Australian Correspondence Quarterly

Australia Post No PPn 230594/00010 Correspondence Chess League of Australia Postal Address: GPO Box 2360, Sydney, NSW, 2001 Website: www.ccla.net.au

May 2016 Vol. 69 No. 2 pp 25-48 $4.00 Editor: Shaun Press ISSN 819-7806 2 Auburn St, Amaroo, ACT, 2914 [email protected]

Technical difficulties have bedevilled the production of this issue, which is why it is a little later than usual. The same technical difficulties have prevented the publication of the current rating list (for the first time since I have been editor), although hopefully that will be remedied shortly. Missing deadlines of another kind is also a hot topic at the moment. While the CCLA has a clear policy on the subject of withdrawals and time forfeits, it has been enforced with varying degrees of severity. With the influx of new players and the shift to server based chess, the time has come to look at changing this policy and bring it up to date. As a precursor to this action, Brian Jones has written an article on time management, and I hope that everyone takes the time to read it. The CCLA Council met in April, and there were a few changes to the rules on ratings. With more and more chess being played on the ICCF Server, and more players entering the world of CC via online chess, changes to how initial ratings are to be allocated were agreed upon. This is part of a push to bring CCLA ratings in line with ICCF ratings and to avoid the significant differences in the current rating scales. The council also begun looking at producing another survey of members. It has been a quite a number of years since the last one, and the council felt it was time to once again have a look at the CC landscape. CCLA Vice President Stephen Priest has agreed to put this together, and it will probably be distributed towards the end of the year. 26

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International News WCCC Preliminaries entries including 39 Australians. LGM Veronica Henri, Simon The players were divided into 17 Jenkinson and Dr Derek Roebuck sections of 7 with two players from have commenced play in the World each section to advance to the Correspondence Chess Semi Finals, to be joined by 13 Championship Preliminaries other players (with ratings over (WCCC40PR). There are 13 2250) who qualified directly. sections of 13 players each (169 players in total) and each section is Inter-Zone Championships Category III (average rating 2308). Eight Australian players have been IM Gordon Dunlop has already nominated to represent Zone 4 qualified for the WCCC40 Semi- (Africa-Asia-Australia) in the Finals which will start on 30 June upcoming Inter-Zone 2016. LGM Veronica Henri looks Championships. set to qualify for the final of the 9th Veterans’ World Cup next Ladies World Championship The first stage of the 9th Veterans (LWC11). World Cup will start on 1 21st Olympiad Preliminaries September 2016. ICCF invites The Australian team for the 21st entries from players who are age Olympiad Preliminaries has been over 60 at that date. Players may announced: enter by Direct Entry (DE) or through their National Federation Board 1 - GM Chris Fenwick (send me an email with copy to Board 2 - IM Gordon Dunlop [email protected]). Entries Board 3 - SIM Stephen Kerr close 1 August 2016. Board 4 - IM John-Paul Fenwick XV Jubilee AEAC Board 5 - SIM Tim Runting The Spanish Correspondence Board 6 - Barrie Mulligan Chess Association has invited all players to enter its Jubilee Open 1st Reserve - Colin McKenzie tournament which will start on 30 2nd Reserve - LGM Veronica Henri July 2016. Entries should be submitted through their National Captain – Brian Jones Federation (email me) and the Zone 4 Championship Spanish Federation has given us Preliminaries ten free entries. Closing date is 15 The 18th Africa Asia Zone (AAZ) June 2016. Championship Preliminaries Glen Shields Memorial started in February with 119 Mike Stubbs and Brian Pott have 28 commenced play in the Glen date cross-table can be seen at: Shields Memorial tournament. It is https://www.iccf.com/event? a 15-player Category D event id=48387 requiring a score of 9.5/14 for a Australian Masters and Correspondence Chess Expert Candidate Masters (CCE) title . With 17 and 12 unfinished games See https://www.iccf.com/event? respectively, the placings in the id=58045 2015 Australian Masters DE10A Preliminaries (https://www.iccf.com/event? The Direct Entry (DE10A) id=53334) and 2015 Australian anniversary tournament received a Candidate Masters total of 891 entries which have (https://www.iccf.com/event? been split into 81 groups of 11 id=53335) are unclear. The fields players. The preliminary groups for the 2016 Australian Masters started in March and each winner and 2016 Australian Candidate and runner-up will qualify for the Masters will be published shortly. Semi-final stage. The sponsor, Friendly Matches ChessBase, will also give a prize All CCLA members are eligible to of a 25 Euro voucher to each play Friendly Matches for preliminary group winner. Australia. We compete against Australia wins PATT/6 teams from all over the world and With 43.5 points out of a possible there is no cost. Matches are 72, and two unfinished games, the played on the ICCF webserver and Australian team can no longer be we sometimes field Australia B caught in the 6th Pacific Area Team teams under the name of the CCLA Tournament. Congratulations to Kangaroos. If you want to play in winning team members: IM John- our friendly match teams, then Paul Fenwick, IM Clive Murden, please contact Brian Jones at IM Gordon Dunlop, Simon [email protected] Jenkinson, LGM Veronica Henri ICCF Ratings (2016-2) and Barrie Mulligan. The list of 100 Australian players CCLA 85th Anniversary with fixed ICCF ratings (minimum Invitational Tournament of 30 games) as at 1 April 2016 With 9 games remaining Anthony can be found at the end of this Balshaw of Wales is still leading magazine. the CCLA 85th Anniversary tournament with 7.5/12. IM Australian News Gordon Dunlop and Australian Champion Colin McKenzie both Australian Championship finished with 6 points. The up-to- After a close finish, the 2014 29

Australian Championship was won will get underway shortly with by Colin McKenzie with a score of seven teams of six players each. 8.5/11. See BICYCLE events https://www.iccf.com/event? We have started 54 rated 6/1 id=43563. Some 12 games are BICYCLE events over the past two remaining in the 2015 Australian and a half years - see separate Championship and the standings report. For 2016, we will keep the are unclear. See rating limit to under 2000 (players https://www.iccf.com/event? who do not normally use engines) id=52299 and quicken the to 10 Australian Reserves moves in 30 days. Peter Maylott scored 7.5/9 to win FAST events the 2014 Australian Reserves. The These are new 4/2 events with a 2015 Australian Reserves A is rating limit of under 2000 and a unfinished (4 games remaining) but fast time control of 10 days the Reserves B was won by Peter followed by 1 move every 3 days. Brackenridge with 10/10. CCLA 6/1 and CCLA 4/2 events Australian Seniors During 2016 we will restart CCLA The 2015 Australian Seniors 6/1 and CCLA 4/2 events on the Championship was won by Brian ICCF webserver. These will be Jones who scored 5/6 to finish half open events (no rating restrictions) a point ahead of Brian Thew and with similar time controls as in the Max Kershaw. BICYCLE and FAST events CCLA Major Tournaments 2016 above. The 2016 Australian Entry fees for CCLA events Championship and supporting Except for the Major Tournaments, events started on 1 May 2016. all BICYCLE, FAST, CCLA 6/1, Eleven players rated above 2000 CCLA 4/2 and CHESS 960 events are playing in the 39th Australian will be free from 2016 onwards. Championship. Seven players rated Send entries to below 2000 are playing a double [email protected] or round robin Australian Reserves. to GPO Box 2360 Sydney There are also Senior and NSW 2001. events as well as NSW and Queensland State Championships. Brian Jones Australian Interstate Team CCLA International Secretary With a score of 9/11, Western [email protected] Australia is the winner of the 2015 15 May 2016 Australian Interstate Teams Championship. The 2016 events 30

Time Management on the ICCF Webserver Recently, more and more Press “My Games” (on the left Australian players are losing games hand side) to see a list of your on time due to bad webserver games practices, poor sportsmanship and You should first note that by using basic misunderstandings of the the boxes at the top of this ICCF rules. So in this article I will screen you can show or supress recommend good webserver finished games or show or supress practice and make a few comments games where it is not your turn to on time management. move. At a glance you can see all your opponents’ and the time Login to the webserver regularly situation. If you click on the and do not play by email individual headings the list will be When you first log in to the sorted. I recommend that you look webserver you see the contact page mainly at games where action is with your photo, email, date of required and sort your games into birth and other details. Update this Time Left. In any game if your information regularly as it will help Time Left is less than 20 days then me, as your ICCF delegate, to you should move now if possible. organise events such as the In any game if your Time Spent is interstate championship. Next you greater than 20 days then you should check the options at the should also move now if possible. bottom of the screen. I recommend Some players regularly sail much that you tick the first three options closer to the wind on time but it is - to use drag and drop to enter not recommended unless you are moves (does anyone not have a an experienced player. Simply mouse these days?), to disable press on Your Move to see the email notifications for opponents and make a move. Take moves and to disable email leave or download the PGN file to notifications for your own moves. your favourite database or engine This will stop you trying to play by if required. email and making mistakes. Don’t forget to save the changes you (Continued on page 34) make. 31

Games Column by IM John-Paul Fenwick Just one game for this edition as unfortunately I had two 8Na3 and 8Bf1 are reasonable submissions by readers withdrawn. alternatives. This column can only survive if we receive a greater level of audience 8…Rd8 participation, so again I encourage our readers to share their games. It Black has plenty of choices here doesn’t matter if the games are not with 8…d6 and 8…d5 being the perfect - in fact games with a few most popular. twists and turns are usually more interesting and can be more 9.d3!? instructive than a perfectly played game. 9d4 has also been played but after In the absence of other material, I 9…d5 10e5 Black has the am presenting one of my rare annoying option of playing 10… recent wins. My opponent is a Ne4 2505 rated senior international master who until this game had 9…d5 10.e5 Nd7 11.d4 Nf8 only lost one game in correspondence. XABCDEFGHY 8r+ltr-snk+( 7zpp+-zppvlp' 6-wqn+-+p+& 5+-zppzP-+-% J. Fenwick – C-I Epure 4L+-zP-+-+$ ICCF World Championship 3+-zP-+N+P# Semi-Final WC39/SF11 2PzP-+-zPP+" 1tRNvLQtR-mK-! 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 xabcdefghy

Avoiding the Svesnikov variation – 12.dxc5!? 3d4 cd4 4Nd4 Nf6 5Nc3 e5 – which has been heavily analysed Two previous correspondence and has proven a hard nut to crack. games had gone 12Bc6 bc6 13b3 and although it relieves pressure on 3…g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.c3 Nf6 6.Re1 d4 I didn’t think it was necessary O-O 7.h3 Qb6 8.Ba4 to give up the pair. 32

point is that with the on … 12… Qxc5 13.Nbd2 b5 e6, if white plays Ng5, Black can simply capture In another correspondence game played around the same time, 17.cxd4 a5 18.Be3 Nb4 Conde Poderoso – Gonzalez Barcina 2015 Black went for 13… My opponent seemed to be Ne6 14Nb3 Qb6 15Be3 Qc7 unaware of the danger he was 16Bc6 bc6 17Nc5 which looks a putting himself into, otherwise he bit passive for Black may have gone for something like 18…a4 19Rc1 (White can also try 14.Bc2 Qb6 15.Nb3 Ne6 19a3!? Or 19b3 followed by Rb1) Na5 20Bg5 Re8 21Bd3 Bd7 Black would like to go for 15…b4 22Qe2 and now either 22…Nc4 or where he doesn’t have much to 22…Nc6. The way he played worry about after 16.Nbd4 bxc3 leaves his kingside undefended. 17.bxc3 Ne6 18.Ba3 Nexd4 19.cxd4 Nb4 but White has 16cb4 19.Bb1 Bd7 Nb4 17Be3 Qc7 18Bd3! Which looks a bit better for White – e.g. XABCDEFGHY 18…Nd3 19Qd3 Qb8 19Na5! 8r+-tr-+k+( 7+-+lzppvlp' 16.Nbd4 6-wq-+-+p+& 5zpp+pzP-+-% XABCDEFGHY 4-sn-zP-+-+$ 8r+ltr-+k+( 3+-+-vLN+P# 7zp-+-zppvlp' 2PzP-+-zPP+" 6-wqn+n+p+& 1tRL+QtR-mK-! 5+p+pzP-+-% xabcdefghy 4-+-sN-+-+$ 3+-zP-+N+P# 20.Ng5! 2PzPL+-zPP+" 1tR-vLQtR-mK-! With the centre stable, and Black xabcdefghy having left his largely undefended, the time was right to 16…Nexd4?! start kingside action. Black has an unpleasant choice between This might have been a bit weakening his king position to kick careless. 16…Ncd4 looks better – the knight away or allow white to 17cd4 a5 18Be3 b4 looks just a build an attack with Qf3-g3-h4 or little better for White. The main 33 h4-h5 25.Ba2 e6 26.h5 Qa5 20….h6 I had expected 26…b4 when white Accompanied by a offer but I simply continues the attack with was confident that this position 27g4 – with the centre fixed there was actually close to winning. An is no danger to the White king – alternative line I looked at was followed by either g5 or Kg2 and 20…Rf8 21Qb3 e6 22h4 Nc6 Rh1 23Qd1 Ne7 24h5 and White’s attack looks promising. 27.Qd3 Qa6 21.Nf3 Rdc8 22.Qd2 Kh7 23.a3 After 27…b4 White just plays My idea was to play Ba2 to force 28Bb1 Be8 (28…Ne7 29Bd2) e6, further cutting off Black’s 29g4 as in the game forces. 28.Bb1 Be8 23…Nc6 XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY 8r+r+l+-+( 8r+r+-+-+( 7+-+-+pvlk' 7+-+lzppvlk' 6q+n+p+pzp& 6-wqn+-+pzp& 5+p+pzP-+P% 5zpp+pzP-+-% 4p+-zP-+-+$ 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3zP-+QvLN+-# 3zP-+-vLN+P# 2-zP-+-zPP+" 2-zP-wQ-zPP+" 1tRL+-tR-mK-! 1tRL+-tR-mK-! xabcdefghy xabcdefghy 29.g4 24.h4! The final phase of the attack The immediate 24Ba2 e6 25h4 b4 begins. With his pieces stuck on 25h5 Rab8 seemed less effective the queenside, Black has no answer to the dual threats of g5 and Kg2 24…a4 followed by Rh1 and Qg1-h2

If 24…b4, White abandons the 29….b4 30.Qd1 bxa3 31.bxa3 Ba2 plan and plays 25h5 with Nh4 Kg8 to follow. 34

Hastening the end but even after (Continued from Page 30) the better 31…Ne7, 32g5 is Understand the Time Control devastating – 32…Nf5 33hg6 fg6 The standard ICCF Time Control 34Bf5 gf5 35gh6 is 10 moves in 50 days (though 32.g5! hxg5 33.Bxg5 Nb8 note that faster and more exotic time controls are slowly being XABCDEFGHY introduced). The time shown is the 8rsnr+l+k+( cumulative Time Left to reach the 7+-+-+pvl-' next Time Control. You lose on 6q+-+p+p+& time if you go down to 0 days left 5+-+pzP-vLP% and remain there for 24 hours. 4p+-zP-+-+$ However, many players overlook 3zP-+-+N+-# the special rule that you lose if you 2-+-+-zP-+" 1tRL+QtR-mK-! exceed 40 days on any single xabcdefghy move. Finally, I recommend that players should resign their game 34.h6 1-0 rather the exceed the time limit. A nice way to finish the game Exceeding the Time Limit (ETL) After either 34…Bf8 or 34…Bh8 and playing the Dead Man’s white can follow up with 35h7 Defence (slow play) is regarded as followed by Kg2, Rh1 and Qg1-h2. bad sportsmanship by all of us. As noted in the introduction, for the games column to work we need Brian Jones readers to submit me their games CCLA International Secretary for inclusion in this column. Please [email protected] send to [email protected] 1 May 2016 *ICCF Webserver The CCLA is now making domestic events on the ICCF Webserver available. Please go to www.iccf.com/ for further information, all entries must go via the International Secretary [email protected] at the moment. The cost for each Server event is $10.00 (equivalent to 20 stamps!) so this is very reasonable. (NB Major CCLA Events do cost more) It is recommended that all new players to the Webserver view the ICCF Tutorial at http://correspondencechess.com/campbell/tutorial/ 35

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ICCF Friendly Matches

All CCLA members are eligible to play in Friendly Matches for Australia. We compete against teams from all around the world and there is no cost. Matches are played on the ICCF webserver and we sometimes field Australia B teams under the name of the CCLA Kangaroos. More Friendly Matches are planned in 2016, including against Poland and Others. If you want to play in these or any other matches please contact Brian Jones at [email protected]

Completed Matches (2016 onwards)

Team Opponent Start Date End Date Boards Final Score

Czech March Australia/NZ April 2014 40 LOST 29 - 51 Republic 2016 March LOST 18.5 – Australia Slovenia June 2014 22 2016 25.5 October March Australia/NZ Switzerland 35 LOST 21 - 49 2014 2016 January Australia Romania April 2016 35 DREW 35 – 35 2014 Germany January LOST 25.5 – Kangaroos April 2016 34 U2100 2015 42.5

Kangaroos BCCA July 2015 April 2016 26 LOST 17 - 35

Ongoing Matches (Australia)

Team Opponent Start date En Boards Current Score d Australia Sweden June 2014 41 40.5 – 40.5 (1x)

Australia Iceland September 2014 29 14 – 43 (1x)

Australia/NZ November 2014 120 47.5 – 190.5 (2x)

Australia/NZ Germany February 2015 80 48.5 – 109.5 (2x)

Australia Croatia February 2015 14 12.5 – 14.5 (1x) 37

Australia Slovakia May 2015 55 39.5 – 63.5 (7x)

Australia Bulgaria June 2015 27 13 – 32 (9x)

Australia Austria July 2015 47 24.5 - 43.5 (26x)

Australia Wales October 2015 34 31 - 28 (9x)

Australia Scotland October 2015 25 14.5 – 15.5 (20x)

Australia Argentina October 2015 18 16 – 12 (8x)

Australia Netherlands December 2015 40 16 – 23 (41x)

Australia December 2015 20 8.5 – 4.5 (27x)

Australia Ukraine January 2016 45 16 – 25 (49x)

Australia England January 2016 30 4 – 8 (48x)

Australia France March 2016 20 0 - 0 (40x)

Australia USA March 2016 40 0 – 0 (80x)

NZ/Australia Finland May 2016 27 0 – 0 (54x)

Ongoing Matches – Other

End Team Opponent Start Date Boards Current Score Date Netherlands February Kangaroos 30 7 – 16 (37x) Under 2000 2016 Scheming February Kangaroos 20 7 – 11 (22x) Mind 2016 England February Kangaroos 20 5.5 – 3.5 (31x) U2000 2016 38

CCLA Bicycle Events By Brian Jones BICYCLE events are started regularly on demand. Wait time is usually no more than a fortnight. All games are played on the ICCF webserver and are ICCF rated. The Time Control is 10 moves in 30 days. Entry is restricted to CCLA members and guests, with ICCF ratings below 2000, who do not normally use chess engines. From 1 January 2016, all BICYCLE events are free of charge. If you want to play in a BICYCLE please contact Brian Jones at [email protected]

AUS/2015/B30, Australian BICYCLE B30 (TD: Peter Maylott)

Place Name Rating Score Wins SB 1 AUS Mechlowski, Lennard 1800p 5.5 5 12.75 2 AUS Taylor, Kelvin 1800p 5.5 5 12.75 3 AUS McGirr, Joe 1800p 4 4 6 4 AUS Bishop, Joshua 1917f 3 3 3 5 AUS Clayton, Graham 1627 2 2 1 6 AUS Anderson, Len 1253 1 1 0 7 AUS Magill, Ray 1489 0 0 0

AUS/2015/B32, Australian BICYCLE B32 (TD: Peter Maylott)

Place Name Rating Score Wins SB 1 AUS Zheng, Anthony 1800p 5 4 12 2 NZL Cooper, Nigel 1964 4 3 11.5 3 AUS Cekulis, Maris 1800p 4 3 8.5 4 AUS Oats, Adrian 1981 4 3 8 5 MAS Lam, Edwin 1962 2 2 2 6 AUS Bishop, Joshua 1917f 1 1 4 7 MAS Kanagenthiran, P 1800p 1 1 1

AUS/2015/B34, Australian BICYCLE B34 (TD: Peter Maylott)

Place Name Rating Score Wins SB 1 AUS Taylor, Kelvin 1800p 6 6 15 2 AUS Groenhout, Ron 1796 5 5 10 3 AUS White, Christopher 1750 3 3 4.5 4 AUS Cook, Patrick 1698 2.5 2 4 39

5 AUS Wilkes, Adam 1840 2.5 2 3.5 6 AUS Finlayson, Mark 1769 2 1 2.5 7 AUS Chiverton, Barnaby 1646 0 0 0

AUS/2015/B44, Australian BICYCLE B44 (TD: Shaun Press)

Place Name Rating Score Wins SB 1 AUS Gillingham, Stephen 1656 5.5 5 13.25 2 AUS Wilson, Norm 1527 5 5 10.5 3 AUS Harris, Stephen 1635 4.5 4 8.75 4 AUS Jacobs, Gregory 1501 2 2 2 5 AUS de Jong, Oscar 1502 2 2 2 6 AUS Magill, Ray 1372 2 2 2 7 AUS Anderson, Len 1174 0 0 0 CCLA FAST Events By Brian Jones FAST events are 4/2 events started regularly on demand. Wait time is usually no more than a fortnight. The games are played on the ICCF webserver and are ICCF rated. The Time Control is 10 days followed by 1 move in 3 days (three days is added to your time after each move). Entry is restricted to CCLA members and guests, with ICCF ratings below 2000, who do not normally use chess engines. All FAST events are free of charge. If you want to play in a FAST event please contact Brian Jones at [email protected]

AUS/CCLA fast 1, Australian CCLA fast 1 (TD: Shaun Press)

Plac ICCF Name Ratin Scor Win SB e g e s 1 AUS 30509 Wilson, Gregory 1908 6 5 12 2 AUS 30614 Barukh, Yonatan 1425 3 3 3 3 EN 21182 Ward, Bill 1585 3 3 3 4 AUS 30535 Anderson, Len 1212 0 0 0

Australian FAST summary FAST Start Date Winner Score TD 1 12/1/2016 Greg Wilson 6 Shaun Press 40

Bicycle Games Stubbs,Mike (1968) - At this point Black is a pawn up, Fraser,Wayne (1794) controls the e file, is hitting a AUS/2015/B40 (AUS) ICCF, , and has bishop v 12.10.2015 knight. And yet, if you look at the end of the game, it is White who 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 While the wins. So what is the reason? In fact is a regular fixture on there are 3 points to consider. the present day GM circuit, it is Firstly, despite being a pawn up, worth remembering that 30 years Black needs to turn that pawn into ago it was not considered a a passer. Secondly, Black needs to 'serious' opening. 3...exd4 4.Nxd4 target two weaknesses in White's Bc5 5.Be3 Qf6 6.c3 Nge7 7.Bc4 position, as White can usually 0–0 8.0–0 Ne5 9.Be2 d6 10.h3? defend one. And finally, Black This is a new move, with 10.f4 needs to manage White's being the most common of the counterplay. many alternatives 10...Qg6 White may have simply missed that this move attacks both e4 and threatens Bxh3

21.Rg3 Re7 22.Kg1 Rfe8 23.Kf2 White has rearranged his and king to deal with the threats along the e file. This means Black now 11.Nf5 [11.f4 Bxh3!] 11...Nxf5 has to open another file to get his 12.exf5 Bxf5 13.Kh2 Bxe3 rooks active. 23...b6 The c file 14.fxe3 Black is simply better at seems to now be the obvious home this point. 14...Be4 15.Bf3 Nxf3+ for the Black rooks. 24.a4 Bb7 16.gxf3 Bc6 17.Rg1 Qe6 18.Qd4 This turns out to be an inaccuracy, Qe5+ 19.f4 Qxd4 20.cxd4 Rae8 although the reason why does not 41 become clear for a few more moves like this White is now moves. Putting the bishop on a8 putting Black under pressure. would be better. 25.b4 Rc8 31...Rd7 32.Rg1 Rc5 33.Rgb1 [25...c5 can be played here. Bxd5 34.Rxa6 Objectively this 26.dxc5 dxc5 27.bxc5 bxc5 position is only equal, but the transforms the position into what winning chances are no longer just Black wants.] 26.Nc3 a6 [26...c5 is with Black. The passed a pawn is still ok but 27.bxc5 dxc5 28.Nb5 is Whites' trump and he soon plays it. more annoying. The problem of 34...Be4 35.Rb5 Rcc7 [35...Rdc7 placing the bishop on b7 is now is the infamous right rook here.] clear, as the a pawn would be 36.Rab6 Ra7 37.a6 g6?? The defended with the bishop on a8.] final mistake. Now White forces 27.a5 c5?! While Black is still the pawn through by planting a better, this is the start of a rook on b7 38.Nxe4 fxe4 39.Rb7 downward slide. [27...b5 While c3 40.Ke2 Rc7 41.Rxc7 [41.Rxc7 this moves runs counter to points 1 Rxc7 42.Rb8+ Kf7 43.Rb7+-] 1–0 and 2 made above, it does prevent White from opening files in his McNeil,Michael - favour.] 28.bxc5 bxc5 Laguerta,Cesar AUS/2015/B40 (AUS) ICCF, 12.10.2015

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nc6!? 4.d5 [4.dxe5 dxe5 5.Qxd8+ Kxd8 6.Bc4 f6 is another choice for White here] 4...Nce7 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Bc4 Ng6 7.0–0 Be7 8.h3 Bd7 While this position started out with White calling the shots, Black often gets a strong attack with this setup. The main issue is that the e4-d5 pawn setup actually restricts White's 29.d5! An excellent move here. pieces as they stand., giving Black Despite the white pawns being on more freedom on the kingside 9.b3 the same colour squares as the h6 10.a4 a6 11.b4 Nh7 12.Be3 Black bishop they are sufficiently Ng5 13.Ne1 Nh4 14.a5 0–0 defended and know reduce the 15.Nd3 f5! The right move here. bishop to an obstacle 29...f5 30.Rb1 c4 31.Rb6 With active 42

order] 25...Nxe1+ [25...Nd2+ 26.Kg1 Nxc4 also leaved Black in a winning position] 26.Kxe1 Qf5 27.Qg4 Qxg4 28.hxg4 Rf4 29.Bd3 Rxe4+?? Black returns the favour with this unnecessary simplification. [29...Rxg4 30.Kf2 Rh4 keeps Blacks advantage]

16.Nxe5 With this move White decides to find a tactical solution to his problems. It does take an an amount of calculation to make it work and it isn't surprising that the odd mis-step occurs for both sides. 16...fxe4 [16...f4! is the best response 17.Nxd7 Qxd7 and if White tries to hang onto the bishop with 18.Bd4 f3! is crushing.] 30.Bxe4 Bc3+ 31.Ke2 Bxb4 17.Bxg5 Bxg5 18.Nxd7 Qxd7 32.Bf5 b6 33.axb6 cxb6 While 19.Nxe4 White can actually be Black is up a solid passed pawns, pleased with the outcome here, as the opposite coloured bishop he is a pawn up, and few pieces ending is difficult to win. 34.Kd3 have been exchanged. 19...Bf4 a5 35.c3 Bc5 36.Bd7 Kf7 37.Ke4 20.Re1 Be5 21.Ra3 Rf4 22.f3 Kf6 38.Kf4 Ba3 39.g5+ White [22.g3 I'm not sure why White surrenders another pawn, but the passed on this move. Possibly he position is now a simple draw was worried about the 39...hxg5+ 40.Ke4 g6 41.Bb5 Bc1 capturing on h3. 22...Qxh3 23.Bf1! 42.g4 Ke7 43.Kd4 Kd8 44.Ba4 (23.gxf4 Qg2#; 23.gxh4 Qxa3–+) Kc7 45.Kc4 Kd8 46.Bc2 Ke7 23...Qf5 24.gxf4 Qxf4 25.Rh3! is 47.Kb5 Be3 48.Bxg6 Kf6 49.Be8 the defence] 22...Raf8 23.Rd3 Ke5 50.Kc4 Bc5 51.Bd7 Kf4 Rxf3 Not the best move, but 52.Kb5 Ke4 53.Kc4 Kf4 54.Kd3 certainly the most exciting. a4 55.Bxa4 Kxg4 56.Ke4 Kg3 24.Rxf3 Nxf3+ 25.Kf2?? [25.gxf3 57.Bd1 Kf2 58.Bh5 b5 59.Kf5 Qxh3 26.Kf2 is the correct move Ke3 60.Be8 Kd3 ½–½ 43

Anderson,Len (1174) - [25...Rxc2 was playable, but Black Gillingham,Stephen (1656) probably thought 'better safe than AUS/2015/B44 (AUS) ICCF, sorry'] 26.Ne3 Rh4 27.Nf5 [But 01.12.2015 27.f4 would have left Black reconsidering his 25th move. The 1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.Nf3 bishop on b2 is hanging, and White Nc6 5.0–0 Nf6 6.Nc3 b6 7.d3 Bb7 is threatening to capture twice on 8.Bf4 Nh5 9.Nb5 [9.Bg5 avoids g5. 27...Kh8 28.Qxb2 gxf4 29.Ng2 the broken .] Rg8 leaves White a piece ahead, 9...Nxf4 10.gxf4 Bxb2 11.Rb1 but still down enough pawns that Bf6 12.e4 Nd4 13.e5 [13.Nbxd4 Black is still better.] 27...Rf4 Bxd4 14.Nxd4 cxd4 at least gives 28.Nh6+ Kg7 29.Ng4 f5 30.h6+ White a pawn centre in return for Kg6 The king is safe enough here the pawn lost] 13...Nxf3+ 14.Bxf3 31.Rd6+ f6 32.f3 fxg4 33.Qxb2 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Bg7 16.f5 [White b5 34.Qd2 gxf3 35.Rxd7 Qb6+ missed a trick here with 16.Qxa8 36.Rf2 Rg4+ 37.Kf1 Rh4 Qxa8 17.Nc7+ Kd8 18.Nxa8+-] 38.Qd3+ Kh5 39.Rxh7 Rh1# 0–1 16...Bxe5 17.f6 exf6 18.d4 cxd4 Anderson,Len (1212) - Ward,Bill (1585) AUS/CCLA fast 1 ICCF, 12.01.2016 1.c4 f5 2.g3 e6 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.0–0 0–0 6.Nc3 d6 7.b3 e5 8.d3 c6 9.Nd2 Qe8 10.e4 f4 One of the standard recipes for breaking open a fianchettoed position.

19.Qg2 So White has surrendered four pawns, and Black seems safe. Nonetheless it is still interesting to play this one through to the finish, as White does not go down without a fight. 19...a6 20.Na3 d3 21.Rbd1 0–0 22.Rxd3 Rc8 23.h4 Bb2 24.Nc2 Rxc4 25.h5 g5 44

11.Nf3 [11.gxf4 exf4 12.Nf3 Qg6 12.Re1 f5? 13.Ng5 This move, 13.Nh4 Qg5 (13...Qh6 14.Nf5 Bxf5 and its follow up, are decisive. 15.exf5 Nbd7 offers attacking 13...Qf6 14.Qh5 [14.Qh5 h6 chances for Black) 14.Nf3 invites a 15.Ne6 Bxe6 16.Rxe6 Qd4 draw by repetition.] 11...Qh5 17.Rxh6+ gxh6 18.Qxh6# is one 12.h4 h6 13.d4 Bg4 14.d5 c5 way the game might end.] 1–0 15.Nb5 Not the right time to go rook hunting! 15...fxg3! 16.Nc7 Laguerta,Cesar - Fraser,Wayne Nxe4 17.Nxa8 gxf2+ 18.Kh1 Bxf3 (1794) 19.Bxf3 Qxh4+ 20.Kg2 Qg3+ 0–1 AUS/2015/B40 (AUS) ICCF, 12.10.2015 Barukh,Yonatan (1425) - 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be2 Ward,Bill (1585) Bg7 5.0–0 d6 6.Nd5 e6 7.Ne3 Nf6 AUS/CCLA fast 1 ICCF, 8.d3 0–0 9.c3 b6 10.h3 Ne8 12.01.2016 11.Nh2 f5 12.exf5 exf5 13.f4 Nf6 14.Bf3 Bb7 15.Nd5 Qd7 16.a3 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.Bc4 c6 An Rfe8 17.Bd2 Kh8 18.Qc2 Nxd5 interesting idea 4.dxc6 19.Bxd5 Nxc6 5.Nf3 e5 6.Nc3 [6.Ng5 is also punishing here] 6...Bc5 7.d3 e4 A little too ambitious. Open lines will favour White, as soon becomes clear

Nd4 20.cxd4 Bxd4+ 21.Kh1 Bxd5 22.Bc3 Bxc3 23.bxc3 Re3 24.Nf3 Rae8 25.c4 Bb7 26.Qc3+ Kg8 27.Kh2 R8e7 28.Rae1 Qe8 29.Rxe3 Rxe3 30.Nh4 Qe7 31.Nf3 8.Ng5 0–0 [8...Bg4 9.Bxf7+ Kf8 h6 32.Rf2 Be4 33.Nh4 Qxh4 10.f3 is a better option] 9.Ngxe4 34.Kg1 Qg3 35.Qd2 Bxg2 Nxe4 10.Nxe4 Bb6 11.0–0 Kh8 36.Rxg2 Re1+ 37.Qxe1 Qxe1+ 38.Kh2 Kf7 0–1 45

Fees for CCLA events played on the ICCF webserver (excluding major tournaments)

Direct Cost to CCLA CCLA event Format Entry members These are 6/1 events for players ICCF- unrated or rated under 2000 who do not normally use chess engines. BICYCLE N/A Free Each event has 7 players, who play 6 rated games at a standard time control of 10 moves in 30 days repeating These are 4/2 events for players ICCF- unrated or rated under 2000 who do not normally use chess engines. Each FAST event has 4 players, who N/A Free play 2 rated games against each other player with an accelerated time control of 10 days followed by 1 move in 3 days repeating As for BICYCLE events but with no rating or engine STANDARD 6/1 N/A Free restrictions. 7 players, 6 games As for FAST events but with no rating or engine STANDARD 4/2 N/A Free restrictions. 4 players, 6 games Friendly Matches for Australia and Various N/A Free Kangaroo teams 46

2015 Australian Interstate Teams Roebuck,Dr. Derek (2270) - Bf5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.d4 e6 7.Bd3 Gross,M. C (2179) Bxd3 8.Qxd3 Nxc3 Swapping here AUS/2015/IT (AUS) ICCF, is small concession to White. 11.05.2015 Black could have waited until 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 White forced his hand. 9.bxc3 Be7 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4 10.0–0 0–0 11.c4 Nd7 12.a4 Qc7 Qc7 8.Bd3 cxd4 9.Ne2 dxc3 13.Bb2 Rfd8 14.Qc2 Removing 10.Qxg7 Rg8 11.Qxh7 Qxe5 the queen from the firing line. 12.h4 [12.Bf4 Qf6 13.Qh6 Ng6 14...Bf6 15.Rfd1 e5 Black has a 14.Bg5 Rh8 15.Bxf6 Rxh6 choice of pawn breaks here. 16.Bxc3 was a line chosen by [15...c5 16.d5 exd5 17.cxd5 Bxb2 Magnus Carlsen in 2008.] 18.Qxb2 Nf6 19.d6 Rxd6 20.Rxd6 12...Rxg2 This looks like a new Qxd6 21.Qxb7 and although move in this position. 13.Bg5 Nd7 Stockfish regards this position as 14.Kf1 Nf8 [14...Rxg5 15.hxg5 equal, White has the better pawn Qxg5 looked unappetising at first structure (fewer islands). The only glance, but given what soon worry is the passed c pawn.] happened, turned out to be the 16.Ra3 [16.Rab1!?] 16...exd4 better choice.] 15.Qh6 Rg4 17.Bxd4 c5 18.Bxf6 Nxf6 unlike 16.Re1 [16.Ng3! is even stronger. the line starting with c5, Black is 16...Ng8 17.Qh5 and attempts to now the one with a better pawn extricate or protect the rook run structure. 19.Rad3 Rxd3 20.Qxd3 into Re1 followed by a big attack. Re8 21.h3 h6 Both sides take time 17...Qd4 18.Re1 Ng6 19.Nf5+-] to avoid future back rank issues. 16...Nf5 17.Qf6 Qxf6 18.Bxf6 22.Qb3 Re6 23.Rd3 Rb6 24.Qc2 Nh7 19.Bxc3 f6 20.Bxf5 exf5 Rb4 The queenside pawns now 21.f3 keeping the rook from have to be defended, while Black blocking on e4 21...Rc4 Now the is free to look for other targets. minor pieces dance around the 25.Nd2 a5 26.Nb3 Giving up a Black rook, soon forcing pawn in return for greater activity. resignation! 22.Nd4+ Kf7 23.Nb5 26...Rxa4 27.Rd1 Rb4 28.Nxc5 Rc6 24.Bb4 Be6 25.Nd6+ 1–0 Kf8 [28...Qxc5 29.Rd8+ is the trick.] 29.Nb3 Rxc4 30.Rd8+ Ke7 Stubbs,Mike (2113) - Dunn,Paul 31.Qd3 Rc3 White cannot defend (2013) the rook and the knight. 0–1 AUS/2015/IT (AUS) ICCF, 11.05.2015 1.c4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nc3 47

ICCF RATINGS 2016-2 (APRIL 2016) The following 100 players are active with fixed ICCF ratings (minimum 30 games) ELO NAME # GAMES ELO NAME # GAMES 2587 GM Chris Fenwick 128 1914 Peter Brackenridge 38 2578 IM Gordon Dunlop 665 1913 Steven O'Reilly 30 2534 SIM Bruce Oates 229 1909 Marc Vlietstra 46 2448 SIM Stephen Kerr 385 1906 Peter Sanders 62 2447 IM John-Paul Fenwick 293 1855 Graeme Deacon 50 2386 IM Dr Clive Barnett 232 1855 George Eraclides 69 2364 SIM Tim Runting 339 1853 Ron Groenhout 138 2364 Barrie Mulligan 181 1844 Stephen Priest 49 2354 Colin McKenzie 383 1842 Steve McNamara 33 2325 LGM Veronica Henri 307 1836 Mark Ferris 39 2305 Dr Derek Roebuck 47 1836 Shaun Press 40 2290 Simon Jenkinson 803 1830 Alexander Sheward 62 2275 Malcolm Stephens 31 1827 Colin Parsons 87 2261 Dr Max Willow 393 1821 Paul Jonovic 156 2241 Mulder, John 110 1818 Wayne Fraser 54 2220 Brian Jones 595 1811 Adam Wilkes 51 2220 Ryan Luey 117 1796 Peter Wark 162 2208 IM Les Rowley 229 1787 Peter Brodie 56 2195 Donald Keast 172 1783 Geoff Kelly 74 2174 Maxwell Kershaw 110 1780 Andrew McKechnie 32 2160 Michael Gross 248 1753 Bruce Mason 36 2149 Joseph Tanti 451 1752 David Hughes 57 2141 Brian Thew 354 1745 Boyd Korab 67 2140 Ben McGinnes 44 1743 Glenn O'Brien 103 2134 Peter Maylott 196 1740 John Williams 46 2132 Greg Devine 81 1736 Geoffrey Burrows 63 2130 David Flude 296 1735 Greg Roberts 43 2112 Jamie Davidson 392 1734 Ryan Lane 41 2110 Jeff Nutt 67 1727 Mark Finlayson 54 2105 Peter Dix 41 1722 Christopher White 55 2091 Gunter Stock 180 1715 Patrick Cook 266 2090 Peter Greenwood 38 1687 Reza Safari Nejad 41 2087 Richard Egelstaff 43 1676 Stephen Gillingham 72 2078 Eric Staak 97 1644 Peter Hughes 58 2065 Jim Ramsden 692 1639 J C Peacock 35 2052 Anthony Martin 68 1617 Chris Liles 35 2047 Daniel Friere 246 1606 John Michas 55 2041 Dr Stewart Booth 233 1604 Chris Potter 240 2035 Brian Pott 265 1603 Song Chen 36 2024 Paul Dunn 60 1598 Graham Clayton 111 2020 Greg Hough 88 1585 Jason Gillard 46 2007 Adrian Oats 62 1566 Matthew Clarke 71 2005 IM Douglas Hamilton 694 1554 Norm Wilson 111 2002 Mike Stubbs 390 1547 Brenden Walters 87 2000 Norman Garland 42 1523 Barnaby Chiverton 50 1959 Leon Kempen 213 1491 Joshua Hunt 134 1953 Scott Humphreys 114 1409 Steven Pickles 104 1937 Jonathan Chandler 141 1408 Terence Mills 66 1936 Michael Allies 32 1343 Ray Magill 97 1931 Gregory Wilson 66 1193 Len Anderson 518 48

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Informator No. 127 50 Golden Years 347pp 200 deeply analysed games, Studies, Endings, Combinations, 9 pp of tournament and match results. Some chapter headings: Why some players are first among equals – What’s the biggest surprise a super tactician can spring on an opponent – The Zurich experience Hikaru Nakamura meets the challenge You are told to protect your king at all times but is it time for a rethink? – London Classic The Berlin and other endgames – A22 - Scandinavian Defence B01 – Marshall Attack C89 – Gruenfeld Defence D97 $59.95 less 10% FROM MCFARLAND Great Chess Books of the Twentieth Century in English Alex Dunne 2005 199pp Soft Covers Approximately 14,000English language chess books have been published since 1960. Dunne has made his selection from 1901 to 2000. Included are many games $68.00 De la Bourdannais versus McDonnell 1834 The Eighty-five Games of their Six Chess Matches, with Excerpts from Additional Games Against Other Opponents Cary Uttterberg HC 404pp $85.00 The Steinitz Papers Kurt Landsberger 2002 325pp Soft Covers After years of unflagging effort to acquire all known letters to and from Steinitz the Editor has compiled a remarkable record of Steinitz and his contemporaries $63.00 James Mason in America The Early Chess Career 1867-1878 Joost van Winsen 2011 371pp Hard Covers Lettering on front cover $68.00 Chess Periodicals An Annotated International Bibliography, 1836-2008 Gino Di Felice 2010 349pp Soft Covers This comprehensive reference work presents detailed bibliographical information about world wide chess periodicals past to present. It contains 3,163 entries $68.00

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