will also be the last official game for Juan Pablo in the Match. After 15 tough battles he has gathered 7.5 points, or 50%. Not bad at all really, especially if one takes into account that he has participated in a Match like this one for the very first time in his chess career...

Anyways, he needs to win!! Anything else, a loss or even a draw are not enough for him anymore.

He has to win!! There's no tomorrow.

In my case my situation is not so drastic, though it's very important too!

A win for me, meaning obviously a full point, would be the best to be able to go into the very last battle against El Mambi with several advantages: The white pieces, half a point over him, the pressure on him to win the game with black, etc, etc...  But I'm getting ahead of myself...way ahead!

Mr. Jauregui, fighting the French...Again!

First, I have to be able to defend with precision against the rage of Juan Pablo's White's army. I need to be ready to counterattack with exactitude if the chance appears. I have to play an active defense with chances of counter-play. If I can't do that, or to put it better, if I am not able nor allowed to do that, his chances of victory will increase dramatically.

Now, we must take into account though, that we will be playing the French Defense once again!

My beautiful, beautiful French!

Jose just killed me a couple of games back against my French, but this time is Jauregui's turn to try to destroy it...Will he do it?

I know that he is studying hard and deeply to prepare for such an important and defining moment...

So far he has been unable to defeat my black pieces, but does that mean that he can't win this time?? Of course not!!

He has all the knowledge and ambition to destroy my favorite defense at the most tense moment for both of us!

That's why I have been checking out a couple of set ups that where I didn't use the most precise plans in the past, and a few more that I would like to employ, if the chance arises.

The game will take place at Jauregui's beautiful and perfect chess environment, in his house, on Monday November the 7th. at around...I don't know, 6 or 7 pm.

In my opinion this game will be electrifying and some sparks will start flying off right after or even at the beginning of the opening phase.

The result?? Impossible to predict!

The will power in both contenders??...Up to the sky, no doubt!
One of us will end his dreams of winning the Match, the other one will finish second or third depending on the result of last game Vela vs. Ramirez.

1.e4 e6: Black is better, already...

My destiny is not guaranteed but at least is still in my hands. This is my most important French defense in the match, and I'm ready. As soon as see 1.e4 at the board I know I'm ready!!

So, come on my friend!

Let's try once more to kill each other at the board!! 

It'll be FUN!!

Lets fight!!

-Paco Vela.

8.1 Ramirez vs. Jauregui, the game!

The beginning of the End starts!! 8.1 Ramirez vs. Jauregui.

This is it! The last round begins tonight at Ramirez's house with the last encounter of the Spanish Torture Match between my two friends, Ramirez versus Jauregui...

I cannot stress out how important this duel will be for both of them!

Jose is the leader by the smallest of margins, and Juan Pablo cannot risk to even draw the game if he's to keep his chances of first place alive. And even though Juan has the black pieces, precisely that color has been the best one to give him chances of victories during this year.

Jose has not been able to win a single game while on the white side vs. El Galactico, but I'm sure he will do his best effort tonight, because with a victory he has half of the title in the bag...

On the other hand, Juan Pablo will also try to get out of the basement and stop the Mambi at the same time. We're in for a great fight!!

The last round of our Match begins, and "the championship" is still in the air, waiting at the end of this long tunnel for the toughest fighter in 2011.

I wish you both deep concentration, nerves of steel and tons of fighting spirit. I will be right there to comment on the game, and enjoy together one more great night with my Amigos and great chess musketeers!

I want a clean fight. No punching nor kicking under the table. Protect your minds at all times...

Let the battle begin !!

Last game of round 7, Ramirez vs. Vela (1-0)

Ramirez played a great game using his white pieces to beat my french defence. This is most probably the best and cleanest of all my losses in this Match.

If I had to pick my "best" loss I would pick this one, so far! At least up until now...

He never let go of the initiative, he never allowed me any counter-play...This is how you play against the French!

It's very difficult to make so many precise moves as white to maintain the attack going but if it happens, then the difficulty comes around to the other side and black is likely to fail somewhere, since the defense is tough, and the pressure and the effectiveness of White's attack will crack the most stubborn black army almost every time...

That's what happened here. Jose won in great style against the defense that he hates the most and the one he's statistically less likely to beat, but he did it nonetheless!

Congratulations my friend! You now regain the leadership and the better chances to become the Champion this year, but don't become overconfident.

There's still one more round to go,two more games per player, so this is not decided yet!

The last 3 games are going to be full-bloody battles. I don't think we'll see any draws, if any, they'll be fought out to the last pawn! We'll see...

Meanwhile, here is the game:

Up next to close the 7th. round, board 3: Ramirez vs. Vela

The date will be Monday, October the 3rd, 2011.
In one week the fight for first place will take place at El Mambi's home.

As we all know and the table of positions also shows, all three of the contenders are neck and neck, battling it out, trying to receive the honors of  being called 'The champion' in 2011.

With this game we will be closing the seventh round. That's the next to last out of the eight rounds planned to decide over the chessboard who deserves to reign supreme as the best among equals, as Botvinnik would said.

Jose will command the white army in his last chance to play the French defense against me.
Whether he'll choose so or not, I have no idea, but even if he goes for his beloved "matadora" (1.c4) or something different, I'm about to find that out very soon... 

I, of course, will try to be prepared for anything sensible.

My leadership is made out of a tiny and very fragile half a point over Ramirez and Jauregui, so I'll start defending it, and will also try to find active possibilities for my black pieces.

A victory for me at this point would mean a comfortable lead with just one more round to go (3 games left total, but two per player)

A draw would still keep my minimum advantage over Jose and a full point over Juan Pablo.

A loss would mean a switch out of places at the top between El mambi and I.

Once more, I am coming out to fight very, very hard 'till the end.

I am not looking forward to a draw without a great battle before any result.
If Jose decides to risk too much, then I will try to capitalize on that by stealing the always important initiative that the white pieces enjoy at the beginning of the game. Whatever happens I can assure everyone that I am ready to sweat again.

I can already tell that Jose is preparing very deeply for this specific battle, since he knows perfectly well how important a victory is at exactly this point in the Match. Like I said at the beginning, this is his last white against me, so he must take advantage of that and play to the best of his abilities, and he'll do just that, no doubt...

On the little details I am almost ready. A few of the last nuts and screws on my different opening choices have to be tighten up, oiled up, studied and perfected as much as possible, but the most important things like tactics, fighting spirit, psychology, and my great Will to win are already polished and ready to be used against my great friend and tough adversary.

There's only 4 games left in the Match, and I know this one coming up will add to a long list of chess battles between Ramirez and I. Let's have one more great fight, Jose!

Let's do this!!
Let's fight!!

 

7.2 Vela vs. Jauregui (1/2-1/2) with comments!

It was a difficult struggle, specially for me, since I didn't follow a good plan with my white pieces after a King's Indian, four pawns attack variation.

I had to defend very precisely at the end with only-moves.

When Jauregui repeated the position we were both very short on time, but afterwards, with fritz and no pressure, we realized that we did our best under the circumstances. It was a well deserved and earned draw that keeps me on first place with only 1/2 a point over Juan Pablo and Jose.

Here is the game with comments and analysis:

Round 7, board 2 next: Vela vs. Jauregui, next Monday Sept, 19th

   The stage is ready.
   The next battle is very important for all three contenders to the 2011 crown between the Spanish Torture musketeers.

   In the last 2 rounds (6 games) we all have the last chance to get as many points as possible for the last time in the year.

   Last Monday "El Galactico" Jauregui had his last white vs. "El Mambi" Ramirez. He will have to wait until he plays the next Round Robin Tournament to have that opportunity again. The same fact applies to all of us, and up next is my last white game vs. Jauregui, so I have to squeeze every drop of extraterrestrial juice that I can possibly get from him...

   I am well aware that a draw is all I need to continue on top, and that would be a good (safe) result for me, however, it's not in my blood nor in my will to come out to the chess arena and play it safe. Rather, just the opposite.

   I want to WIN!! I want to risk and squeeze, and sweat and push, and cry and bleed, and win at all costs!!

  I WANT VICTORY IN EVERY GAME!!! That's my philosophy, and I'm not changing out that now...

    This time I get to play with the advantage of having the leadership for the first time in the whole Match, and if there's nothing more than a draw at hand after trying out every tiny possibility, then, and only then, I wouldn't have to risk losing, and therefore a draw might be OK with me....

  But first... 
Well, first I have to try everything in my power to crush the black position, that being tactically or strategically.

  With that approach i would risk losing, but if I lose this game (and I can lose, of course!) I still have very good chances of coming back in the next three remaining battles.

   If it's a draw, a very hard-fought-out draw, then I will continue as the leader, even if only by the minimum difference, just one half a point over Ramirez. But I would have to play him with Black in the following game, so why not take advantage of my white pieces now, and try to demolish one of my opponents to go to the game against Ramirez with a possible whole extra point advantage?

Yeah...why not??

   They say in Mexico that "The world belongs to brave men..."

With that in mind:  I will be careful, but not to the point of taking absolutely no risks. I will be brave, but not to the point of sacrificing on speculative tactics... 

   In sum, I will continue playing as I did when I still was in the basement.

That attitude helped me to get out of it, and I believe the same mindset will take me to first place at the end of 2011 this Match. 

    I also have a chance to win vs. Jauregui our fourth encounter in a row...  A chance that I'll probably never have again in the future... Maybe never again!
   So why not come out fighting with a super sharp machete, instead of a white silky handkerchief, begging for a truce??

   My opponents, any of them, want a truce??

Well, first of all... 

I am here to fight!!!

I am here to claim victory!!

I am here to kill or be killed!!

You guys want peace??

Come and get it!

Come and earn it first!!

I rather resign the game on move one, before handing out even one single half a point on a platter!!

I will be fighting with everything I've got. I know Jauregui will do so too. He has no choice. If he loses this one, he's practically out of contention for first place, and that makes me want to win even harder than anything else, but we'll see....'cause the future is unpredictable and I'm not playing against a 6 year old kid. I am playing versus El Galactico and I am sure that he will be ready for a tough battle.

This is a war on 64 squares, but war, nonetheless...

  

I wish that you will play a great game Juan Pablo. I really do. I think you will.

So, just to finish this post I also want to ask you the same question I asked Jose the last time we played:

Are you ready to rumble my friend??? 

'Cause I AM MORE THAN READY!!!

   LETS HAVE ANOTHER GREAT FIGHT !!!!!!

To the victory, always!!!



First game of the 7th Round, Jauregui vs. Ramirez (1/2 - 1/2)

In a very strategical game, Juan Pablo and Jose drew their game exactly at the moment of reaching the time control on move 40.
Both of them were very careful not to slip, and the result, as always, it a deservedly one.
Jose stands right next to me as we share first place, while Juan Pablo stays very close, still in the basement, but within half a point from the leaders. Our next game will be very crucial!! But I'll have time to talk about that in a future post...

Meanwhile, here is the game with  my comments, made during the course of the game...

Good game, my friends!

7.1 Jauregui vs. Ramirez, next Monday...

Some time ago, even before we had reached the second half of this 3-crazy-men-tournament, I wrote in one of my comments that the most difficult phase in the Match would take place in the last two rounds...

Well, the last two rounds are here, and on Monday, September the 5th, the beginning of the end starts...

   The game this time -actually for the first time in the year- will feature a battle between Jauregui (white) against Ramirez (black) to stay in the pack. 

It is the first time that they play when neither one of them is the official leader on the scoreboard, but both have a great chance to continue within reach of first place.

In fact, if Jose wins, he would surpass me by half a point to take provisional leadership.

If Juan Pablo wins, he would catch up shoulder by shoulder with me.

And if they draw, Jose catches up with me, and Juan Pablo stays at the bottom, provisionally also...

The fiercest of battles begins with this encounter. No one has the first place guaranteed, despite so many "threats" of winning, kicking and killing...

Nobody knows yet how this will end. And that's what makes it more exciting and interesting than ever!

I'd like to think that the momentum is on my side because of what just happened in the 6th round when I won both my games and with that I took over the role of Commander in points.

But this spot is so fragile...   So much so, that it's very easy to lose touch with the floor and to let your mind loose, flying around in the clouds...

The best option, in my opinion, is to be optimistic without losing sight of reality.

To be a fighter without going crazy.

This game, and the other 5 left in this Match will be just as important as the games in any of the past rounds, but psychologically much more difficult to play out. If strong nerves were required before, nerves of steel are required now, where the situation could drastically change with just one bad decision, or just a great plan also.

I would love to wish the best of luck to both my friends, but I don't believe in luck in chess, I only believe in good and bad moves....       Therefore, I just want to wish both of them good...  No, wait, better yet, I want to wish you both GREAT moves, so that I can be a witness to a phenomenal game, whatever the result might be.

I don't wanna make any prophesies or anything like that, but I do think this will be a great fighting game, where both of them will let their mind, strength, stamina and sweat all out on the chessboard, and a fantastic battle of ideas and such great clash of styles will have Jauregui's garage very well illuminated with a sparkling game of chess.

May the best result for both of you come true!

Sincerely,

-Paco Vela.

Round 6 board 3. I am the leader!!!

I won the game, and with it, I finished the 6th round as the new leader!!

Three things I have accomplished with this win:

1) I was finally able to beat Jose with my white pieces in this Match.
2) I am the first player to win a whole round 2-0, kicking both my opponents butt!! (As Jose would say)
3) I become the leader on the scoreboard, if only by half a point over Jose, and a full point over Jauregui.

Here's the game with comments, finally!

Round 6, board 3: Vela vs Ramirez, next Monday, August 22nd.

I can almost see the light....

I am ready to get out of the basement for good...I think it's your turn guys, so who said "I take it"?

I have white against Jose, and I'm studying hard to give myself the best chance to win 2 games in a row in the same round, something that nobody has been able to do yet, despite some prophecies at the beginning of the match :)
Just kidding...
I will try really hard to win, that I promise!

What is also true is that, so far, I am the only one who has lost both games in a single round, the first one, and that put me in a really bad spot at the beginning of the Match, but little by little I have been able to recover, and my next chess battle versus my friend Ramirez will also be a war about who takes the leadership in points.

A draw would maintain Jose at the top, but even if that would take me out of the basement, I really want to win. I really want to be the first one to win my 2 games in one round, and more than anything, I want to become the leader in the scoreboard.

Whatever the result might be, after this game we will enter the final 2 rounds. The final 4 games per player. I will keep fighting with all my strength. I will squeeze every position, every minute and every opponent to the limit. I will force myself to fight like a true Aztec warrior in every move, as I have done so far...

Jose: A crucial battle looms in the horizon...And I know you'll be ready to fight. So, let's do this!
Let's fight to the death of the Kings!!

The French Defense's honor survives once more!!!! (0-1)

Next game: Jauregui vs. Vela (Rd.6, board 2)

Finally, the game between Juan Pablo and me (Vela) will be played next Thursday August 11th. We tried to make it happened before but personal situations and changes in working schedules kept making it impossible to realized this battle over the board.
 Now, when Jauregui was very close to losing against Ramirez, I have to fight him really hard with my beloved French Defense.

Because it seems that everything is ready for another 1.e4 e6 opening, since Jauregui has kept his promise of playing 1.e4 against me in our last 3 games where he's got white...(!)

So in this case the question is not if I am prepared to face whatever Juan Pablo comes up with, versus my beloved French Defense, the real question is, WILL HE BE PREPARED?? 

I am certain that he will have a nice little surprise for me, and I say little because I have played pretty much anything under the sun against my French.... Sometimes it works and I am crushed as Ramirez would say "like a cockroach" though most of the time, the cockroach runs away, rolls over, screams and yells out...only to go back on his feet and 'exterminate' the attacker!!

So, once more, we'll see what happens!!

It will be difficult, even more so this time when the standings play such a big role because there's only 8 games left in this match, and no more half points can be wasted, much less full points.

One thing is for sure: I can only be glad to have this couple of friends as my opponents, who present me with the hardest, most difficult tests in every phase of my game, and now Jauregui will be, as usual, a formidable adversary to beat, or maybe even just to defend against, in what I -and some others- consider one of my main strong points: To have the Black pieces against 1.e4, playing my favorite French Defense, and get the kind of game that I love!

Without anything else to add, let me just say: Let the great storm on my black King BEGIN!!!