Chess for no good reason, part 36
U.S. Open side events

Chess players used to weekend Swisses where they may play several games in a day can feel discombobulated at the slow pace of the U.S. Open. With just one game per evening, what is to be done with all that free time?

If you're ambitious, you can study and prepare for your next opponent. If you dragged your family along, the days are your quality time with them.

Then there is the average chess player who just gets antsy. That's why they invented U.S. Open side events.

These are played during the day, usually at a fast time control. I grew to enjoy them, and played in as many as possible before burnout set in. I think my personal record is 36 games in two weeks, and I know that some played even more.

Generally, I did better in side events than in the Open itself. I'm more of a day person anyway, and I think the quick time controls hurt my opponents more than they hurt me. At least this first one was successful!

In this game, a little trap works out when Black looks several moves ahead. Alas, they're the wrong moves.

Moody,David (1576) - Small,Charles (1443) [C18]
1st Quick Quad Fairfax, Va. (1), 17.08.1976
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4 Qc7 8.Bd2

Not a totally horrible move; there are games when Grandmasters played it in international competition. But it still seems like wimping out a bit, and not in the spirit of this line.

8...Nbc6 9.Bb5 Bd7 10.Qxg7 Rg8 11.Qxh7 cxd4 12.Bxc6 Qxe5+ 13.Ne2 bxc6 14.cxd4 Qf6 15.0–0–0 Rxg2 16.Rdg1 Rxf2

Missing a little point a few moves down the road. By the way, 16...Qxf2 17.Rxg2 Qxg2 18.Rg1 amounts to the same thing.

17.Rg8+ Nxg8 18.Qxg8+ Ke7

Probably anticipating 19.Qxa8 Rxe2, but White has a slightly better move.

19.Bb4+ 1–0