Henry ties 3^rd-5^th place in Chess Tournament

Benjamin Rudy, James Mannella and Henry revel in their victories and contemplate how they will celebrate and spend their hard-won winnings.

June 25, 2025: Henry tied for third, fourth and fifth place in the the Temecula Chess Club Tournament No. 141 in a field of 8 players. Henry explained, “I'm on a roll! I just tied with two other players for 3rd-4th-5th place at the monthly Temecula Chess Club Tuesday Nights Tournament! Benjamin Rudy, James Mannella and I each completed the tournament with 4.5 points. Two players, Gregory and Justice, tied for 1st-2nd with 5.0 points. It was a very close tournament. We were all contenders up to the final round. We (James, Benjamin and I) split the prize money and each of us received $13.33 for eight rounds (four Tuesdays) of intense battles on the chessboard! Do you think I should quit my regular job and devote my life to earning money by playing chess?!”

Henry's prize money: $13.33!

Final standings.

Following is Henry's game against Mads Laugesen in Round 4. It’s black’s turn to play. Black’s queen is pinned. Does he have to trade queens? What is the best move for black?

Position after 36. Qd8-Qd3?

Henry says, “Black is down a rook and white should win fairly easily. But white has just played a terrible blunder 36. Qd8-Qd3? How can black equalize the game? Yes, folks, I am white in this game, played at the Temecula Chess Club Tuesday Night Tournament. This was Round 4. The game ended in a draw, but later after consulting my chess engine, I discovered that before my fatal blunder, I could have mated my opponent in just a few moves: for instance (don’t forget to put white’s queen on d8): 36.h6 gxh6 37.Rxh6+ Kxh6 38.Qf6+ Kh7 39.Qxf7+ Kh8 40.Rd8+ Qe8 41.Rxe8# For those who are interested, the entire 47-move game follows. Congratulations to Mads Laugesen, who battled bravely and punished me severely for my blunder!”

White: Henry Doktorski 1716 rating
Black: Mads Laugesen 1221 rating
Temecula Chess Club T141
Round 4
June 11, 2025

1.d4 e6
2.c4 Nf6
3.Nc3 Bb4
4.Qc2 b6
5.e4 Bb7
6.f3 Nc6
7.Be3 O-O
8.e5 Ne8
9.Bd3 d5
10.cxd5 exd5
11.Bxh7+ Kh8
12.Bd3 Ne7
13.O-O-O c5
14.Kb1 Bxc3
15.Qxc3 Nc7
16.Ne2 Rc8
17.Qe1 Ng6
18.h4 Ne6
19.h5 Ngf4
20.Bxf4 Nxf4
21.Nxf4 Rc6
22.g4 Re8
23.Qg3 Qg5
24.Bf5 Bc8
25.Bxc8 Rexc8
26.Nxd5 cxd4
27.f4 Qd8
28.Ne3 d3
29.Nf5 d2
30.Nd6 Rxd6
31.exd6 Qxd6
32.Qe3 Qc6
33.Qxd2 Qe4+
34.Ka1 Rc2
35.Qd8+ Kh7
36.Qd3? Rc1+
37.Rxc1 Qxd3
38.g5 Qf5
39.Rcf1 a5
40.h6 g6
41.a3 a4
42.Ka2 b5
43.Ka1 Qd5
44.Rd1 Qe4
45.Rhf1 Qf5
46.Rde1 Qd3
47.Rd1 Draw agreed

For more about the Temecula Chess Club, go to: Temecula Chess.Com.

For more about the United States Chess Federation, go to: US Chess.Org.