Chess with Sam Collins

Alex Lopez vs Sam Collins

Irish Easter Chess Festival, Dublin, 2018

Alex Lopez secured his first GM norm with an impressive series of five consecutive victories to take first place in the Easter Chess Festival’s GM event.

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.b3 g6 3.Bb2 Bg7 4.g3

Lopez tends to favour closed openings with White, in which he can gradually put pressure on his opponents.

4 . . . 0–0 5.Bg2 d6 6.d4 Nc6 7.0–0 e5 ...