The final Millionaire event? GM Maurice Ashley writes about MC3

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February 18-20, 2017 Parsippany Hilton, 1 Hilton Court, Parsippany, NJ 07054

Come celebrate classical chess and classical music — LONG HAIR AND TAILS NOT REQUIRED! (But you may need Bilguier's Handdbbuch!)

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2 January 2017 | Chess Life The Saint Louis Chess Campus is ready for an exciting 2017!

TOURNAMENTS EXHIBITIONS GM/IM Tournament: FEBRUARY 15-21 Designing Chessmen: A Taste of The Imagery of Chess Saint Louis Invitational: MARCH 13-18 SEPTEMBER 29, 2016–MARCH 12, 2017 U.S. Chess Championship: MARCH 29–APRIL 14 Animal, Vegetable, Mineral: Natural Splendors from U.S. Women’s Championship: MARCH 29–APRIL 14 the Dr. George & Vivian Dean Collection Saint Louis Invitational: MAY 19-24 SEPTEMBER 29, 2016–MARCH 12, 2017 U.S. Closed Championship: JULY 7-18 U.S. Junior Girls Championship: JULY 7-18 Open Files: Celebrating 5 Years of Collecting Sinquefield Cup: AUGUST 3-17 SEPTEMBER 29, 2016–APRIL 16, 2017 2017 Club Championship: SEPTEMBER 2-3 Saint Louis Invitational: SEPTEMBER 8-13 The Imagery of Chess: Saint Louis Edition GM/IM Norm Tournament: OCTOBER 19-24 MARCH 23–SEPTEMBER 17, 2017 Saint Louis Invitational: NOVEMBER 17-22 Chess and Comics : NOVEMBER 23-25 Thanksgiving Open MARCH 23–SEPTEMBER 17, 2017

SCHOLASTIC PROGRAMMING Open Files 2: Celebrating 5 Years of Collecting Weekly classes for kids and adults APRIL 27–OCTOBER 29, 2017 Boy Scout Merit Badge Days Summer and Winter Camps for students CULTURAL PROGRAMMING In-school and after-school programs Monthly Music Series Monthly chess tournaments for students Family Days and Toddler Tuesdays Daily Programming Interactive programs and lectures

Learn more at saintlouischessclub.org and worldchesshof.org

STLCHESSCAMPUS

4657 MARYLAND AVENUE, SAINT LOUIS, MO 63108 STLCHESSCAMPUS.COM  @CCSCSL #STLChessClub | @WorldChessHOF #WorldChessHOF

The and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis and admit students and visitors of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Old Glory at the top of the medal stand for the first time since 1976. Chess Life BELOW: The U.S. squad taking care of business in JANUARY PHOTO: MIKE KLEIN , .

COLUMNS

14 LOOKS AT BOOKS / HONING INTUITION 11111111111111!0-*)0& 1$/,1,/'1/ By John Hartmann

18 CHESS TO ENJOY / ENTERTAINMENT *))*1/'01!%)0-10))1(+0  By GM Andy Soltis

20 BACK TO BASICS / READER ANNOTATIONS 11111111111111 0*.&1$/01.0 By GM Lev Alburt

46 SOLITAIRE CHESS / INSTRUCTION 22 COVER STORY / 2016 OLYMPIAD 11111111111111(+".%-1/'01(+",,+. 11111111111111111 1*)&0.1 "01!0/%#.- By Bruce Pandolfini By FM Mike Klein The U.S. wins its first gold medal ever in an Olympiad that also had 48 THE PRACTICAL ENDGAME / INSTRUCTION either or the participating. 11111111111111*1(+".%-1*0-1/ By GM 36 GRAND PRIX EVENTS / 3 1111111111111111111(,)),*.+,#0-1+-/1$/+.& DEPARTMENTS By GM Maurice Ashley 1111111111111111111With their goal of changing the model of large open tournament chess, 6 JANUARY PREVIEW / the three Millionaire Chess events will be remembered as boldly THIS MONTH IN CHESS LIFE AND US ambitious attempts to change chess for the better.. CHESS NEWS 8 COUNTERPLAY / READERS RESPOND 42 GRAND PRIX EVENTS / 2016 U.S. MASTERS FIRST MOVES / 111111111111111111 .�1$/%*,.1,-1/'01 1 $ 1(+-/0#-1 '+,*. 10 By GM Alejandro Ramirez CHESS NEWS FROM AROUND THE U.S. The Greensboro, North Carolina event for America’s top players 13 FACES ACROSS THE BOARD / continues to grow and encourage fighting chess. BY AL LAWRENCE 16 US CHESS AFFAIRS / NEWS FOR OUR MEMBERS 52 TOURNAMENT LIFE / JANUARY 71 CLASSIFIEDS / JANUARY 71 SOLUTIONS / JANUARY 72 MY BEST MOVE / PERSONALITIES THIS MONTH: GM KENNETH ROGOFF

ON THE COVER Our first gold-medal winning Olympiad team in four decades standing on the podium in Baku, Azerbaijan. PHOTO BY MARIA EMELIANOVA

4 January 2017 | Chess Life presents

Every four years, US Chess combines the National Elementary, Junior High, and High School Championships in our SuperNationals event. Come to Nashville, Tennessee to play in the sixth edition of the largest chess tournament in the world.

FIND MORE INFORMATION AT USCHESS.ORG.

www.uschess.org 5 January Preview / This month in Chess Life and US Chess News

US CHESS NEWS PREVIEW JANUARY

NEW YEAR,NEW CONTRIBUTORS

CHESS TOOLS FM MIKE KLEIN Get a little more chess specific (Cover Story) is the Chess.com with your 2017 resolutions. director of content, although the John Hartmann’s piece on scholastic world knows him as chess and technology gives top FunMasterMike in his ChessKid five tips on how to better use videos. He is a two-time chess your chess tools in 2017 and journalist of the year, severely beyond, including knowing complicating his plans to be a the limits of chess analysis. pro snowboarder.

GM ROBERT HESS (Cover Story annotations) is the coach of the U.S. women's team and the 2010 Samford TATA CHESS Fellow. A 2015 graduate of Yale TACTICS University, Hess is the chief operating officer of The Sports Some of our top stars will be Quotient and serves as director of playing in Tata Steel Chess in Wijk business development for Aan Zee from January 13-29, Chess.com. including in the Masters and recent Chess Life cover star GM MAURICE ASHLEY in the Challengers (Millionaire Chess 3) is a noted group. Challenge yourself with internet-broadcast color Vannesa West’s rundown of some commentator for such events as of the top tactics from the event. the U.S. Championship and the .

GM ALEJANDRO RAMIREZ (U.S. Masters) is the coach of A NEW LEAGUE IS IN TOWN the Saint Louis University chess Look for news and analysis on US Chess of an exciting new event, team. He is a three time the PRO Chess League (formerly the US Chess League). The high Olympiad player, has qualified stakes online rapid competition will take place on chess.com starting for one world championship and one world cup. He enjoys on January 11 and feature teams from all over the world. Already StarCraft, anime, Hearthstone confirmed to play: World Champion as well as US and most things that fall under numbers 1 and 2, and . the “nerdy.”

WINTERTIME GRAND PRIXS Find games and coverage of the Liberty Bell Open in and GET SOCIAL Golden State Open in northern , Join us on our growing communities both held over Martin on .com/uschess, Luther Day .com/uschess, @US_Chess weekend from January on Instagram and look for new 13-16. videos coming to our YouTube channel at USChessFederation.

6 January 2017 | Chess Life

Counterplay / Readers Respond

Sinquefield Cup, Mate in Two

SO-NAKAMURA ALTERNATE MATE Starting from the first diagram of So- In problem 1 of my favorite column, GM Nakamura on page 23 of the November issue: Andy Soltis’ “Chess to Enjoy,” in the November 2016 issue, I found an alternate solution from the diagram shown: SuperNationals VI is coming soon, and we have opened advertising sales for the tournament program. We are expecting over 5,000 competitors plus parents, BLACK TO PLAY siblings, and coaches, and Nakamura played 10. ... Ba6, followed by WHITE TO PLAY we expect to print 6,000 So with 11. Qd2. When I look at the position, my first instinct is to play 11 ... c3 with the In Janowski-Tennenwurzel, the given mate programs. Advertise your idea of trading one of the weak c-pawns for in two is 57. Bg5+! Kxg5 58. Qf4 mate, or 57. product, camp, service, White’s e-. Possible lines are 12. Qxc3 Kh7 Qg8 mate. However my solution (and Bxe2 13. Re1 Bb5 14. Bxc6 Bxc6 15. Qxc6 probably some other people’s) is 57. Ng4+! or tournament by Qxd4 16. Be3 Qd6 and 12. Qxc3 Bxe2 13. hxg4 58. Rh1 mate, or 57. ... Kh7 58. Qg8 mate. contacting Daniel Lucas Qxc6 Bxf1 14. Qxa8 Qxa8 15. Bxa8 Rxa8 16. Although 57. Bg5+! was played in the game, at [email protected]. Kxf1 Rb8 17. Bd2 Nd5. Declining the pawn 57. Ng4+ is just as nice a mate and should be with 12. Qe3 invites 12. ... Nd5. It seems to mentioned. Other than this problem, I loved me that Black comes out of it with no worse the column this month. Keep up the good work! than a decent endgame. I am therefore won - Izak Bulten (age 11) dering why Nakamura didn’t play 11. ... c3. via e-mail Chuck Bass North Highlands, CA Send your letters to [email protected] or post on the US Chess Facebook group GM Robert Hess responds: or the uschess.org Issues Forum. Letters are subject to editing for style, length, and content. This is a great question! 11. ... c3 looks like a strong way to trade a weak tripled pawn for the healthy pawn on e2. But as the game Lenderman- Tang (World Open, 2016) demonstrates, it is bad for Black. The reason is that in the continuation Corrections 12. Qxc3 Bxe2 13. Re1 Bb5, White has the very We were so excited about the Olympiad gold medal earned by our team in Baku, strong move 14. a4! GM Lenderman received a Azerbaijan that it unfortunately infected our December cover story. Our headline for phenomenal position after 14. ... Bxa4 15. Qb4 Bb5 GM Jeffery Xiong’s World Junior Championship win was “Gold for Xiong in Baku.” The 16. a4, forcing the away from the protection World Junior Championship took place in Bhubaneswar, , as correctly stated of the c6-square. After 16. ... Ba6, 17. Ba3 picks up within the article. (We also incorrectly placed Baku in Russia instead of Azerbaijan in significant material since Black can do no better a photo credit within IM Nazi Paikidze’s editorial earlier in the issue). than go down an as 17. ... Re8 runs into In the Washington International report, we erroneously named “13-year-old IM Michael 18. Bxc6 and 17. ... Qd7 runs into 18. Qa5, hitting Brodsky.” This should have been FM David Brodsky. both the bishop on a6 and on f8.

8 January 2017 | Chess Life OUT US CHESS CORRESPONDENCE CHESS RATED EVENTS!

Correspondence Chess Matches (two players) 2017 Open Correspondence Chess Golden Knights Championship TWO OR SIX-GAME OPTIONS. ENTRY FEE: $5. US CHESS $800 FIRST PRIZE ❑ WIN A CORRESPONDENCE CHESS TROPHY th Four-player, double round-robinwith class-level pairings. 70 ANNUAL (PLUS TITLE OF US CHESS GOLDEN KNIGHTS CHAMPION AND PLAQUE) 1st-place winner re ceives a trophy. ENTRY FEE: $10. 2ND PLACE $500 • 3RD $300 • 4TH THRU 10TH PLACE $100 EACH • ENTRY FEE: $25 ❑ These US Chess Correspondence Chess events are rated and open to all US Chess members who reside on the North American continent, islands, VICTOR PALCIAUSKAS PRIZE TOURNAMENTS Seven-player class-level pairings, one game with each or , as well as those US Chess members with an APO or FPO address. US Chess members who reside outside of the North Am erican con- of six opponents. 1st-place winner receives $130 cash prize tinent are welcome to participate in e-mail events. Your US Chess membership must remain current for the duration of the event, and entry fees and a certificate signed by Victor Palciauskas. must be paid in U.S. dollars. Those new to US Chess Corre spond ence Chess, please estimate your strength: Class A: 1800-1999 (very strong); ENTRY FEE: $25. Class B: 1600-1799 (strong); Class C: 1400-1599 (intermediate); Class D: 1399 and below (beginner level). Note: Prize fund based on 200 entries and may be decreased proportionately per number of entries assigned. ❑ JOHN W. COLLINS MEMORIAL CLASS TOURNAMENTS Four-player, double round-robin with class-level pairings (unrateds welcome). 1st-place winner receives a John W. Collins certificate. 2017 E-mail Correspondence Chess Electronic Knights Championship ENTRY FEE: $7. (SEVEN-PLAYER SECTIONS, ONE GAME WITH EACH OF SIX OPPONENTS.) US CHESS Email Rated Events (need email access) 14th ANNUAL $800 FIRST PRIZE (PLUS TITLE OF US CHESS ELECTRONIC KNIGHTS CHAMPION AND PLAQUE) ❑ LIGHTNING MATCH Two players with two or six-game option. 2ND PLACE $500 • 3RD $300 • 4TH THRU 10TH PLACE $100 EACH • ENTRY FEE: $25 ENTRY FEE: $5. These US Chess Correspondence Chess events are rated and open to all US Chess members with e-mail access. Your US Chess membership must remain current for the duration of the event, and entry fees must be paid in U.S. dollars. Maximum number of tournament entries allowed for the ❑ SWIFT QUADS Four-player, double round-robin format. year for each player is ten. Note: Prize fund based on 200 entries and may be decreased proportionately per number of entries assigned. 1st-place prize US Chess CC entry credit of $30. ENTRY FEE: $10. TO ENTER: 800-903-USCF(8723) OR FAX 931-787-1200 OR ONLINE AT WWW.USCHESS.ORG ❑ WALTER MUIR E-QUADS (WEBSERVER CHESS) Name______US CHESS ID#______Four-player, double round-robin webserver format tournament Address ______City______State ___ ZIP ______with class-level pairings. 1st-place receives a certificate. ENTRY FEE: $7. Phone ______E-mail______Est. Rating ______To pay with credit card please call US Chess. Please check event(s) selected.

❑ Check here if you do not wish to have an opponent who is incarcerated. NOTE: Except for Lightning Matches, Swift Quads, Walter Muir *Note: This may slow down your assignment. E-Quads & Electronic Knights, players will use post office mail, unless opponents agree to use e-mail. MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO US CHESS AND MAIL TO: JOAN DUBOIS, US CHESS, PO BOX 3967, CROSSVILLE, TN 38557

www.uschess.org 9 First Moves / Chess news from around the U.S.

it illustrates his design principle. This clock comes from circa 1883. When a player went on move, his clock rose up and the clock’s pendulum hung straight; the spring tension engaged and the clock ran. When he moved, he depressed his clock and the pendulum swung up against the side of the The Trojan clock; his clock stopped and his opponent's clock began (picture 2). It wasn’t long before a new design came about. Hoard It is easier and simpler to attach a plunger to interfere with the flywheel of the clock. Thus the plunger-style replaced the tilt-clock quite       early. Picture 3 is an example of such an early clock. The superstructure allows long metal     slips to enter the clock. The clock’s face indicates that this device is from Tunbridge Wells, By ED YETMAN, III . A new problem became immediately appar ent: how do you know when the time limit is not met? After many unsatisfactory experiments with butter knives and magnifying glasses, flags were added. The flag became a silent witness: when it fell, time expired. The next clock (picture 4) is a “cabinet” clock, so named because of its large size. Made in Germany, this clock is from 1885 and features one of the first flags. The wingnut in the middle fixes the clock so that neither side runs when not in use. The drive to develop new designs in chess clocks continued through both world wars. The most common method lay in connecting two alarm clocks with some mechanism that stopped the flywheel movement. It was simple enough to add a sweep second hand and a flag. This led to odd designs. Our fifth picture (5) shows a British clock from after the Second World War. It came from B.H. Wood, the British equivalent of Al Horowitz, as Wood published Chess in 1 Britain while Horowitz published in the . This design is a bit odd: the knobs at the lower ot since Heinrich Schliemann dug the earth of Minor has there been such a Trojan left and right of the clocks represent a push- Hoard. Allan Troy, chess master, chess entrepreneur, and chess collector, passed away bar; when finishing a move the player pushed Nin 2005. In his lifetime he amassed a private library of thousands of books and dozens of the rod across, stopping one clock and starting chess clocks. His heirs are putting his hoard on eBay; this is the chance for any chess player to the other. One can see clearly the Chess logo buy a piece of history, either an antique clock or a copy of Philidor. on both clocks. In the eighteenth and nineteeth century there were no time controls or chess clocks. Naturally Like every field, fashions come and go. In the there were bad sports who would sit immobile for hours on the pretense of “thinking.” This 1950s the big thing was thinking small. Making would lead to outbursts of temper; once Thomas Henry Buckle cried out: “Come sir, the slowness chess clocks with pocket watch movements got of genius is hard enough to bear; the slowness of mediocrity is intolerable!” The obvious solution, the Swiss, those makers of precision time pieces, some kind of , ran into a technological problem, as no chess clocks existed. The first into the business. Our next clock attempt involved using sand hourglasses, with seconds turning the clocks on their sides when a (6) is a Solora made from Swiss pocket watches. player moved. But this turned chess into a game of four players, with two players doing nothing It is about the length of a man's hand. In the but turning hour glasses. world championship matches of the Botvinnik era the contestants used this type of clock, but Thomas Bright Wilson of Manchester came up with a better solution. He devised a clock with not this particular clock: it is still in its original two movements mounted on a triangular platform. The clock in picture 1 is not one of his, but packing case. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ED YETMAN, III

10 January 2017 | Chess Life First Moves / Chess news from around the U.S.

Blind players needed clocks as well. Clever inventors solved this problem by putting the hands outside the glass of the clock, adding Braille bumps to show the time. This next clock (7) is of the famous Hungarian art deco "MOM" design, adapted for blind players. It is probably a pre-World War 2 manufacture. The search for the better chess clock came to America, and Americans designed the first 2 3 digital clocks. This design (8) is from California in the early 1980s and relies on an AC power adapter.

These clocks and about a dozen others will be going on sale on eBay in this month. Many antique books, including several editions of Philidor, will also be on sale. Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook. com/allansbooks. On eBay, type in "Vintage Allan Troy Chess Clock" or "Vintage Allan Troy Chess 4 5 Book" and you too can bid on the “Trojan Hoard.”

6 7 8

www.uschess.org 11 First Moves / Chess news from around the U.S. Youth Movement The records keep falling: Yoo (age 9) is now our youngest master, Mishra (age 7) is our youngest expert.

Christopher Yoo: Youngest Master

Nine-year-old Christopher Yoo (30 days shy of his 10th birthday) has set a new record for youngest master with his perfomance at the 9th Annual David Elliott Memorial Cup on November 19th. Yoo broke Max Lu’s previous record for the youngest American master by two days. You can see games and more information about this at US Chess News here: Abhimanyu Mishra: new.uschess.org/news/christopher-yoo-breaks-record-for-youngest-ever-master/. Youngest Expert Bruce Pandolfini (photo above and opposite page with Yoo) has been one of Yoo’s teachers. He tells Chess Life: Seven-year-old Abhimanyu Mishra has “I’ve been teaching Christopher by Skype for about three years. In that time, he’s had become the youngest expert-rated player in other fine teachers as well, especially GM Melikset Khachiyan, who has helped Christopher US Chess history, breaking the record held develop a much better opening repertoire than I could ever give him. My efforts with by IM , who was eight years, Christopher have focused on other aspects of chess, such as tactics, the endgame, positional seven days old when he became an expert. play, analysis, and practical aspects of competition. Abhimanyu was seven years, six months and “Christopher is a natural attacker and combinative whiz. He sees tactical shots, even 22 days when he broke the 2000 barrier at intricate ones, with great facility. He also loves to play chess, and he can play all day long. the Hamilton Chess Club Quads in Hamilton That’s what drew me to him originally: his passion for the game. The kid loves chess, and as Township, New where he scored 1/3 I always say, if you love something, it usually loves you back. against three masters in his quad. Read more “How far can he go? He’s as talented as any kid I’ve ever seen in my 45 years of teaching here: new.uschess.org/news/meet-abhimanyu- chess. Moreover, his father, Young, is extremely supportive and very wise on making mishra-our-youngest-ever-us-chess-expert/ intelligent decisions conducive to Christopher’s continued advance. My gut feeling is that Christopher will go very, very far.”

12 January 2017 | Chess Life First Moves / Chess news from around the U.S.

AT THE FACES WORLD CHAMPI- ACROSS ONSHIP! THE BOARD

By AL LAWRENCE EMILIA GABEL BROOKLYN, NEW YORK Father-daughter fans

Emilia, a sixth-grader at Middle School 577 in Williamsburg, was at her dad’s side at the South Street Seaport watching game six of Magnus Carlsen-, the first world championship match in the U.S. in more than 20 years. “It was re- ally fun!” Emilia admits to being a Magnus fan. But the Russian challenger made a fa- vorable impression too. “It is very special to go and I’m very thankful. I got my signed by Sergey Karjakin!”

With a view outside the wrap-around win- dows of the majestic Brooklyn Bridge across the Hudson River, the route home for the Gabels, they watched the sixth split-point in a row—but a , like the others, that belied any peace treaty between the combatants.

Emilia’s dad, Greg, president of Canny, Bowen, an executive search firm in , helped teach her the game when she was seven. She’s already a veteran player, even competing in the national scholastics last year. “I won an award from my P.S. 31 team for playing the longest game of the round— over two hours against a player rated more than twice as high. Even though I lost, I felt good about my persistence.” She wants to go to the SuperNationals this year in Nashville, “To do better than I did last year and increase my rating.”

Emilia likes lots of other things in life besides chess. Her favorite school subject is social studies. She likes to go crabbing and fishing Nakamura is bullish for presidents with her dad. But she credits chess for help- ing with other interests. “Chess has taught Since we inaugurate a new president this month, this photo of me how to focus and concentrate better, four-time U.S. champion GM Hikaru Nakamura caught our attention. which I think has helped me in my studies In this marketing photo for his sponsor Red Bull, the current U.S.- in school.” number-three evaluates a playing field with more than 40 giant presidential busts. These incredible larger-than-life statues, Because her school doesn’t offer a chess club, Emilia belongs to the one at M.S. 126, originally commissioned for the now defunct President's Park in where, “I learn some new tactics every day.” 2004, stand 20 feet tall and are currently crumbling and cracking That makes a lot of sense for a smart girl on a private farm near Williamsburg, Virginia, about 150 miles whose last name in German means “.” south of Washington D.C. Write to [email protected]. NAKAMURA PHOTO: BEN FRANKE/RED BULL CONTENT POOL; ALL OTHERS: COURTESY OF SUBJECT

www.uschess.org 13 Looks at Books / Honing Intuition Resolved: Stick With It!

Two new books that help hone your intuition and practical skills. By JOHN HARTMANN

he gym is full of people you’ve never Stappenmethode books, one of the best chess seen, and won’t see again after Febru - training systems in print. His newest title, ary. All of the “healthy” food is on Revision & Exam 1: The Fundamentals, is a Tsale. November’s onslaught of political collection of exercises designed to complement ads have been replaced with commercials for the first three books in that series, but it can weight loss services and plastic surgeons. equally well serve as a stand-alone set of Happy New Year, everyone! problems for solving. We chess players are not immune to the Revision & Exam 1 consists of 432 positions spirit of the season. We’d all like to see our broken down into 72 chapters, each correspond - results improve, and a new year marks a new ing to a lesson in the first level of his training chance to make some changes and get things books. The problems are well chosen and right. But how? WHITE TO PLAY tremendously varied, the answers are mini- For my part, I’m resolving to make solving lessons in themselves, and the production values a bigger part of my improvement strategy. Here Until recently there were relatively few books are high. Players rated above 1600 would do I refer not simply to the solving of tactical that provided this type of training material. well to make this book part of their training problems, which is a necessary but not sufficient Hort and Jansa’s The Best Move is the most regimen. condition for improvement. A strict focus on famous book of this kind, but it is out of print The Chess Manual of Avoidable Mistakes, Part tactics can make a player myopic, narrowing and hard to find. (As always, avoid dodgy 2: Test yourself! is Romain Edouard’s second our thinking so that we treat every position reprints.) Perfect Your Chess by Volokitin and book from Thinkers Publishing. His first book, we encounter like a tactical puzzle. Grabinsky is excellent but fiendishly difficult. which shares the same title, was a thought- What I have in mind are books with a wide And while both Dvoretsky and Jacob Aagaard provoking work marred by poor editing and variety of positions for solving, each requiring have published books with training problems translation. Test yourself! manages to avoid both (and training) different facets of chess knowledge, in the last few years, they too are perhaps too of these flaws, in part because it is largely and with the aim of honing my intuition and complex for most non-masters. languageless, and it provides readers 280 meaty practical skills. Those of you who read last month’s Two collections of exercises have crossed my positions for solving. column might recognize the influence of Mark desk in recent months, both of which are I have spent some time with Edouard’s book, Dvoretsky’s philosophy in this, albeit on a much eminently suitable for the kind of work I’m from which our exercise earlier is drawn, and simpler level. hoping to undertake this year. Together, the two the more I work with it, the more I like it. Here you might try your hand at this kind of offer a broad swath of exercises for the improving The exercises appear in random order, and work. Set a clock for 15-20 minutes and find the player to grapple with, and I’d recommend both, beyond the short stipulation given via chapter winning move for White in this position. Write if to players of slightly different strengths. headings, readers must use their full range of down your analysis, and compare it to the answer Artur Yusupov’s nine-volume training series chess knowledge to correctly solve the that appears on page 71. from Quality Chess is, along with the Dutch problems. Test yourself! is slightly more taxing than is Yusupov, Arturo. Revision & Exam—Vol. 1: The Fundamentals. Quality Chess: 2016. ISBN: 9781784830212. 208 pages. Revision & Exam 1; as such, it’s best suited for A Figurine notation. (Available from uscfsales.com, catalog number B0124QT, $29.95) players and above. Resolute effort in solving Edouard, Romain. The Chess Manual of Avoidable Mistakes—Part 2: Test yourself!. Thinkers Publishing: 2015. ISBN: will be rewarded in both cases ... provided, of 9789082256642. 152 pages. Figurine notation. (Available from uscfsales.com, catalog number B0002TH, $20.95) course, you stick with it!

14 January 2017 | Chess Life

US Chess Affairs / News for our Members

US CHESS Empowering people through MISSION chess one move at a time.

2017 EXECUTIVE 2016-17 COMMITTEE CHAIRS BOARD ELECTION ANTI-CHEATING: ETHICS: SENIOR: The Election Committee will run a Mike Atkins Harold Stenzel William Daly special Executive Board election to [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] fill the vacancy caused by US Chess AWARDS: FIDE EVENTS: David Grimaud [email protected] Vice President Randy Bauer’s resig - John Donaldson Carol Jarecki [email protected] [email protected] SPECIAL NEEDS AND nation concurrently with the 2017 CIRCUMSTANCES: BARBER K-8 FINANCE: general election. There must be at Janelle Losoff TOURNAMENT OF Jim Bedenbaugh [email protected] least four individuals who submit STATE CHAMPIONS: [email protected] nomination petitions and qualify as Jon Haskel, Co-Chair FORUM: STATES: [email protected] candidates. The top three finishers Bob Messenger Guy Hoffman by vote total will win terms ending Stephen Shutt, Co-Chair [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] in 2020, and the finisher ranked HALL OF FAME: TOP PLAYERS: fourth in vote total will win a term BYLAWS: Harold J. Winston expiring in 2018. Harold J. Winston, Co-Chair [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] INTERNATIONAL TDCC: Guy Hoffman, Co-Chair AFFAIRS: Jeff Wiewel, Chair December 31, 2016 was the deadline [email protected] Michael Khodarkovsky [email protected] for submitting nominating petitions, CHESS IN EDUCATION: [email protected] Tim Just, Vice-Chair the $100 filing fee, and a statement John Buky MEMB. ACQUISITION [email protected] signed by the candidate that they will [email protected] AND RETENTION U.S. OPEN: TASK FORCE: serve if elected. CLOCK WORKING Hal Terrie III GROUP: John McCrary [email protected] [email protected] Mike Atkins, Co-Chair WEBSITE ADVISORY Chuck Unruh has been appointed MILITARY: [email protected] COMMITTEE (WSAC): Vice President. The full board make - Ryan Velez, Co-Chair Capt. Thomas Belke U.S. Navy (ret.) Anand Dommalapati, Co-Chair [email protected] up can be seen on page 2 of every OUTREACH: [email protected] Daniel Rohde, Co-Chair issue of Chess Life. Myron Lieberman GP Sinha, Co-Chair [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] CLUBS: The deadline to register to vote is PPHB FUND WOMEN'S CHESS: William Barela, Co-Chair MANAGEMENT: May 1. Register or check your status Maureen Grimaud [email protected] here: secure2.uschess.org/voter-registra John Donaldson [email protected] Frank Niro, Co-Chair [email protected] tion.php. [email protected] OTHER LIAISONS: PRISON: COLLEGE CHESS: Director of Prevention Programs Steve Frymer Rachel Lieberman This motion was passed at the No- Al Lawrence [email protected] vem ber executive board meeting: US [email protected] PUBLICATIONS: Chairs of the following committees are to be determined: Audit; Chess hereby thanks Randy Bauer for CORRESPONDENCE John Hartmann Corporate Connections Task Force; CHESS: [email protected] his long and honorable service to the Hall of Records; National Event Brad Rogers RATINGS: Advisory; Player Opportunity United States Chess Federation. [email protected] Randy has been central to the present Mark Glickman Fund; US Chess Development CRAMER AWARDS: [email protected] good state of our Federation’s finances LIFE MEMBER ASSET Frank Brady RULES: TRUST: and has taken the leading role for [email protected] David Kuhns, Chair Chuck Unruh, Chairman several years in the development of DENKER [email protected] [email protected] the Federation’s strategic vision, as INVITATIONAL: Al Losoff, Vice-Chair Leroy Dubeck, Vice-Chair well as its transition to a charitable Stephen Shutt, Co-Chair [email protected] [email protected] institution. We will miss Randy and [email protected] SCHOLASTIC Beatriz Marinello, Secretary Jon Haskel, Co-Chair COUNCIL/COMMITTEE: [email protected] wish him all the best. Resolved. US [email protected] Chess Executive Board. November Robby Adamson, Co-Chair ELECTION: [email protected] 12, 2016. Passed 6-0 Ken Ballou Beatriz Marinello, Co-Chair [email protected] [email protected]

Our vision is to enrich the lives of all persons US CHESS and communities through increasing the play, VISION study, and appreciation of the game of chess.

16 January 2017 | Chess Life www.uschess.org 17 Chess to Enjoy / Entertainment

Follow the Rules! (Well, Maybe.) Yet another reason why chess is different from sports and other games. By GM ANDY SOLTIS

TWO REMARKABLE INCIDENTS FEA- 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. e3 Bb7 5. tur ing world-class players occurred within Bd3 c5 6. 0-0 Be7 7. Nc3 cxd4 8. exd4 d5 weeks in speed tournaments. The first: 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Ne5 0-0 11. Qh5

HALF A MOVE GM Hikaru Nakamura (FIDE 2883, USA) GM (FIDE 2644, BUL) - Paris - Blitz, 06.11.2016

AFTER 26. fxe4

Black moved his attacked to b4. There was no doubt his hand left the piece. Then he realized that White would win with Bc5. This was a last-round game that would decide Black grabbed back the knight and held it first place. The next few moves made sense, until he found a haven, 26. ... Nf4. 11. ... Nf6 12. Qh4 Ne4 13. Qh5. White could have forced him to play 26. ... After play continued 13. ... Nf6 14. Qh4 Nb4. But he didn’t. The game went on and a Ne4 15. Qh5 Nf6 16. Qh4 Ne4 spectators draw was agreed at move 47. Black said after - began to wonder: Wasn’t one of these positions AFTER 42. Rc1 wards that if his opponent insisted on 26. ... repeated three times? Nb4 he would have resigned. The confusion continued with 17. Qh5 Nf6 Black pushed his e-pawn to the first rank The games triggered the usual deluge of on- 18. Qh4 Ne4. Hmmm. Both players stood to and punched his clock. But he didn’t place a line commentary because, well, nothing that earn prize money if the game were drawn. Why new on the board. White was about to can be captured on video remains obscure for hadn’t anyone made a claim? Had they forgotten capture on e1 with his rook when he suddenly long. (I wonder how many touch-move inci - the rules? pointed to the black pawn and then the clock. dents from the Alekhine-Capablanca era are No, they understood the rules quite well. Black had violated the rules because his move forgotten because there were was no YouTube.) But both players needed a win to make a was not complete. He had made half a move. But these two and other recent cases confused norm. As long as neither made a Black clasped his hands and turned to a many couch-clickers about the nature of chess claim, the other guy might break out of the tournament official for confirmation. Yes, he rules. Can you insist on touch-move in some repetition in an attempt to win. was told. He had lost, under the speed rules. cases and decide not to in others? Are some White did it with 19. Qh3 and Black won He couldn’t start his opponent’s clock until he rules optional? the game after 19. ... Qxd4 and became a had a right to—once he had placed a new piece The answer, surprisingly, is yes. The reason grandmaster. on e1. (After all, Black could have chosen to is that many rules are written to be enforced promote to a piece other than a queen.) when a player makes a claim to an arbiter. If “Three-time” repetition and “Touch move” Now consider this case: he doesn’t ... aren’t the only rules dependent on a claim. If neither player claims that their game has gone TOUCH MOVE? QUEEN’S INDIAN DEFENSE, 50 moves without a capture or a pawn advance, GM Hikaru Nakamura CLASSICAL VARIATION (E14) the “50-move” rule is ignored and the game GM IM Sergey Kishnev goes on. Ultimate Blitz Challenge, St. Louis, IM Philipp Schlosser Because of some embarrassing incidents, 04.28.2016 Budapest, 1991 FIDE, the world chess federation, stepped in.

18 January 2017 | Chess Life Chess to Enjoy / Entertainment

PROBLEM I PROBLEM II PROBLEM III Grand Chess GM GM Fabiano Caruana GM Fabiano Caruana GM Magnus Carlsen GM Hikaru Nakamura GM Tour Positions

The Grand Chess Tour was trans - formed in 2016 into a mixture of speed and traditional time limit tournaments. World Champion Magnus Carlsen’s withdrawal from the major events put the spotlight on the Tour’s two pairs of blitz and rapids tournaments, held in WHITE TO PLAY BLACK TO PLAY BLACK TO PLAY Paris and Leuven, . Hikaru Nakamura of the United States PROBLEM IV PROBLEM V PROBLEM VI GM Fabiano Caruana GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave GM Wesley So won the Paris events convincingly, GM GM GM Magnus Carlsen as Carlsen did in the Belgian events. In this month’s quiz, based on games from Paris and Leuven, you are asked to find the fastest winning line of play. Usually this will mean the forced win of a decisive amount of material, such as a minor piece or rook. For solutions, see page 71.

WHITE TO PLAY BLACK TO PLAY BLACK TO PLAY

It adopted a new rule in 2014 that said arbiters You can argue that modern players tend to can declare a draw if the same position has be stricter about rule infractions because we occurred “for at least five consecutive alternate take perceived illegality more seriously. But moves by each player.” Another 2014 rule says our rigid view of cheating has mellowed in an arbiter can declare a draw if 75 moves are some ways. made without an irrevocable change in the famously denounced his Soviet position. (These rules apply to FIDE events. rivals for agreeing in advance to draws with How many FIDE-rated players are aware of one another so that they could save their them? Almost none.) strength for him. Most fans of that day agreed The confusion over optional rules is the price with Fischer that this was cheating. we pay for playing chess for keeps. If you first But by a 2-to-1 margin, professional players started playing at a club or some other casual AFTER 34. ... Qg6 now say there is nothing wrong with pre- setting, touch-move was a matter of discretion. arranged draws, according to a recent Asso ci - If the position was interesting, you didn’t insist After 35. Rxg7+ Black tried to illegally ation of Chess Professionals survey. A majority, on letting your opponent’s careless capture the rook with his king. White could 52 percent, of amateurs agreed. stand. have insisted on his opponent playing a legal I wonder what Fischer would say about king move, 35. ... Kh8?? after which 36. Rxg6 This live-and-let-live attitude existed in the optional rules. Actually, I have some idea: would prompt resignation. early days of tournament chess: a player might In between the two Candidates matches that “However, in reply to some apologizing refuse to insist on a time forfeiture when his Fischer won 6-0, on his way to the 1972 World remark on the part of Chigorin, Steinitz opponent flagged. Championship, he played in a rapids tourna - refrained from claiming the penalty,” the world Historian John McCrary pointed out to me ment to inaugurate a new home for the champion wrote in his magazine. (He eventually an optional example from a world champi- Manhattan Chess Club. won after 35. ... Qxg7 36. Rxg7+ Kxg7 37. onship match: In the first round, he made an astonishing Qxa4.) blunder that lost his queen for a rook. But with This would never happen in modern sports, seconds left, his hapless opponent made a series certainly not in a championship. Imagine the LIVE AND LET LIVE of illegal moves. final minutes of the sixth game of the last NBA Fischer just told him to make legal moves. Mikhail Chigorin finals: The referee halts the action to announce, He didn’t make a claim. The game proceeded World Championship match, 22nd game, “Mr. LeBron James and his teammates have until his opponent had played himself into a 1892 decided that in the interest of good sports- lost position. manship they are waiving the rules. Therefore I understand how Fischer felt. I know how (see diagram top of next column) Mr. Stephen Curry did not foul out.” his opponent felt. His opponent was ... me.

www.uschess.org 19 Back to Basics / Reader annotations

Beyond Step One The on h7 and the aftermath.

By GM LEV ALBURT

THE GAME BELOW WAS PLAYED IN A rapid time control tournament and contains many errors—errors I think you can learn a lot from. The winner of this month’s award, Roy Jackson, provided very good commentary—and his only serious error in annotating (in his note to Black’s 28th move) is also very instructive. (My further comments are in italics).

COLLE SYSTEM (D05) Roy Jackson (1695) “nedzedol” (1669) It’s how we learn. chess.com, 08.30.2016 8. Bc2 Bd7 Correct. 15 min., 10 sec. added for every move A strange-looking and erroneous move. But the normal-looking 8. ... Bb7 9. Qe2, threatening e3-e4, 14. Bxh7+ Kxh7 15. Ng5+ Kg6! 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 also favors White. 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 Bc6

The only move, and played immediately. 3. ... e6 15. ... Kh6? would lose the queen. 15. ... Kg8?? would permit me the archetypical 16. Also good is 3. ... Bf5 and only then ... e7-e6. And 12. Qe2 after 4. c4 e6 5. Qb3 Nc6!? Black is doing OK amidst Qh5 Re8 the storm. The simple 12. Bxc6+ Nxc6 13. Qa4 wins a pawn. 4. Bd3 Bd6 12. ... b5 13. Re1 Black keeps the symmetry. An alternative was Typical and strong is 13. a4. 4. ... c5, then 5. ... Nc6 and 6. ... Bd6. 13. ... 0-0 5. Nbd2 b6 6. 0-0 c5 7. c3 (see diagram top of next column) (see diagram top of next column) 13. ... Be7 prevents the sacrifice, but guides White to the above-noted a2-a4!. 7. ... c4 Variations after the Greek Gift (Bxh7+) are A serious—and common—positional mistake, as beyond my ability to see. Noting two pluses after the unavoidable e3-e4, Black’s c4-pawn is simply for White—black knight on b8 and white rook a weakness. After 7. ... Bb7 instead, Black is fine. on e1—I sighed and clicked my king bishop. ANALYSIS AFTER 16. ... Re8

20 January 2017 | Chess Life Back to Basics / Reader annotations

17. Qxf7+ Kh8 18. Qh5+ Kg8 19. Qh7+ Kf8 20. Qh8+ Ke7 21. Qxg7 mate. If found without an engine—Bravo! 16. Qc2+ Meh. Best was 16. Qg4 f5 (16. ... Kf6 17. Rxe6!+) 17. Qh4 (17. Rxe6+ Rf6) 17. ... Re8 (17. ... Bd5 fails similarly) 18. Qh7+ Kf6 19. Nxe6 Rxe6 20. Bg5+!! Kxg5 21. Rxe6 with deadly queen checks at g6 or g7. The text move recovers most of my material while leaving the black king in the center. 42. ... exd5 43. Qf4+ Kg7 44. Qd4+ Kh7 16. ... Kf6 pawn). After 29. ... Qe7!, rightly avoiding theendgame, Black is, technically at least, a full pawn 45. Re8 Rg7 46. Qe5 Qf7 47. Qe6 (47. up. (bishop + knight ≥ rook + two pawns—in the Rd8!) 47. ... Qf3 48. Qe2 Qf5 49. Re5 49. middlegame). And while the black king is a bit more ... Qd7 50. Rh5+? (50. Qd3+!) 50. ... Kg6 vulnerable than the white, it (the black king) is now 51. Rh4 Kg5 52. Rh8 (52. Qe3+!) 52. ... Qf5 safe enough not to warrant giving up (by a queen 53. Re8 Kf6 54. Rf8+ Rf7 55. Rxf7+ Kxf7 trade) a full pawn. (Lev is objectively correct. However, at lower skill levels open kings with queens on the board allow tactics.—ed.) 30. Ree3 f4 31. Re1 Nf6?! Weakens e5. 32. Qe2 g4 33. Rh6

17. Nh7+ Ke7 18. Bg5+ f6 19. Nxf8 Stronger is 19. Qf5 with some advantage for White. 19. ... Qxf8 20. Bh4 (Here, too, stronger is 20. Qf5—ed.). The queen endgame is winning for White but— due to the queen’s great powers—more alertness is needed. 56. Qe3? Qb1+ 57. Kg2 Qxa2 58. b4 a5 59. Qa7+ Ke6 60. bxa5 Qc4 61. a6? (61. Qd4!) 61. ... Qe4+ 62. Kf1 This final inaccuracy makes the perpetual easy True—the e5-square must be watched. Thus: 33. for Black to find. However, even after 62. Kg3 ... Ne4, with a clear advantage for Black. (White’s best move) 62. ... Qf3+ 63. Kh4 Qf6+! it will 33. ... Qg7? 34. Qe5+ Ke7 35. Rxf6 Qxf6 eventually lead to a three-fold repetition. 36. Qxd5 Kf7 37. Qd7+! 62. ... Qd3+ 63. Kg2 Qf3+, Draw agreed. Of course, this is winning, too, but 37. Qxb5 first This game is so rich! was better. 20. ... Nd7 Make sure you’re registered to vote in the 37. ... Qe7 38. Qxb5 upcoming US Chess Executive Board election. Go to Black (and then White) overlooked 21. Qf5!, Misses the easy ending. 38. Qxe7+ Kxe7 39. d5. secure2. uschess.org/voter-registration.php to turning the game again in White’s favor. The However, after 39. ... Rg5 40. dxe6 Rd5 Black has check your status. prophylactic 20. ... Bd5 was a good way to keep the significant counterplay. 39. Re4! f3 40. g3 followed game locked until Black fully develops. by h3 is the easiest. Send in your games! 21. Rad1 Bd5 (to stop d4-d5) 22. Qf5 Kd8 38. ... f3 39. Qxc4 fxg2 23. Qg4 Kc7 24. Bg3 g5 25. Re3 Qf7 26. If you are unrated or rated 1799 or be low, Bxd6+ Kxd6 27. Rh3 Rg8 28. Re1 f5 (see diagram top of next column) then GM Lev Alburt invites you to send your most instructive game with notes to: (see diagram top of next column) 40. Kxg2 (40. d5! is crushing) Back to Basics, c/o Chess Life 29. Qh5? Qe7? Indeed—the g2-pawn shields White’s king, leave PO Box 3967 Crossville, TN it alone! Queens off would favor Black, who is up 38557-3967 40. ... Qb7+ 41. Kg1 Rg6 42. d5?? material. His statuesque minors would become Or e-mail your material to mobile. Black’s king does not stand at e7. I followed [email protected] I strongly disagree. Without queens, the material this blunder with a swarm of blunders, and www.ChessWithLev.com balance is almost even (bishop + knight ≥ rook + Black drew.

www.uschess.org 21 Cover Story / 2016 Olympiad A GOLDEN The U.S. wins its first gold medal e either Russia or the Sov

Text and Photos by FM MIKE KLEIN

22 January 2017 | Chess Life Cover Story / 2016 Olympiad AGE Returns ever in an Olympiad that also had viet Union participating

Gold for the U.S., silver for (left), and bronze for Russia.

www.uschess.org 23 Cover Story / 2016 Olympiad

f chess stats included “assists,” GM to bump out their last-round rivals and sneak victories, the Ukrainians very much wanted this Matthias Bluebaum earned one with his into the bronze placement. That remained their to factor into the math. unwitting Midas touch. Matthias who? last team medal prior to this year. You could The problem? The rules stated that the lowest The German teenager's seemingly say Ukraine was owed one by the Stars and opponent on final match points would be irrelevant win, played on the third board Stripes, and it seemed for a while during the dropped. Thus Germany’s 13 bumped out ’s of table 28 in the final round of the 42nd tabulations that Baku would be the place the 12, and Ukraine “only” beat Germany 2½-1½ in IChess Olympiad, meant everything to the U.S. National Team playing a hundred feet away. Thanks to the tenebrous tiebreak calculations, Bluebaum's victory over If that 1976 win had a giant asterisk beside it, an Estonian international master sealed for the Americans their first team gold medal at the thanks to a boycott by the Soviet Union and Olympiad since one week after Jimmy Carter was elected president. other Eastern Bloc powerhouses, this one had “Bluebaum” instantly became the answer to only dominance. The U.S. was one of only two obscure chess trivia, but his contribution was nothing compared to having three world top- teams to finish without a match loss. 10 players on the squad. Two medaled indi vid - ually. Board one GM Fabiano Caruana picked up an individual bronze and third board GM Wesley So grabbed another gold. score was evened. Ukraine's final-round win - round three. Ukraine thus had (13 x 2½ = 32½) If that 1976 win had a giant asterisk beside ning score in 2016 was even the same as their count instead of (12 x 4 = 48). They surrendered it, thanks to a boycott by the Soviet Union and 2008 loss: 3½-½. Perfect symmetry. 15½ tiebreak points and lost by nine. other Eastern Bloc powerhouses, this one had The karma was seemingly there for Ukraine, If you are a little lost here, don’t feel bad. only dominance. The U.S. was one of only two or was it? Before the round, Donaldson seemed Even this reporter could not believe that a teams to finish without a match loss. relatively sure all the Americans had to do was scenario existed whereby the Americans actually “It’s strange in a way,” second board GM win the final match by any margin, but an wanted a past opponent of Ukraine to do well! Hikaru Nakamura said. “I don't think we were unexpected loss by past individual gold-medalist As rare as batting out of order in baseball, even ever in danger of losing (a match).” Still, despite GM meant they only beat seasoned players and pundits needed this arcane having their strongest team in history and border-rival Canada by the minimum 2½-1½. concept explained to them too. trailing only Russia in average rating, Nakamura A few hours later, it was not the U.S. but instead Would a simple head-to-head tiebreak have said that prior to the event he thought his squad the entire five-man Ukrainian team walking been a better option, especially when trying to had only a 20 percent chance at gold. into the press room, waiting to ascend the stage explain the calculus to the general public? The Held in Baku, Azerbaijan from September for their victory press conference. system chosen by FIDE “could be debated until 1-14, the two weeks were not quite enough to GM , Ukraine's leader, led his the end of time” Donaldson said. “It’s regrettable decide who flew home with the trophy. Ukraine team in, but no one came to congratulate him. that when you have two teams play so well that and USA ended tied seemingly in a dead heat. He became a bystander like all the rest. After you have to have one of them finish first.” He Both accumulated 20 match points, a record two weeks of chess, he was not about to dive then joked, “Maybe we just decide the gold medal since the Olympiad began tabulating prizes this into more complications. with a bullet match when Hikaru plays whoever.” way a decade ago. Despite losing only three of “I’m just waiting for the tiebreaks,” Eljanov Of course, the nerve-racking calculations 44 games, after the last move was made, the said. “I’m a bit tired.” were the byproduct, not the impetus to the gold. American team had to then shift their attention The fastidious Donaldson broke out his hand- Caruana’s earlier win over Eljanov was the only to Bluebaum's game—a before the written formulas and compared them to digital decisive game against Ukraine (Nakamura called title was theirs. Excel documents created by the press. How it the biggest game of the tournament). The The clocks were turned off and the calculators thorough were the captain’s final-round prepa - world number two finished with a performance came on. That Ukraine lost to the U.S. in round rations? He wanted to be ready in case his players rating bordering Magnus Carlsen’s published six did not apply; instead of the simplicity of asked him about a draw, and so made two rating. One board lower down, Nakamura’s head-to-head tiebreaks, the wild fluctuations of identical tiebreak journals in case one was worsening cold didn't prevent him from gamely Sonneborn-Berger were now in play. Jour nalists confiscated by the overly-zealous security guards. playing every round, and finishing right about built elaborate spreadsheets while others simply “When Ukraine came through with that where he was predicted. waited out the news, heavily dependent on the victory [Eljanov winning a complicated game So’s gold came from 8½/10, the highest total results of obscure games like on table 28. against GM Alexander Beliavsky], I knew it on the team and within a whisker of a 2900 Readers with long memories may recall was going to be really close,” Donaldson said. performance rating. Shankland nearly ended America had been down this road before, and Back to Bluebaum, here's why his game his second Olympiad with another undefeated again Ukraine played a part. In this reporter's mattered: Only by him winning would Germany’s campaign until that final-round slip. GM Ray first Olympiad assignment in 2008, the U.S. disappointing Olympiad end with a win over Robson was used sparingly after dropping an trounced Ukraine 3½-½ in the final round, , 2½-1½. That would put Germany on equal ending against Russia, but gave the team causing team captain IM John Donaldson to 13 match points, one more than Jordan. That’s needed depth according to Donaldson, and cancel his exit plans from and stick right, a country with an untitled 2200 on board allowed some of the top players to rest early around to do the math. one mattered too! Ukraine blanked the Hashemite and be saved for the later rounds. Donaldson Back then, giving Ukraine its worst loss in Kingdom 4-0 in the opening round, and since said choosing between Robson and Shankland Olympiad history narrowly allowed the U.S. Sonneborn-Berger “weights” the strength of for board four was “really awkward for those

24 January 2017 | Chess Life Cover Story / 2016 Olympiad

From left to right: GM Sam Shankland, GM Wesley So, GM Hikaru Nakamura, GM Fabiano Caruana. two” but “they never complained.” much to make it to the top boards or be in balm to relieve his cold-like symptoms. Neither “I sort of carried the team last time,” Shankland medal contention, and so the strange round 11 player could attend the pre-match meeting said, referring to his eight wins and two draws matchups on the top three boards were USA- before the final matchup. in 2014. “This year I’m kind of a rank-and-file Canada, Ukraine-, and Russia-. “You don’t want to pull guys like that out of guy. Ultimately even though the last game leaves Before USA’s minimal win made for all the the lineup,” Donaldson said. “They never a sour taste in my mouth, playing three extra drama, there was the business of just getting complained ... I tried to do everything I could blacks, I think I did my part for the team.” the top four players to the board. So said that to get [Nakamura and So] ready to play. Players No one would have predicted they would be being the number two seed made them a trophy have to play sick sometimes. For elite players, playing an improved but still 25th-ranked kill for weaker teams. that’s part of the game.” “It was embarrassing because when it first hit I didn’t have any tissue and my nose was running badly,” So said. “Next day it progressed “Maybe we just decide the gold medal with a to coughing which I worried was annoying bullet match when Hikaru plays whoever.” to my opponents. By the third day I got a blocked nose and John (Donaldson) gave me ~Team Captain, IM John Donaldson some eucalyptus oil to clear it and my opponent complained to his captain about the smell. I don’t blame him, it was kind of pungent. So I tried to stay away from the board Canadian squad in the medal round, which was “With that much hormones and energy as much as possible, only running back to actually the highest-seeded last round opponent surging in the same venue at the same time, make my moves.” of all the medal contenders. The U.S. contingent everyone was gunning for a kill,” So said. Despite the yo-yo between seated and had already run the gauntlet, playing top-seeded The bigger problem was the team's health. standing, So won first with a nifty Exchange Russia to a draw and beating Ukraine narrowly A coughing and sweating Nakamura, who sacrifice. He took out GM , and India convincingly. Defending champion suffered a bad loss in round 10, had just enough a veteran who was playing in an and host Azerbaijan both struggled too energy to finish. So needed a quasi-magical several months before So was even born.

www.uschess.org 25 Cover Story / 2016 Olympiad

CARO-KANN DEFENSE, should relieve Black of any problems. But maybe White has a clear advantage after the simple PANOV-BOTVINNIK ATTACK (B13) for the future 9. Be2 might be an interesting 22. Qg3 Ra2 (White is also doing well after 22. GM Wesley So (FIDE 2782, USA) try, simply aiming to finish development. 9...... Ra4 23. Rb1 Qa5 24. Rbc1 Qa6 25. Nf1) 23. GM Alexandre Lesiège (FIDE 2512, CAN) Bb4 10. c5. Rb1 Qa4 24. Nf1 Rd8 25. Ne3 Ra1 26. Rbc1 42nd World , Open, 2016 Kg7 27. Nf5+. (11), Baku, Azerbaijan, 09.13.2016 9. ... Bb4 10. c5 0-0?! 22. ... Qxc3 23. Ne4 Qd3 24. Nxf6+ Kh8 Notes by So. Both 10. ... Qa5! 11. Qd2 0-0 12. Be2 b6 13. In this round we played the 25th-seeded cxb6 axb6 and 10. ... Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 0-0 are Worse is 24. ... Kg7 25. Qe5. Canadians. During the game, I was thinking completely fine for Black. 25. Nd7 Rfe8 26. Ne5 how Canada had stood in our way at the 2014 11. Rc1 Olympiad with a 2-2 tie and that enough was I missed 26. Qxf7? Qxf1+ when I decided to enough. Our team had traveled a long hard His 10th move was a slight inaccuracy as sacrifice on move 22! journey to get this far and I didn’t want to let now I am able to avoid any defects in my 26. ... Qf5 these last opponents stand in the way of a queenside . According to the engine Black would have potential gold medal! Nothing personal against 11. ... b6 12. Bb5 held with 26. ... Qe2!. I think the reason is that the very nice Alex Lesiège, but so much was at Now I was quite happy with the outcome of his passed c-pawn would have more support. stake, he was the enemy today! Canada came the opening. I will regain the bishop pair with Also, White has to be careful if he removes his with a revamped and inspired team this year: a3, and I am basically playing a pawn up as his knight from the e-file then Qxf1+ would be, (rated 2675), doubled f-pawns are particularly ineffective. “boom!” (performance rating of 2852) and Eric Hansen (performance rating of 2738—though they did 12. ... Na5! 13. a3 Bxc3+ 14. Rxc3 Nc4 15. 27. Qxc4? b4! a5?! give him nine whites!). They were performing I played too quickly! Use your time! Double above their own expectations, so I knew this Here is where my opponent started to go check! Triple check! White can win easily after match was going to be tough. wrong. Better is 15. ... a6 16. Bxc4 dxc4 17. 0-0 27. Nxf7+! Kg7 28. Ne5 by just grabbing the c- 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. e3 Nf6 5. b5 18. Re1 Bd5 19. Nd2 where personally I pawn whenever he wants. The black king is d4 cxd4 6. exd4 d5 prefer White, but apparently the position is also very vulnerable now that f7 is gone. 28. ... just balanced as it will take a lot of time to bring c3 (28. ... Qe6 29. Qb7+ Kg8 30. Rc1) 29. Qb7+ This is a very solid line and I play it with my knight to the ideal square c3 or e3. Kg8 30. Qb3+. both colors. Lesiège had also used it in round three so it wasn’t a big surprise that he played 16. 0-0 axb4 17. axb4 Qb8? 27. ... Kg7 it again. Mistakes usually come in a sequence. After Here my opponent had only one to two 7. Bg5 Be6 8. Bxf6 exf6 this I have a clear advantage. minutes and I was playing to put pressure on 18. Bxc4 dxc4 him. 28. Qc3?! Alexander had a good position out of the opening but has now misplayed it and given A mistake, as I allow his a-rook to be activat - me a chance to increase my . ed. Best was 28. Ng4! h5 (28. ... Ra3 29. d5 Rd3 30. d6) 29. Ne3 Qf4 30. Nd5. 19. Nd2! bxc5 28. ... Ra2 29. Nd3 Qf6 Clearly bad for Black is 19. ... b5 20. Ne4 f5 21. Nd6 Bd5 22. Qe2 as my knight would be very powerful on d6. 20. bxc5

9. h3 N The idea of the novelty 9. h3 came to me after some logical thinking two years ago. The main idea is to prevent ... Bg4, but at the cost of precious time. 9. c5 Bg4! is supposed to be fine as Black eliminates the main defender of the d4-pawn. (9. ... Bg7 10. h3 [10. Bb5 Bg4! With two connected passed pawns I thought 11. Qe2+ Kf8] 10. ... a6 [10. ... 0-0 11. Bb5 was I wasn’t risking much but 29. ... Ree2! 30. d5+ how the game Gawain-Lesiège went from f6 31. c6 Red2 32. c7 Rac2 is apparently better round three.] 11. Bd3) 10. Be2 Bg7 11. h3 Bxf3 for Black! 12. Bxf3 f5 13. 0-0 0-0 14. Ne2 Qh4 15. Bxd5 20. ... Qb4?! 30. Nb4 Rae2 31. Nd5 Qg5 32. Nc7 R8e3? And now even 15. ... Nxd4 (Or 15. ... Rad8 16. 33. Qc1 h6 34. d5 Qe5? Bxc6 bxc6 when the pressure on d4 compen - Black's best was 20. ... Qb2 21. Ne4 Bf5!, sates for the pawn) 16. Bxb7 (16. Nxd4 Bxd4 preventing White from consolidating. Yes! The long-awaited blunder finally comes! 17. Bxb7 Rab8 18. c6 Bxb2 19. Rb1 Be5) 16. ... But really, it is not easy to defend having only 21. Qf3 Bd5 22. Qxd5?! Rad8 17. Nxd4 Rxd4 18. Qf3 Rc4 and the half a minute to make each move. 34. ... Rd3 is appearance of the opposite-colored bishops Sacrificing the Exchange was unnecessary. apparently just equal as he always has counter -

26 January 2017 | Chess Life Cover Story / 2016 Olympiad play on the second rank. 35. c6 Qxc1 36. Rxc1 isn’t enough counterplay, and after 15. ... g5 as quickly as possible. Rdd2. 16. Bxh4 gxh4 17. f4 Black’s bishops can’t get 35. fxe3 Qg3 in the game. The match now in hand, Shankland ran into 16. gxh5 25+ moves of preparation from GM Eric No better is 35. ... Qxc7 36. Qc4. Hansen, and lost his first-ever Olympiad game. 36. Qa1+, Black resigned. Not too dismayed, Shankland left the playing hall by saying to his teammates, “I guess we’re Not a perfect game, but it was the last round world champions now?” Little did he know all and a gold is gold! Black resigned to avoid 36. the permutations that would unfold over the ... Kg8 37. Qa8+ Kg7 38. Ne8+ (38. Ne6+ fxe6 next few hours! 39. Qf8+) 38. ... Kf8 39. Nf6+ Kg7 40. Qg8 This magazine’s Canadian readership can be mate. justifiably proud. By mixing older and younger players, they finished with their best placement From there Nakamura stabilized with Black since 1980, 11th. and traded nearly everything to absolute equal - Prior to the chess world’s tectonic subduction ity, so the U.S. needed one more point from the that caused everything to shift under North top or bottom boards. Caruana took care of that America for the final round, there were plenty in short order, only needing 31 moves to defeat 16. … Qc7? of other teams the U.S. had to overcome. another experienced grandmaster. Evgeny Bareev , , and didn’t offer Now is the time for 16. ... c5 but it may already made it as high as world-number-four a while much resistance, nicking the U.S. collectively be too late. 17. bxc5 Nxc5 at least allows for a back and recently switched to represent Canada. for only three draws in the opening 12 games. more natural way to guard the weak e6-pawn. Round four produced the kind of match TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS 17. Bg4 Rh6 underdogs often strive for when obviously GM Fabiano Caruana (FIDE 2808, USA) The move 17. ... Nf8 is grotesque. outgunned. defined the word GM Evgeny Bareev (FIDE 2675, CAN) “solid” and despite a whisper of a chance for 42nd World Chess Olympiad, Open, 2016 18. f4 c5 19. bxc5 So’s fight against a , all four (11), Baku, Azerbaijan, 09.13.2016 The continuation 19. Nxe6! Bxe6 20. Bxe6 boards ended in less-than-dynamic draws. Rxe6 21. Qg4 is also good, but allows Black to Nakamura and So got their team back on punch through on the queenside and annoy track a day later with a 3-1 win over , White for a bit. then the Americans had nearly 48 hours to prepare for the first huge test. Ukraine awaited 19. ... Qxc5 20. Kh1 0-0-0 21. Nd2 Rdh8 in round six after the lone rest day. 22. Qe1 Bxh5 That's when Caruana justified his spot as the No better is 22. ... Nf5 23. Bxf5 exf5 24. e6 top player by beating GM Pavel Eljanov to give and if Black “waits” with 22. ... Bd8 23. Bxh4 his team a 2½-1½ win. He’d played board one Bxh5 White won’t allow the rooks to come to many times before in the Olympiad, but always life: 24. Nxe6 Bxg4 25. Nxc5 Bxh4 26. Qe3 is for Italy. Of those previous events, he said, “I visually impressive for Black, but will not change played a lot of really strong players; I lost to AFTER 7. ... Ne7 the result. most of them!”

8. a5! SICILIAN DEFENSE (B31) GM Fabiano Caruana (FIDE 2808, USA) This rare idea of gaining space with a2-a4-a5 GM Pavel Eljanov (FIDE 2739, UKR) was played once before by GM Sergey Karjakin. 42nd World Chess Olympiad, Open, 2016 8. ... a6 9. b4 Nf5 10. c3 (6), Baku, Azerbaijan, 09.08.2016 Notes by GM Robert Hess. Not a bad way to play in a team environment. White retains flexibility in the structure, and 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Caruana can wait to see if his team needs him to press. The Rossolimo is a staple of Caruana’s open - ing repertoire, so Eljanov must have thought 10. ... f6 11. Bf4 fxe5 12. dxe5 his chances in this variation were good. The ANALYSIS DIAGRAM AFTER 26. Qe3 The continuation 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Bxe5 choice was a good one, as the Ukrainian actually was also fine, but Caruana preferred not to trade obtained a very solid position. 23. Bxe6 Be8 24. f5 Bd8 25. Rf4 g5 26. with the space advantage. He also keeps more Rf2 Bc7 27. Qe3 Kb8 28. f6 Nf8 29. Bg4 3. ... g6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 pieces on the board, for more options later. Nhg6 30. N2b3 Qa7 31. f7, Black Magnus Carlsen used 4. ... dxc6 to defeat resigned. 12. ... Be7 13. g4! Caruana in the 2015 Tata Steel tour-nament, Securing d4 for his knight. Black resigned since g5 is falling and his though the opening was not where the world pieces are completely disorganized, most champion made his mark in that game. 13. ... Nh4 14. Nd4 Bf7 15. Bg3 h5 especially his trapped queen. A brutal and Additionally, the American board one scored The line 15. ... Ng6 16. f4 would be very sad convincing win by Caruana, that reminds Caro- a strong victory over GM for Black as f4-f5 is coming and 16. ... c5 likely Kann players to get ... c6-c5 counterplay going only a few months earlier in this line, perhaps

www.uschess.org 27 Cover Story / 2016 Olympiad an indication to Eljanov that he should recapture recommended to isolate your existing doubled To an extent, this is a natural move. It clamps towards the center. pawns while simultaneously creating new ones, down on the b4-square, but this plan would 5. 0-0 Bg7 6. Re1 Nh6 but now the e6-pawn can be corralled and the be much better if the second rook was on b7 kingside pawns can start moving. For example, rather than f6. Now Eljanov has invited Caruana This is by far the most common continuation, a normal-looking line such as 16. Qa4 Qd6 17. to create a . though it admittedly looks quite strange. The Qxa7 Qxe6 18. Qxc5 e4 19. a4 (19. f4 g5!? 23. b4 axb4 24. cxb4 cxb4 25. Rxb4 Ra8 point is that 6. ... Nf6 invites the e4-e5 push, opening more lines is important, even if it costs whereas now Black can challenge the center another pawn.) 19. ... f4 results in a double- Black can safely liquify and hold a draw with with ... f7-f5, as in the game. edged position, where it’s unclear if a successful 25. ... Rxb4 26. Qxb4 Rxe6 27. Rxe6 Qxe6 28. 7. c3 0-0 8. h3 attack or a new queen occurs first. Qc3+ (28. a5 Qe5 secures an easy draw. Black is a pawn to the good, but the a-pawn proves 16. Bh6 Bg7 Most common is 8. d4. Though it undoubles more than enough . In fact, it is the c-pawns, this move helps take control of the When our bishops are fianchettoed, we often Eljanov who would be forced to bail out: 29. center. The change in structure provides mutual avoid trading to keep the squares around the Qb6 Qa1+ 30. Kh2 Qe5+ 31. g3 f4 32. a6 fxg3+ chances. 8. ... cxd4 9. cxd4 d5 leaves Black with a king well defended. Here, however 16. ... Re8 33. fxg3 Qe2+ and ensues.) 28. very respectable position. (9. ... f6 is also perfectly makes little sense, since the bishop on h6 will ... Kf7 29. a5 Qc8 30. Qb3 Qa6 31. c5+ (31. acceptable, although a bit more cramped.) eventually need to be removed before it is too Qb6 Qxc4 32. a6 c5! cuts the queen off from 8. ... f5 late. its defense of f2, meaning the game will result 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Rb1 Qa5 19. a4 in perpetual.) 31. ... d5 32. Qb6 Qc4 33. Qxc6 is a renowned Rossolimo Qc1+ 34. Kh2 Qf4+ 35. Kg1 Qc1+ with a draw. theoretician and has been a big proponent of White is now tied down to the defense of 26. Qa1 8. ... d5 though Anand’s victory over the Israeli the vulnerable queenside pawns, whereas super grandmaster at the 2016 Eljanov has a semi- to work with and The followup 26. c5! dxc5 27. Rc4 gives a might cause Gelfand to rethink. It must be endgames can be problematic for Caruana, slight edge with no risk whatsoever. However, noted that that game occurred weeks after this whose e6-pawn will become a liability. That I can understand Caruana’s reluctance to simplify, one, so Caruana and Eljanov were not privy being said, the position is level, as Caruana can as his team needed his full point to defeat the to that analysis. always calmly protect his queenside and threaten Ukrainians. 9. e5 Nf7 10. d3 Rb8 an attack on the kingside if Eljanov moves all 26. ... f4 his pieces to the b-file. Giri and Gelfand both tried 10. ... Ba6 and Starting with 26. ... Kg8 should be an im- split the point against Adams and Inarkiev, 19. ... Rf6 prove ment. The black pawn on f5 is well respectively. The continuation 19. ... Rb6 20. Qc2 Rfb8 defended, while on f3 it is a liability. 11. Na3 21. b3 Qa6 aiming to triple the artillery actually 27. Re4 f3 28. g4 Kg8 29. Qd1 Rxe6 allows a nice shot: 22. a5! (22. Rb2 Qb7 23. Reb1 Qc8 24. Qe2 a5 is equal, if not a smidgen The continuation 29. ... c5 30. Rb5 feels better for Eljanov.) 22. ... R6b7 (22. ... Qxa5?? incorrect for Eljanov. The rook is happily 23. Ra1 and the queen is trapped.) 23. Qa2 and stationed on b5, where it can help support the now it is the black pieces that are a bit stuck, outside passer. Meanwhile, e6 remains untouch - though the position still remains roughly equal. able due to Qd5. However, after 30. ... Qf8 Black seems to get enough counterplay to hold. 20. Re3 Qa6 21. b3 Qc8 22. Qe1 30. Qxf3 This is an intelligent multi-purpose move. For starters, e6 is now defended. But the queen also helps Caruana with a b3-b4, giving his pieces some life. The other way of securing e6 allows 22. Qe2 f4 23. Re4 f3 breaking up A new move in a rare position, this novelty Caruana’s king cover. 24. gxf3 Qf8 25. Kg2 Rf5 does not appear to have any theoretical signif- and despite the materi al count, it is now very icance. It merely develops the knight without clear who is better. obstructing the bishop. 22. ... a5?! 11. ... Ba6 12. Nc4 Bxc4 13. dxc4 An interesting pawn transformaton has appeared on the board. Caruana actively avoided undoubling Eljanov’s pawns, but received a 30. ... Rxe4? pair of doubled c-pawns himself. The rook on b8 currently serves as the sole active black piece, This is a tremendous inaccuracy, after which so Eljanov now makes the necessary decision Eljanov is in deep trouble. 30. ... d5 was neces - to gain some space and activity. sary, as it allows some air to breathe. The game 13. ... d6 14. e6 Ne5 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 continuation forces Eljanov into passive defense. 31. Qxe4 Qc7 32. c5! The move 15. ... dxe5 is a surprisingly interesting possibility. It generally is not Very strong, ruining the black pawn structure.

28 January 2017 | Chess Life Cover Story / 2016 Olympiad

32. ... dxc5 55. Ke5 does not result in a perpetual, as the Sethuraman refrained from playing it. A piece 32. ... d5 33. Qe6+ Kf8 34. Rb6 spells huge king escapes and the queens come to the rescue. sacrifice is not an on-the-spot decision one trouble for Eljanov, who can hardly defend his 50. Qe3+ Kg7 51. Qd4+ Kh6 52. a7 Qb7 wants to make, particularly in a team event. pawns and his exposed king. 53. h4, Black resigned. 11. Qd1 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Nxg4 13. fxg4 Qh4+ 14. Kd2 Bxg4 Black has two pawns, an 33. Qc4+ Kg7 34. Qc3+ Kg8 35. Qc4+ The a-pawn is frozen, but so is the black initiative, and a safer king for the sacrificed Kg7 36. Qxc5 king. Mate is unstoppable, causing Eljanov to knight. That being said, the position is The repetition was played to gain time as the tip his king. A fine showing by Caruana, who incredibly unclear, though Shankland must players approached move 40. Now Caruana has nursed positional advantages into a full point. have been ready for this. (Less effective is 14. a large advantage thanks to his superior pawn ... d4!? 15. gxf5 dxc3+ 16. Kc2 cxb2 17. Kxb2 structure, safer king, and outside passed pawn. “Before this match, I don’t know if we were when White’s open king is actually not as performing at our best,” Caruana said. A scary unsafe as immediately meets the eye. Black 36. ... Qd6 statement, since the U.S. was the only team certainly has compensation for the sacrificed Better is 36. ... Ra5 37. Qe3 Qd6 38. Re4 (38. that had not lost any individual games by round material, but objectively it seems that White Rd4 Rd5 39. Rxd5 cxd5 40. a5 d4 41. Qd3 e5 six’s conclusion. is in the driver’s seat, although the computer 42. a6 e4 43. Qxe4 Qxa6 44. Qxd4+ is not an The next day surely put an end to such self- evaluation is “unclear.”) enjoyable position to defend, but there are deprecation. The U.S. obliterated the reigning 11. h4 b5 12. Qd1 b4 13. h5 legitimate practical chances to hold.) 38. ... e5 bronze medalist Indians, 3½-½. Whereas and at least here Eljanov’s pieces are active. Caruana shouldered the load against Ukraine, An important move. Any knight move would on this day he drew while Nakamura, So, and have invited 13. ... Qc7, which leaves the c2- 37. Qc3+ Qf6 38. Qe3 Rf8 39. Re4 Rf7 40. Shankland all won. Unbeknownst to the U.S. square available for the bishop. Re5 at the time, that crushing margin would provide 13. ... Bxh5 14. Nxd7 The rook and queen are coordinated very a much-needed tiebreak boost, since India ended well. The pawns on c6 and e7 are both very in fourth place. Best is 14. Ne2! (The open h-file is more weak, and the a-pawn can be used as a distrac - The lopsided result included a Shankland valuable than the pawn given to open it.) 14. tion. White’s queen and rook harmoniously win that left people wondering if he had special ... Bg6 15. Nxg6 fxg6 16. Nf4 hitting both e6 attack and defend simultaneously, whereas their powers at the Olympiad. and g6, and Black is in trouble. For example: counterparts are stuck defending. 16. ... Kf7 17. e4 is not pretty. 40. ... Qd6 (D11) 14. ... Nxd7 15. Rxh5 GM Samuel Shankland L. (FIDE 2679, USA) Attempting to trade queens with 40. ... Qf4 GM Sethuraman Panayappan Sethuraman A better choice seems like 15. Nxd5, stealing fails tactically to the forced variation 41. Rxe7 (FIDE 2640, IND) an important central pawn rather than the one Qxa4 (41. ... Qxe3 42. Rxf7+ Kxf7 43. fxe3 with 42nd World Chess Olympiad, Open, 2016 on b4. Though 15. ... Bxg4 16. Nf4 g5 keeps a winning pawn ending.) 42. Qe5+ Kg8 43. (7), Baku, Azerbaijan, 09.09.2016 the game better for White, the position is Notes by GM Robert Hess. Re8+ Rf8 44. Qe6+ Kg7 45. Re7+ Kh6 46. Qd7 complex. and Eljanov’s king is toast. 46 ... Rh8 47. Qd2+ 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4 5. 15. ... bxc3 16. bxc3 Qc7 g5 48. Qd6 mate. cxd5 cxd5 6. Nc3 e6 7. Qa4+ All of a sudden, the black side of the position 41. a5 Qd1+ 42. Kg2 Qa1 43. Qe2 This move helps take advantage of the is preferable. White, despite claiming the two Capturing on e7 with 43. Rxe7 Qxa5 44. awkward placement of the bishop on g4. bishops, is the one with the unsafe king and a Qd4+ Kg8 45. Re8+ Rf8 isn’t quite as nice for 7. ... Nbd7 8. Ne5 a6 9. f3 vulnerable c-pawn. Caruana as the previous note, because the king 17. Bd2 Bd6 18. Bd3 Nb6 19. Ke2 h6 20. A new move that deserves serious attention. isn’t getting mated. White goes up a pawn g5 Kd7 21. gxh6 gxh6 22. Rb1 Rag8 nonetheless: 46. Rxf8+ Kxf8 47. Qh8+ Kf7 48. White uses this pawn thrust to expand on the Qxh7+ Kf6 Black still retains drawing chances kingside, as is evident by the next few moves. thanks to the passed c-pawn, so it was wise for 9. ... Bf5 10. g4 Caruana to avoid this continuation. 43. ... e6 44. a6 Qd4 The move 44 ... Ra7 does not actually corral the a-pawn, since 45. Rxe6 Qxa6 46. Qe5+ leads to a swift mate. 46. ... Kh6 47. Qf4+ Kg7 48. Qf6+ Kh6 49. Qf8+ Rg7 50. Qf4 mate. 45. Rxe6 Now it’s over. Not because of the gained material, but because Eljanov is unable to stop 23. Bxa6? the passed pawn and save his king. Over the past few moves, Shankland opened 45. ... c5 46. Re7 Qd5+ 47. f3 c4 48. up the position, which is what we’re taught to 10. ... Bg6 Rxf7+ Qxf7 49. Qe5+ Kh6 do when we have bishops. But allowing the The line 49. ... Kg8 50. Qb8+ Kg7 51. a7 Qd5 The best move is 10. ... b5, but without rook to infiltrate on the g-file is just too much. 52. a8=Q Qd2+ 53. Kg3 Qe1+ 54. Kf4 Qd2+ proper analysis it is understandable that Better is 23. Kf2!? which is an engine move

www.uschess.org 29 Cover Story / 2016 Olympiad that somehow appears to result in no worse Qxg4+ fxg4+ 37. Ke5 Qf5+ 38. Kd6 Qxb1 with movie without a USA-Russia clash, and that than a draw by repetition. so much extra material, the game is over; 36. “requirement” happened the next round. Both 23. ... Rg2+ 24. Kd3 Ke3 f4+ 37. Kf3 Rg3+ 38. Bxg3 Qh5+ 39. Kxf4 the men and the women had to face them in Qf5+ 40. Ke3 Qe4 mate is a lovely forced mate.) round eight, the exact same occurrence as in The line 24. Kf1 Rhg8 25. Rh1 keeps the game 36. ... Qf6+ 37. Kd6 Qxd8+ 38. Kc6 Ra7 requires 2008. going, but I’d hate to defend this position too. a simply to avoid getting mated Caruana took black and was under severe 24. ... Ra8 25. Bb5+ Kd8 26. Rxh6 Rxa2 immediately. pressure from GM Sergey Karjakin, but held. 27. Rh8+ Ke7 28. Re8+ Kf6 34. Rd7 Rab2 Nakamura got nothing against GM Vladimir Kramnik, and they drew as well. On this day, After two checks, the black king has found The line 34. ... Nb2+ 35. Rxb2 Raxb2 keeps So provided the heroics, finding a study-like safety. Meanwhile, the white king can’t really things complicated and in Black’s favor. win whereby his opponent’s twin ladies could say the same ... 35. Bxc4 dxc4+ 36. Kxc4 not save the day. 29. Be1 Shankland has not only escaped , STUDY-LIKE If the e4-square were under additional control, but can claim an advantage. The engines might GM (FIDE 2740, RUS) ... Qc4+ followed by ... dxc4 would result in find some crazy draw, but mere mortals do not checkmate. Seeing this idea, Sethuraman now GM Wesley So (FIDE 2782, USA) have silicon-powered brains. 42nd World Chess Olympiad, Open, 2016 retreats his king to go for it. 36. ... Qe8 37. Rxb2 Rxb2 38. Qa1 Rb8 (8), Baku, Azerbaijan, 09.10.2016 29. ... Kg7 30. f4 f5 Sethuraman’s best chance to salvage half a The idea 30. ... Nc4 here or on the previous point was 38. ... Re2 39. Kd3 Rxe3+ 40. Kxe3 move was much less complicated. White is toast. Qxd7, but he was understandably dejected at 31. Qb3 this point . Still, he forced Shankland to prove the win in a long struggle. 39. Qa7 Kf8 40. Kd3 Ra8 41. Qb7 Rb8 42. Qh1 Qxd7 43. Qh8+ Kf7 44. Qxb8 Qc6 45. Qb2 Qe4+ 46. Kd2 Qg2+ 47. Kc1 Qf1 48. Kd1 Qd3+ 49. Qd2 Qc4 50. Qe2 Qa4+ 51. Qc2 Qc4 52. Kd2 Qf1 53. Qd3 Qh1 54. Qe2 Qe4 55. Qh2 Qb7 56. Ke2 Qb2+ 57. Bd2 Qb5+ 58. Kf2 Kg6 59. Qg2+ Kf7 60. AFTER 39. Qd1 Qf3 Bh4+ 61. Kg2 Qd3 62. Qh5+ Kf8 63. Qd1 Kg7 64. Qg1 Qxd2+ 65. Kh3+ 39. ... Nd4! A winning simplification that needs a lot of calculation since Black releases the blockade. 31. ... Qf7 40. Re3 After a tremendous oversight, Sethuraman The line 40. Nxd4 Qxd4 41. Qxd4 (41. Qe2 loses the thread. Re4 or 41. Qc2 Rxh4 wins since 42. Qxg6 The Indian grandmaster must have thought Qd1 mate.) 41. ... Rxd4 is trivial for Black. 31. ... Ra3 was simply winning the queen because retreating to d1 falls victim to 32. ... Qc4+ 33. 40 ... Nxf3+ 41. gxf3 Bxc4 dxc4 mate, only to realize he overlooked The best chance. White seeks to throw his that 32. Rb2!! Rxb3 33. Rxg2+ Kh7 (Playing e-pawn down the board. So had of course for a win is really playing for a loss 33. ... Kf7 planned for this. 34. Reg8 Bf8 35. Rh8! and suddenly the tides 65. ... Kf8 41. ... Qf5 42. e6 have completely turned, leaving White with The move 65. ... Bg5!! belongs in endgame the superior position.) 34. Rh2+ Kg7 35. Rg2+ studies. The queen is forced to leave g1, and is a draw. However, 31. ... Rh2 is a funny waiting White is forced to spend a critical move wins the game, because Rb2 will no longer retreating the queen, so the king is unable to threaten to capture a rook on g2 with check! infiltrate. 66. Qxg5+ Kf7 67. Qg3 Qxc3 68. Kh4 Amazing what a difference a square makes. Qc1 with a draw. 32. Qd1 Nc4 33. Rd8 66. Kxh4 Qxc3 67. Kh5 A great move to play in your opponent’s As opposed to the variation on move 65, the . Black is still winning, but the white king is too fast here. most direct route requires sacrifices that aren’t the easiest to find in time trouble. 67. ... Qc6 68. Kh6 Qf3 69. Qg7+ Ke8 70. Qe5 Kd7 71. Kg7 Qg4+ 72. Kf8 Qh4 73. 33. ... Be7 Qg7+ Kd6 74. Ke8 Qh5+ 75. Qf7, Black 42. ... Rxh4 Missing 33. ... Nxe3! 34. Kxe3 Bxf4+! 35. resigned. Kxf4 Rg4+ and finally the king is ensnared. 36. The move 42. ... Qh3!! also works since Ke5 (36. Kf3 Qh5 leads to mate in eight; 36. You can’t have a Hollywood ending to a chess White must trade into a losing rook-and-pawn

30 January 2017 | Chess Life Cover Story / 2016 Olympiad

The American contingent is all smiles just after the medal ceremonies. Left to right: GM (women’s team captain), GM , IM Nazi Paikidze-Barnes, GM Hikaru Nakamura, GM Samuel Shankland, GM Fabiano Caruana, IM John Donaldson (Open team captain), GM Wesley So, WGM Katerina Nemcova, GM Robert Hess (Women’s team coach), WGM Sabina Foisor, GM , GM (Open team coach). Not pictured: IM . ending, otherwise ... 43. e7 Rxh4 44. e8=Q+ later. Caruana’s teammates took care of things Donaldson’s idea to ensure continued interna- Kh7 and White’s extra queen won’t save him: on both days with 3-1 and 2½-1½ wins, the tional success was to borrow from the “other 45. Qxg6+ Kxg6 46. Qd3+ Kh6. latter’s slim margin stemming from Nakamura’s USCF”—the United States Cycling Federation. 43. Re4 surprise loss to a low 2600. However, the two He said players like Robson and Shankland need match wins set up the surprise final-round date to play more, and that means a footing on One last trick. 43. e7 Qh3 transposes to the with Canada. European soil. Donaldson said top American line above. This year one big question leading up to the junior cyclists have an apartment in for 43. ... Rxe4 Olympiad was how well the massive rating training, and stash young talents there to be increase might offset the sometimes contentious closer to top-level events. Correctly avoiding 43. ... dxe4? 44. Qd8+ Kh7 rivalry the top three players have with each Returning to U.S. chess history, you have to 45. Qxh4+ Kg8 46. Qd8+ and White has “only” other. Halfway through the event, Caruana said, go back nearly 40 more years prior to the 1976 a draw, but fantastically cannot play for a win “I don't know if we’re buddies but we’re getting winning team when the U.S. won its previous since 46. ... Kh7 47. e7?? Qg5+ wins for Black! along pretty well.” Team Coach GM Alex gold (they won four straight in the 1930s). Ever 48.Kf1 exf3 49. e8=Q Qc1+ 50. Qe1 Qc4+ 51. Lenderman was there to “help if I am needed” the student of history, Donaldson pointed out Kg1 Qg4+ This game suggests one queen is as he put it. Donaldson said So’s daily puzzles that this year’s win was the first time the U.S. more useful than two! he gave his teammates helped in their bonding. had won gold with the Soviets or Russians 44. fxe4 Qxe4 45. Qd2 Qxe6 46. Qa5 They weren’t often seen eating meals together, present (the Soviet Union’s first Olympiad was Qg4+ 47. Kf1 b5 48. Qc7 g5 49. Qb8+ but neither was there any sign of team rancor. 1952; they won that one and then 11 more in Kh7 50. Qd6 b4, White resigned. “Not like we are all touchy-feely and hold a row, a streak only interrupted by that boy - hands,” So said. “We are professionals who cotted 1976 event). Everything was primed for the second- know what we have to do to get the job done Two weeks after leaving Baku, super-GMs straight Olympiad win over Russia (the team and just go do it as well as we can. [It was] Caruana, Nakamura and So reunited as individ - won 2½-1½ in 2012), but Robson failed to trade great to work with people like that. I like that uals, playing an open event in Isle of Man. In fact queens in an equal ending and was outplayed kind of team. there were a total of four American gold medalists by GM . The 2-2 tie looked “We have never been enemies or anything competing. But since Robson had returned to to be costly, and left no room for anything less like that. We get along just fine ... Winning gold college classes while Shankland instead played than three match wins in the final three rounds. is amazing for all of us and we did it together, the Millionaire Open, who could it be? After that, the U.S. won both rounds nine which is something I guess we will never forget.” Retired librarian GM James Tarjan, 64 years () and 10 () thanks to lower- Nakamura didn't want to call his team by young and a member of the winning 1976 team, board strength. Caruana drew World Champi - the same moniker, but did allow that “if we had flown to the Irish Sea to compete, thus on GM Magnus Carlsen, then also held against keep playing at the same level, I think it’s completing the historical American Olympiad a nearly-unstoppable GM Baduur Jobava a day possible (to win several more).” winner’s circle.

www.uschess.org 31 Cover Story / 2016 Olympiad

Left to right: WGM Katerina Nemcova, IM Nazi Paikidze-Barnes, GM Yasser Seirawan, WGM Sabina Foisor, IM Anna Zatonskih, GM Irina Krush: Contenders until the final round. Olympiad, Part II: AMERICAN WOMEN BEAT RUSSIA BUT MISS MEDALS

WHILE THE FIVE MEMBERS OF THE U.S. that doesn’t tell the entire story. You can fight three rounds as Foisor joined the team after the women’s team would surely prefer this headline for the medals and fall to a placement, or you tournament’s start. After she got in the lineup, reversed, their play in Baku left many memora - can underperform and beat weaker teams late Foisor provided a jolt by winning the next two ble mo ments. to find yourself in the same final standing. The days, over and , No members left with medals, but they Americans were in the former camp. allowing Nemcova to recover (she would not contended until the final round, despite not Consider: After eight rounds they were tied suffer any more losses and went on to outperform bringing the strongest possible team. GM Irina for first with top-seeded China with seven wins her rating by more than any of her teammates). Krush reprised her role on board one, while and one loss. They had already gone through Overall, Nemcova and Foisor would collectively newcomer and current national champion IM Ukraine (their lone loss) and Russia (a heart- score 8/11 playing board four. Nazi Paikidze-Barnes was slotted next to her. stopping win; more on that later). By tourna - The team only won 2½-1½ in rounds four The largely-inactive IM Anna Zatonskih, ment’s end, they also played China and India, and five, which would ultimately injure their although technically the highest-rated, played meaning their schedule included four of the tiebreaks, but then they crushed in board three for the first time since 2004. top five teams. By comparison, their male round six, 3½-½. The next day, Paikidze-Barnes That would usually leave WGM Tatev counterparts only had to play two of the top again played hero, this time by beating Sabina’s Abrahamyan to round out the top four, but eight teams! mother, IM Cristina-Adela Foisor! That resulted nearly every member of the worldwide The women began mostly to form, winning in the team’s 2½-1½ victory, and a pizza party, Armenian diaspora skipped the trip due to the first round 4-0 over and squeez - as was team captain GM Yasser Seirawan’s rising tensions with host Azerbaijan. Instead, ing by Norway in the second thanks to prom ise. Sabina did not play that round but it WGM Katerina Nemcova played board four Paikidze-Barnes’ win. As underdogs they almost wasn’t related to the familial ties coach GM for the second Olympiad in a row, and WGM tied Ukraine’s four grandmasters a day later, but Robert Hess said. Sabina Foisor served as the reserve player. Nemcova was out played by former Women’s The pizza party had to be delayed. The The squad started sixth and ended sixth, but World Champion GM . pairings were released at night, and instead of as any experienced Olympiad player can attest, The top four women all had to play the first celebrating, there was work to do. Round eight’s

32 January 2017 | Chess Life Cover Story / 2016 Olympiad matchup came across the screen: Russia, the It is hard to retreat when you’re aiming to same assignment the American men had the attack, but 19. ... Bd6 was Girya’s best hope. next day. White is still a bit better, but progress is far Hess was continuously up late and arising from clear. 20. g3 With the idea of shutting early to prepare his team, choosing to rest down counterplay with Bh4 should secure an during the games themselves. It worked, sort edge. of. His pre-match training with Nemcova got 20. Nxh2 Rxh2 21. f3 her the exact line they expected, but a strong and unexpected double-pawn sacrifice meant With the king safe, the rest of the game is the American was in danger of getting mated easy. out of the opening. 21. ... Be6 22. Bf4 While Hess chastised himself for not expect - ing this, Nemcova saved her team and her coach This second pawn sacrifice is necessary to by surviving and taking the first point. continue the attack. 13. exf6 Bd6 14. Re1 Kf7 CARO-KANN, ADVANCE VARIATION (B12) And I breathed a huge sigh of relief, since WGM Katerina Nemcova (FIDE 2365, now Katerina has the clear upper hand. This USA) move is pretty natural because it connects the WGM (FIDE 2452, RUS) rooks and keeps the queen spying on h2. 42nd World Chess Olympiad, Women, However, 14. ... Ndf8! clearing the way to the 2016 (8), Baku, Azerbaijan, 09.10.2016 h7-square was necessary here. But Girya would Notes by GM Robert Hess. have had to be prepared for this variation (no way she could have anticipated it considering 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nd2 e6 5. Katerina does not venture into these lines) or A pretty move, making use of the fact that Nb3 Ne7 6. Be2 Nd7 7. Nf3 h6 8. 0-0 Qc7 be a tactical wizard. Fortunately for Team USA, the pawn on e5 is pinned to the bishop behind 9. Bd2 g5 10. h4 with limited time she could not come up with it. Katerina played crisp chess, so there is little this solution. 15. Ne5 (15. Bd3 Qh7 16. Kf1 need for more commentary. Bg4 is just pleasant for the attacking side, since 22. ... Rh5 23. Bxe5 Qb6 24. Kf2 Re8 25. the white king will soon find itself in the center Rh1 Reh8 26. Rxh5 Rxh5 27. Re1 Qd8 28. of the board.) 15. ... Bxe5 16. dxe5 Qh7 (16. ... Nc5 Nxc5 29. dxc5 Qg8 30. Bd4 Qc8 31. Qxe5? 17. Bh5) 17. f3 (17. f4 Qh2+ 18. Kf2 Qf4 Qd7 32. Re5 Rxe5 33. Qxe5 Bf5 34. Nxf4 19. Bxf4 Qxf4+ 20. Bf3 Nd7 with an attack c3 Bg6 35. g4 Bd3 36. Kg3 Bg6 37. f4, being ample compensation considering the Black resigned. sacrificed pawn should also be regained, perhaps with interest.) 17. ... Qh2+ 18. Kf2 Rh3! 19. Rg1 Qg3+ 20. Kf1 Rh2 21. Be3 Rxg2 22. Rxg2 Zatonskih drew WGM Natalija Pogonina Bh3 23. Bf2 Qxg2+ 24. Ke1 Nd7 25. Qd4 Ndxe5 but Paikidze-Barnes suffered against GM is still complicated for sure, but Black is dictating and lost without ever getting This pawn sacrifice had actually been played the action now. A very difficult sequence to in the game. Everything then turned to the against Girya’s teammate Valentina Gunina. find, particularly because at the start of the team’s most-tenured player, Krush, who played Objectively, with totally accurate play, Black variation you have to visualize your queen all 11 rounds in Baku and by tournament’s end can escape and even claim an advantage. But jumping through your bishop and not just had logged her 99th Olympiad game. after a sleepless night trying to find an opening heading to h2 but to g3, all after ignoring the Krush faced former Women’s World Cham - that might give Girya some trouble, I stumbled pawn that lands on e5. pion GM , but this was a upon a variation that is immensely complicated. good place to be. The American was 2-0 lifetime Admittedly, I didn’t have ample time to look 15. Bd3 Bg4 16. Bxg6+ against her in classical chess; both wins came at this as thoroughly as I wanted to, and most When up two pawns and your opponent’s in past USA-Russia clashes. engines actually don’t initially see the deeper king remains under fire, simplifying is not the Down a pawn for about 30 moves, it looked issues in the position. worst of ideas. like the U.S. could only cling to drawing hopes. Indeed, Krush even claimed a repetition in the 10. ... Ng6 16. ... Kxg6 17. Qd3+ Kf7 middlegame, but Kosteniuk didn’t agree and The variation I was hop ing for was 10. ... g4 The continuation 17. ... Bf5 18. Qe3 Nxf6 the arbiters correctly denied the claim. Lucky 11. Ne1. Black has really committed on the 19. Nh4+ Rxh4 20. Bxh4 does not provide Girya for the U.S., upon resuming Kosteniuk still kingside, and White can play on both sides of enough compensation for the lost material. couldn’t break Krush’s stubbornness in defense the board. The line 10. ... Bg7 11. hxg5 hxg5 and over-pressed. 12. Nxg5 f6 looks like it could spell trouble for 18. Qe3 Bh2+ Krush said as the other games finished, she White, whose kingside is very airy. Yet tactically sensed the importance of her game, but was this fails: 13. Bh5+ Kf8 14. exf6 Nxf6 15. Nc5! The line 18. ... Rag8 19. Ne5+ Bxe5 20. dxe5 able to out the gathering crowd, save one An important move that forces the black queen is pretty ugly, because two pawns are still two figure. away from mating threats on h2, resulting in a pawns. White can easily unravel with f2-f4, “The only person I was ever aware of in this won position for White. Kf2, and so on. match was Russian women’s captain GM Sergei 11. hxg5 hxg5 12. Bxg5 f6! 19. Kf1 e5 Rublevsky,” Krush said. “He was always back

www.uschess.org 33 Cover Story / 2016 Olympiad and forth, back and forth. He’s always in front slaught. of me ... in my field of vision. 13. Nb5 “I don’t play worse under pressure,” Krush said. “I feel psychologically ready to play big This is forever under white control. games when it matters.” 13. ... Qc6 14. bxa5 Bc5+ 15. Bxc5 Ndxc5 The lifetime score ran to 3-0 and the 16. Na7! Americans rose to the top of the tournament tables.

SICILIAN DEFENSE, KAN VARIATION (B42) GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (FIDE 2538, RUS) 22. Qe3 Rc7? GM Irina Krush (FIDE 2444, USA) 42nd World Chess Olympiad, Women, Much better was 22. ... Ra8. Black still con - 2016 (8), Baku, Azerbaijan, 09.10.2016 trols most of the vital squares, and after 23. Notes by GM Robert Hess. Na3 Black can safely play 23. ... 0-0 with only a slight disadvantage. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 23. Na3 Qa5 24. Nb5 Rc8 25. Nd4 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. 0-0 Qc7 7. Qe2 d6 8. a4 16. ... Qc7 Not active enough! 25. Nd6+ Nxd6 26. exd6 The main line here is 8. c4, taking away the The knight can’t be captured, for 16. ... Rxa7?? must have been tempting. White receives a possibility of both b5 and d5. 17. Bb5 wins the queen and the game. Necessary passed pawn and this transition makes her 8. ... b6 9. f4 Nbd7 10. b4! was 16. ... Qb7, because 17. axb6 no longer opponent’s life difficult. 26. ... Nxd3 27. cxd3 attacks the queen. The next note explains the 0-0 28. Rfc1 Imagine if the pawn were on e5 difference. instead of d6; the position would be more 17. axb6? comfortable for the defending side. That second passed pawn is a real nuisance, though even The move order may not seem to matter, here the game is not yet over; 25. Bxe4 Nxe4 but it was important here. Most accurate is 17. 26. Qa3 was probably the best option. Black’s Nxc8 Rxc8 18. Bxe4! and this inclusion would king is stuck in the center and f4-f5 threatens have netted Kosteniuk a second pawn. 18. ... to rip open the position. Nxe4 (18. ... dxe4 19. Nc3 0-0 20. Nb5 with the 25. ... 0-0 26. Bb5 Ra8 27. Rf3 knight hopping to d6, the black position is hopeless.) 19. Qb5+ Qc6 20. axb6 It would be a Perhaps Kosteniuk was concerned about miracle to survive such a position, down two Krush offering a queen trade with ... Qc3, but passed pawns. the rook feels misplaced here. A better option A novelty in a rare position, this advance was 27. Rfe1 with ideas to play both c2-c4 and gives Kosteniuk a tremendous space advantage. 17. ... Qxb6 18. Nxc8 Rxc8 f4-f5. A really nice idea, particularly in a team event Upon seeing this position, I was actually where psychological pressure is already high. 27. ... Qb4 28. Bc6 Ra6 quite relieved. As coach, I felt the worst for 10. ... d5?! Irina was over. Although Kosteniuk has an Removing the rook from back rank defense I refrain from giving this a question mark, advantage here, it is not a devastating one. The seems risky, though the decision to keep the because it is a natural reaction given that disconnected queenside pawns can become rook in front of the passed pawn is quite Kosteniuk has allowed this pawn thrust. The targets and it is often hard to get them going. understandable. other central pawn push 10. ... e5 is more to Practically speaking, there are good chances to 29. f5 Rc8 30. Bb5 Raa8 31. c3 the point. White has yet to develop her hold such a position. The move 31. Rd1! was a much better way queenside, so an attack is not imminent. Black 19. Bb5+ Nd7+ to prevent queen trades. should still be a bit worse, but the game contin- uation was much more prob lematic. It’s not every day that you can block a check 31. ... Qb2 32. Raf1 Qd2 33. fxe6 fxe6 34. with a check of your own. This response is Nc6 Rc7 11. e5 Ne4 much better than 19. ... Ke7 in a team event This is a thematic pawn sacrifice given the (and likely objectively as well). There is no structure, but here Kosteniuk wisely ignores it. reason to invite an attack on the king. 12. Ba3 20. Kh1 Qa7 21. Bd3 Ndc5

The continuation 12. Bxe4 dxe4 13. Qxe4 (See diagram top of next column) Bb7 14. Qe1 Qc4 15. c3 Bxb4! is simply good for Black. The line 21. ... 0-0 22. Bxe4 dxe4 23. Qxe4 was what I was anticipating. White is up two 12. ... a5 full pawns, but they are easy to pressure. Too slow is 12. ... Bb7, since 13. c4 under - Moreover, the black pieces are wonderfully mines the knight on e4 and initiates an on - coordinated.

34 January 2017 | Chess Life Cover Story / 2016 Olympiad

Krush wisely keeps the tension. loses on the spot to 44. Rxf8+ Kxf8 [44. ... Kh7 Releasing the tension with 34. ... Qxe3 35. 45. Qxd2 Nxd2 46. cxd5 is crushing as well.] US Chess gratefully thanks Rxe3 Rc7 36. Nd4, there was no reason to 45. Qb8+ Ke7 46. Qe8 mate) 44. Qxd2 Nxd2 the Chess Club and Scholastic simplify into this position that clearly favors 45. Rxc8 Rxc8 46. Rf2 Nxc4 47. Bb5 Ne4 48. Center of Saint Louis and White. Rc2 Ne3 49. Rxc8 Nf2+ 50. Kg1 Nh3+ 51. Kh1 Nf2+ with repetition. the Foundation 35. Qd4 h6 36. Qb4 Qg5 for sponsoring our 2016 U.S. 43. ... Nxd2 44. cxd5 Nxf3 45. Rxf3 exd5 The move 36. ... Rb7 tying up all of White’s 46. Bxd5+ Kh7 Olympiad teams. pieces was a better decision. 37. a5 Kh7 curious - ly is harder to play for White than it is for Two pawns and a bishop often offsets the cost Black. 38. Nd4 Qa2 scoops up the a5-pawn, of a rook. But here, with the white pawns existing together flaw lessly. resulting in a Black advantage. as potential targets for the black rooks, Krush 61. ... Rb4 62. Bg6 Nd5 63. Bf5 claims an edge. A huge relief for her nervous 37. g3 Qd2 38. Nd4 Qg5 39. Nc6 teammates and coach watching the game. No better is 63. f5 Ne7 spells trouble. The The surprising 39. Rf8+!! is the move both 47. Rf4 pawn is still lost. players missed in immense time trouble. After 63. ... Nxf4 recovering from the shock, I’m sure Irina would Not best. This move is too passive, its only have recognized that life could be worse. 39. real purpose being that it protects the knight This is a technical win for Krush, whose task ... Rxf8 40. Rxf8+ Kh7 (40. ... Kxf8?? 41. Nxe6+ on d4. is made much easier by a Kosteniuk blunder. wins the queen, since the knight is pinned.) Necessary here was 47. e6. White’s drawing 64. Ng4 Ne2+ 65. Kh4 Nd4 66. Be4 Ne6 41. Qa5 and now 41. ... Nxg3+ 42. hxg3 Qxg3 chances increase as the pawn threatens to queen. 67. Bg2? 43. Ne2 Qxe5 should provide excellent chances 47. ... Rd8 48. Rf7 Nxe6 49. Nxe6 Rc1+ 50. Kg2 to hold, con sid ering the white kingside has Rxd5 51. Rxg7+ Kh8 52. Ra7 promises an easy A move like 67. Bf3 only prolongs the suf - been laid to waste. draw. fering, but should not save the game. 67. ... Ng5 68. Bg2 Rc4 69. Bf1 Rf4 70. Bg2 Ne4 White 39. ... Qd2 40. Nd4 Qg5 47. ... Rd7 48. Bc4 g5! runs out of resources, and ... Kg6 is coming in There was some controversy about whether Now Kosteniuk is forced to trade rooks in the near future. Capturing on e4 merely trades or not a three-time repetition had appeared on an unfavorable manner. into a lost rook versus knight ending. the board. Krush was the one trying to make 49. e6 gxf4 50. exd7 Nxd7 51. Bd3+ Kh8 67. ... h5!, White resigned. the claim, but fortunately for Team USA it was 52. Bf5 Rc1+ 53. Kg2 Nc5 54. gxf4 rightly rejected. The position has only occurred 68. Kxh5 runs right into 68. ... Nf4+, forking twice! The tricky 54. Ne2 does not pick up the pawn bishop and king. And with that, USA took down on f4 for free because 54. ... f3+! 55. Kxf3 Rf1+ Russia! 41. Bc6 56. Kg4 Rf2 wins h2. Again missing Rf8+, this move hands Krush 54. ... Nxa4 “I'm very happy, close to ecstatic,” Krush said the advantage. With the match score at 1½-1½ after the game. Along with an emotional release In a normal game, White should have very and likely reflecting on the advantages she came a much-needed physical one. The long good chances to survive this ending. But with squandered, Kosteniuk opted to play on. But game and continuous time pressure kept her pressure and time trouble mounting, Kosteniuk objective reasoning would have told her that from using the bathroom at the conclusion. collapsed. she should stop the clocks and agree to a draw, Thanks to FIDE’s anti-cheating testing, she had both individually and for her team. 55. Kg3 Nc5 56. Ne6 Nd7 57. Nd4 Nf6 58. to wait an additional several minutes afterward Nf3 Rc3 59. h3 Kg7 while her belongings were searched and her 41. ... Rac8 42. c4 Qd2! shoes X-rayed. White is quickly running out of moves. The That win would be the high water mark for The black queen has been yo-yoing from g5 f4-pawn is falling. to d2, and has finally forced Kosteniuk into a the team, as three draws the next day against trade. Black is no worse. 60. Bb1 Rc4 China were undone by Paikidze-Barnes’ second loss in a row. The final undoing for the medals 43. Qxd2 came in round 10, when they needed a big win over to help their standing and their tiebreaks, but instead could only muster a drawn match. That placed them out of the medals in most realistic final-round scenarios. Paikidze-Barnes recovered in round 11 to win, helping them draw their match with India. A win would have landed the team in a three- way tie for second, but it would only have been a moral victory. They still would have finished fourth and missed the medals by a healthy margin due to their poor tiebreaks. 61. Ne5 The Chinese women went on to also get 20 43. Rf8+ again was available. 43. ... Kh7 is The line 61. f5 Rb4 62. Bd3 Nh5+ 63. Kf2 match points. Unlike the American men, they the only move, and it can lead to a (comical, Kf6 saves the pawn for the moment, but not didn’t need tiebreaks and won by a full three but obviously unforced) draw after (43. ... Rxf8?? for long. The rook and knight coordinate points over and Ukraine.

www.uschess.org 35 Grand Prix Events / Millionaire Chess 3

MILLIONAIRE’S LAST STAND?

With their goal of changing the model of large open tournament chess, the three Millionaire Chess events will be remembered as boldly ambitious attempts to change chess for the better.

By GM MAURICE ASHLEY | Photos by DAVID LLADA

n a recent plane ride from St. Louis series, we were filled with a great sense of hope was held from October 6-10 at Harrah’s Resort to New York, the woman sitting next and anticipation. It had been my dream for and Casino in Atlantic City not far from the Oto me, after we had chatted for several over a dozen years to stage a million-dollar famous boardwalk snaking alongside the Jersey minutes, asked to read my palm. As one who chess tournament, one that could help to create shore. The prize fund had been reduced to a is easily intrigued by just about anything novel a paradigm shift from chess as a quaint hobby “mere” $510,000 ($306K guaranteed), and, and quirky, I naturally obliged. She began by to a mainstream and lucrative sport. Given the while that was still more than any other Open telling me that she would have guessed that relentless online and scholastic boom, the event in the world, it felt a bit like we were first love would not last for me (I had mentioned ongoing miracle in St. Louis, and the presence downsizing from the mansion by the lake to a in passing that I was divorced), that I was very of a young and charismatic world-number-one, two-bedroom condo with a commute to the intelligent (I had told her I was a chess player), it seemed that the heavens were aligning for city. Thankfully, we were still able to keep and that I was open and prone to quickly just such an idea to come to fruition. many of the great features from the first two divulging personal details (next time I will have If only we had spoken to the lady on the editions: a delicious breakfast welcomed the to keep my mouth shut and only ask questions). plane. After two spectacular affairs playing out players on day one; clocks and sets were After she had told me that I was flexible, an under the lights of glitzy Las Vegas with over universally provided in every section, and inveterate seeker and that I would likely live a two million dollars paid out in prize money, security walk-throughs protected the integrity long life, I decided it was time to ask for my our company had to admit the hard truth that of the proceedings. However, a few things had hand back. The last thing I want to hear is what any future event would likely suffer a huge to be pared off, most critically the superb I want to hear. Plus, I’d much rather be surprised financial loss as well. While 550 players from broadcast crew from prior years, a development by a future filled with uncertainty than to over 50 countries had eagerly embraced the idea that was even more deflating given that the already know what’s waiting behind door and willingly paid a thousand dollars in entry core idea of the event was to attract sponsorship number 3. Like meeting a new love interest fees (and sometimes more) to be a part of the and potential interest from the major television for the first time, life is often most stimulating experience, it was not nearly enough to cover networks. Imagine prom night with no pictures. when one sits in breathless hope and antici- the prize fund nor the many expenses associated The 401 players who did play were hosted pation of what is going to happen next. with putting on a top-notch event. If we wanted in a magnificently designed conference center, When my business partner Amy Lee and I to continue, sacrifices had to be made. recently constructed, that could easily have held first launched the Millionaire Chess (MC) Open It was under this cold harsh reality that MC3 three times the number of participants. While

36 January 2017 | Chess Life GM Darius “Daro” Swiercz of Poland, now attending Saint Louis University, receiving his $30,000 winner’s check from GM Maurice Ashley. Daro won the 2011 World Junior Championship, the only player ever from Poland to do so. the elite players from previous years had chosen when it comes to trading: Either they are forced, to grab guaranteed appearance money elsewhere, favorable, or ... “fuhgeddaboudit”! The problem there were plenty of strong contenders in the with the trade here is that only Black stands to Open section, both newbies and event veterans, gain from the open lines. More consistent would who were hungry to lay claim to the title and have been 20. Na3. take home the $30,000 first place prize. One of 20. ... Bxf5 21. Na3 g5! 22. Ne6 Nxe6 23. those fresh faces was England’s , dxe6 whose fourth-round battle against super- tactician GM suddenly turned one sided after a quick visit to the old Russian school of Exchange sacrifices.

MODERN BENONI (A65) The first thematic pawn break goes to White. GM Alexander Shabalov (2667) Black is wise not to capture as 18. ... cxb4 19. GM Gawain C.B. Jones (1625*) Na4! Bxa4 20. Rxc7 and White is already Millionaire Chess 3 (4), Atlantic City, New wreaking havoc. Jersey, 10.07.2016 18. ... c4 19. Nb1 f5! 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 0-0 5. And now it’s Black’s turn to lash out with a Nge2 d6 6. f3 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Bg5 h6 9. key pawn break. In truth, waiting around for Be3 exd5 10. cxd5 a6 11. a4 Nbd7 12. Qd2 White in the Benoni is like watching a storm 23. … d5!! Ne8 13. Nf4 Ne5 14. Be2 Nc7 15. 0-0 Bd7 build up over the horizon. You had better do 16. a5 Qe8 17. Rac1 Kh7 18. b4! Black is playing in true sacrificial style, not something soon before the heavens break open. allowing White to get any positional plus to *2012 British Champion GM Gawain Jones had not played 20. exf5?! speak of, even at the cost of material. a US Chess rated event since 1997, which is the reason for the low rating. At press time, his FIDE rating is 2647. I often warn my students about the 3 F’s 24. Bc5

www.uschess.org 37 Grand Prix Events / Millionaire Chess 3

It’s hard for Shabba to accept pawns he KING’S INDIAN DEFENSE, himself loves to sacrifice! After 24. Qxd5 Nd3 CLASSICAL MAIN LINE (E97) 25. Bxd3 cxd3, Black has maximal piece place - GM Jeffery Xiong (2749) ment while White’s queen, dark-squared bish - IM Kaiqi Yang (2502) op, and knight are all hanging loosely in the Millionaire Chess 3 (6), Atlantic City, New wind. Jersey, 10.08.2016 24. ... Qxe6! 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 0-0 6. Be2 e5 7. 0-0 Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. A rude awakening for White. These kinds b4 Nh5 10. g3 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. Bf3 c6 13. of Exchange sacrifices, made famous by the Qb3 h6 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 fxe4 16. likes of Botvinnik and Petrosian, are so Nxe4 Nf5 17. Bb2 Qe7 18. b5 Qxe6 19. mundane to today’s top players that they are bxc6 bxc6 20. Nxf6+ Qxf6 21. Bxc6 Rab8 almost not worth mentioning. 30. ... Nxf4! 31. gxf4 Rxf4 32. Re2 22. Qa3 Kh7 23. Be4 Qd8 24. Rab1 Qc7 25. Qd3 Rb6 26. Ba3 25. Bxf8 Rxf8 26. Rfe1 Qf7 27. Kh1 Nd3 Losing in mundane fashion. The major 28. Bxd3 Bxd3 29. Re3 Bg6 question to answer is what to play after the With two killer B’s, two connected passed natural defensive move 32. Bg3? The best reply pawns, and an ugly knight sitting on a3, the is the simply astonishing and massively counter- game is all but over. Black finishes the game intuitive 32. ... Qd6!! (Walking directly into a off with little to no effort. , but threatening 33. ... Rxh4+, using a pin 30. Qe1 Qf4 31. Rd1 d4 32. Re7 c3 33. Qe6 himself. There is an additional threat of 33. ... c2 34. Nxc2 Bxc2 35. Qd7 Rg8 36. Rde1 Rxg3! 34. Kxg3 Rxd4+ picking off the queen.) d3 37. R1e3 Kh8 38. h3 Qd4 39. Rxg7 33. Re3 (No better are 33. Kh3 Rf3 wins; 33. Qxg7 40. Re7 Qxe7 41. Qxe7 d2, White Re5 Qxe5! using yet another pin.) 33. ... Rxh4+ resigned. 34. Kg2 Rhg4 when Black already has three pawns for the piece as well as a raging attack. A sample line might run 35. Qd3 Qd5+ 36. Kf2 Another new face was the Indian GM Keep an eye on this bishop! Baskaran Adhiban, who had helped his country’s (36. Kh2 Rh6+; 36. Kg1 h5) 36. ... Qa2+ 37. 26. ... Rf6 27. Bb4 Qb8 28. Ba5 Rb2 29. team finish in a strong fourth place (without Re2 Rf6+ 38. Ke1 (38. Kg2 Qd5+ 39. Kg1 Rf3) 38. ... Rxg3!. Bc7! Qb4 30. Bd8! Rf8 31. Ba5! Qb8 32. Anand!) at the recently concluded Olympiad Bc7! in Baku (see page 22 for more on the Olympiad. 32. ... Qe7!, White resigned. ~ed.). In this game, he taught his opponent a The bishop has made the last seven moves brutal lesson about the dangers that lay lurking in a row, completely harassing three of Black’s in seemingly very average looking positions: major pieces along the way. 32. ... Qb4 33. a3! Qd2 34. Rxb2 Qxb2 35. SLAV DEFENSE (D11) Bxd6 GM Aleksandr Shimanov (2716) Snack number 1. GM Baskaran Adhiban (2763) Millionaire Chess 3 (5), Atlantic City, New 35. ... Rf6 36. Bc5 Nd4 37. Bxa7 Jersey, 10.08.2016 Snack number 2. All the other white pieces 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 Bf5 4. Bg2 e6 5. are chanting “MVP!” c4 c6 6. 0-0 Nbd7 7. Nc3 dxc4 8. a4 a5 9. 37. ... Bf8 38. c5 Qe2 39. Qxe2 Nxe2+ 40. Nh4 Bg4 10. h3 Bh5 11. f4 Nd5 12. Nf3 Bg6 Kg2 Ra6 41. Bb6 Rxa3 42. c6 Rc3 43. c7 13. Nh4 Bh5 14. Nf3 Bb4 15. Qc2 f5 16. e4 With the killer threats of 33. ... Rxh4+ or Bd6 44. Ra1 Nd4 45. Ra7, Black resigned. Bxf3 17. Bxf3 Ne7 18. Qe2 Nb6 19. Be3 33. ... Rxf2+, White resigned since 33. Bg3 is 0-0 20. Bf2 Qd7 21. Bg2 Bxc3 22. bxc3 annihilated by 33. ... Qxh4+!. A piquant display fxe4 23. Bxe4 Nf5 24. Rfb1 Nd5 25. Bxf5 Another rising American star, 13-year-old Rxf5 26. Qxc4 Rh5 27. h4 Rf8 28. Re1 Rh6 of how tactics can explode from even the most IM Awonder Liang, showed off his innate 29. Rab1 sturdy looking setup. tactical skills in a dazzling display against GM Alejandro Ramirez. Better was the simple 29. Re5, but what could Also looking to make some noise was young be so wrong about a rook grabbing an open Jeffery Xiong, the current World Junior Cham - SICILIAN DEFENSE, file? pion and December Chess Life cover subject KAN VARIATION (B42) 29. ... Rg6 30. Kh2? whose recent play has placed him among the IM Awonder Liang (2577) top 100 on the planet (number 85 at press time). GM Alejandro Ramirez (2653) (see diagram top of next column) In this game, the future superstar in American Millionaire Chess 3 (6), Atlantic City, New Jersey, 10.08.2016 Incredibly, this move sends White over the chess danced his bishop around as though it edge. White’s position looks solid and active, were starring in a Pawn Mower puzzle, mesmerizing his opponent as it spritely gobbled 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 as both rooks seem well placed to pressure 5. Bd3 Qc7 6. 0-0 Bc5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Nc3 up two key pawns and the game. Black’s position. However, it’s Black’s rooks d6 9. a4 b6 10. f4 Nd7 11. Qe2 Ngf6 12. that are about to steal the limelight. Better was Kh1 Bb7 13. Bd2 h5 14. Rf3 g6 15. Raf1 30. h5 Rh6 31. Re5 when the game continues. (see game, top of next column) Ng4 16. Nd1 Bf6 17. Rg3 Bh4 18. Rh3 Bf6

38 January 2017 | Chess Life Grand Prix Events / Millionaire Chess 3

19. Rg3 Bh4 20. Rgf3 Bf6 21. h3 Bg7 22. , DEFENSE (C67) the tournament structure, unlike any other in Rg3 Ngf6 23. Bc3 h4 24. Rgf3 Nh5 25. GM Dariusz Swiercz (2709) chess, dictates that only the top four players Be1 e5 26. f5 Nf4?! GM Lazaro Bruzon Batista (2732) from every section move on to play for the big Millionaire Chess 3 (6), Atlantic City, New prizes on Millionaire Monday. Much like the Jersey, 10.08.2016 regular season in the major sports, the first phase of the event is primarily a qualification 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. 0-0 Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 stage to see who earns the right to play for the 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 h6 10. Rd1+ Ke8 11. title. While the formula for deciding the finalists Nc3 Ne7 12. Bf4 Ng6 13. Bh2 Bc5 14. Ne4 is admittedly a little cutthroat, it does promote Bb6 15. c4 Bf5 16. Ng3 Be6 17. Rac1 c5 fighting chess and deters short draws, the kind of development most fans want to see and broadcasters would demand if chess is to be showcased on a broader scale. The quick “grand - master draws” that have stained chess for decades make much less sense in this format. Black has kept White’s supposed Sicilian Of course, the pressure on the players was initiative completely under lock and key up to enormous. Two cases in point: Disaster struck this point, but this move is unnecessarily GM Adhiban in his round seven game against careless. Very solid was 26. ... g5. GM Gawain Jones when, in order to avoid a potential blitz playoff, he overplayed his hand 27. Rxf4! and managed to lose a position in which he Of course! This is White’s only chance to could have mailed in a draw at almost any time. Later that day, young GM Jeffery Xiong felt stay in the game before 27. ... gxf5 unleashes Ugh! Even if this was good, it looks bad! the beast on b7. the sting of the blitz playoff when he blundered 18. Nh5 Rg8 19. g4 Rd8 20. Rxd8+ Kxd8 an entire rook in one game and played poorly 27. ... exf4 28. Rxf4 g5 29. Rf1 Bf6 21. Nd2 Ne7 22. f4 g6 23. Nf6 Rh8 24. in others, knocking him from contention. For Nde4 Kc8 25. Kg2 Rd8 26. Bg1 Nc6 27. b3 both these players, it was a lesson in holding The move 29. ... Be5, planting the bishop Nb4 on a juicy central square, seems more logical. one’s nerve in the face of intense stress, an A threat? experience that will no doubt serve them well 30. Ne3 Kf8?! in future battles at the highest level. For all the 28. Rf1! With the king on f8, White will have clear incredible hard work we all put into improving compensation forever. Black should have once at our royal game, the task gets even more again opted for 30. ... Be5. difficult the higher you rise. The stage was then set for Millionaire 31. Ng4 Re8 32. Qe3 Rg8 33. Bb4 Be5 34. Monday. 36 players from across all the sections Nd4 Ke7 35. Nh6 Rh8 36. f6+!! survived the vicissitudes of the tournament to get to the day that features the biggest payout in Open chess. Before the tournament, I had joked that given the relatively few number of participants, I might jump in to test my luck. Of course, as the organizer of the event, that’s just foolish, but as a player, this kind of extreme My friend Willie Johnson used to say, proving ground is precisely the sort of do-or- “There’s no worse feeling than when you die adrenaline rush that we all live for. I can’t threaten something and your opponent just say how impressed I have been over the last ignores it.” three years to witness the mental toughness and fortitude the Millionaire Monday partic- 28. ... Nxa2 29. f5 gxf5 30. gxf5 Bd7 31. ipants have shown to simply get to that point, This clearance sacrifice has long been in the Nxd7 Kxd7 air, as the f5-square always prefers to house a especially the ones who survive the blitz No better is 32. ... Rxd7 33. f6! when 34. e6 knight. Black now gets hammered into submis - qualifiers the night before. They are champions is unstoppable. sion. who prove they have another gear when it 32. Nf6+ Kc6 33. e6 fxe6 34. fxe6 Kd6 35. matters most. 36. ... Nxf6 37. Qxg5 Rxh6 38. Nf5+ Kd8 Re1 Ke7 36. Nd5+ Ke8 37. Nf6+ Ke7 38. Of course, only one tournament champion 39. Nxh6 Qe7 40. Bxd6! Bxd6 41. Rxf6 Nd5+ Ke8 39. Bf2 Nb4 40. Bh4 Nxd5 41. Kc8 42. Nf5, Black resigned. can be named in the end, and that matchup Bxd8 Ba5 42. cxd5! Bxe1 43. Bxc7 Ke7 would feature England’s GM Gawain Jones and 44. Kf3 b5 45. Ke4 Bb4 46. Ke5!, Black Polish GM Dariusz Swiercz. Daro, as Dariusz In the next game, the endgame illustrates resigned. is affection ate ly known, was not likely one of one of the most effective practical principles most people’s pick to get to Millionaire Monday, in chess: When your opponent makes a threat, Though everyone jockeyed for position the but the new Saint Louis University star played look for a way to give him what he wants! first three days, it was Sunday when the first the event with incredible tenacity throughout, (see game, top of next column) high moments of crisis erupted. That’s because surviving the blitz qualifiers to make it to the

www.uschess.org 39 Grand Prix Events / Millionaire Chess 3

At A Glance Millionaire Chess 3

Date: October 6-10, 2016 | Location: Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey | 413 players, 6 sections | Top Finishers: Open, Open 1st: Darius Swiercz ($30,000); Open 2nd: Gawain C.B. Jones ($15,000); Open 3rd: Jianchao Zhou ($8,400); Open 4th: Emilio Cordova ($5,400); 2400-2549 1st: Ioan-Cristian Chirila ($12,000); 2400-2549 2nd: Oliver Barbosa ($6,000); 2400-2549 3rd: Akshat Chandra ($3,600); 2400-2549 4th: Awonder Liang ($1,800); U2400 1st: Igor Sorkin ($12,000); U2400 2nd: Alvaro Valdes Escobar ($6,000); U2400 3rd: Uriel Capo Vidal ($3,600); U2400 4th: Daniel Anwuli ($1,800); 5th-9th: Lazaro Bruzon Batista, Rauf Mamedov, Jeffery Xiong, , ($1,740); 10th-12th: Samuel L. Shankland, Alexander Stripunsky, Magesh Chandran Panchanathan ($600); U2550, 5th: Eugene Perelshteyn ($700); 13th- 14th: Aman Hambleton, Alexander Kaliksteyn ($700); 15th-20th: Bonelli, Aleksandr Shimanov, , Alejandro Ramirez, Kayden W. Troff, Ashwin Jayaram ($600); U2400, 5th: Kaiqi Yang ($540)); 21st-22nd: Raven M. Sturt, Levy Rozman ($540); 23rd-35th: Baskaran Adhiban, Conrad Holt, Mark Paragua, Pablo Salinas Herrera, Alexander Fishbein, Cristhian Barros Rivadeneira, Colomban Vitoux, Yoav Lederer, Kyron W. Griffith, Rahul Srivatshav Peddi, Rico Salimbagat, Zhuo Ren Lim, Pablo Della Morte ($460); 36th-40th: Andrey Gorovets, Alexander Ivanov, Denes Boros, Joshua Daniel Ruiz Castillo, Sanjay Ghatti ($360); U2200, 1st U2200: Mark Robledo ($12,000); 2nd U2200: Rodrigo Hurtado Bahamonde ($6,000); 3rd U2200: Soram Rahul Singh ($3,600); 4th U2200: Vladimir Galkin ($1,800); 5th-9th: Olu waseun Bisiriyu-Salam, Pratik Mulay, Glenn Umstead, David Richey Hauge, Sophie Morris-Suzuki ($732); 10th- 14th: Alejandro F. Botta, Ernesto L. Malazarte,Paul Y. Iinuma, Yanjinlkham Bayarsaikhan, Jonah Anthony Romero ($360); 15th-24th: Naphtali Smith, Ramon Manon-Og, Rotimi Dasaolu, Lawrence White, Ramez Amin, Aderemi Adekola, Sheng Chan, Mohammed Dilshad, Frank Johnson, Nicola Mircov GM Ioan-Cristian Chirila took first place and $12,000 in the 2400-2549 section. For more details about the Millionaire Chess Open, see       . ($336); 25th-39th: Brian D. Salomon, Nabil Feliachi, Juan Tica, Aaron Nicely, Jones M. Murphy, Jonathan J. Pagan, Chris Brooks, Haotian Cosmo Zheng, Vincent Tsay, Anita Stangl, Jiarong Teng, Lisandro Geraldo, Yaofeng Dong, Pedro M. Perdomo, Elchonon Daitchman ($300); 40th-49th: Libardo Rueda, Brett Kildahl, Mauricio Camejo, Kenneth Odeh, Juan Luis Obregon, Winston Ni, Attila Fabian, Daaim Shabazz, Katarzyna Jedrocha, Yingzhou Mao ($30); U2000, 1st U2000: Andrew Larson ($12,000); 2nd U2000: Jagpreet Singh; 3rd U2000: Wee Teh ($3,600); 4th U2000: Gordon McNeill ($1,800); 5th-7th: Liran Zhou, Luc Francois, Uranchimeg Nyamdorj ($940); 8th-12th: Vaughan Heussenstamm, Alexis Zamora, Fred Williams, Vincent G. Waters, Scott Zrinski ($384); 13th-20th: Jasmin Zulic, Serge Adelson, Paul L. King, Aigboje Aregbeyen, Brian Liou, Nicholas Michael Katz, Madhavan Narkeeran, Ori Yaniv ($360); 21st-36th: Kenneth Fernandez, Saket Kumar, Paul Joseph, Aman Chahal, Michael Bulychev-Okser, Glenn M. Buyo, Brian Glover, Teodoro B. Porlares, Matthew Kubelle, Manoj Kumar, Claire Cao, Alexander Baez, Anthony Asseviro, Neryk Davydov, Steve Dagonia, Runar Isleifsson ($300); 37th-45th: Narkeeran Narasimhan, Ilija Ilic, Seetharam Marreddy, Christopher K. Dooley, Saad Al-Hariri, Rodney Thomas, Ashwani Kumar Grover, Turner Christian Gough, Satvik Reddy ($133.33); U1800, 1st U1800: V. Prudhvi Kumar ($12,000); 2nd U1800: Artem Verdiyan ($6,000); 3rd U1800: Ioan Dan Gaspar ($3,600); 4th U1800: Shijil Kundilakkandi ($1,800); 5th-6th: Bhaskar Nagaiah Sanjeevi, Gabriel McDonald ($1,050); 7th-11th: Tanishq Iyer, David C. Kriewall, Bryan William Lee Garris, Prince Guipi Bopala, Trevin Lee Murray ($456); 12th-22nd: Matthew So, Cahyono Nugroho, Precious C. Acheru, Sundaram Gopikrishnan, Collins Apri, Mitch Fishbein, Kevin Guy, Henry Burton, Suhas Gummadi, George Jones, Luis A. Goodrich ($349.09); 23rd-36th: Eric Sheng Wu, Ryan Milkovits, Sherwin Duke, Danilo Reyes, Gene L. Millard, Doug Lortie, Drago Dimitrov, Hugo Restrepo, Yusef Wright, Alexander A. Connelly, Jack Maddox Silver, Houshyar Ghandi, Cesar Gonell, Cyril Chua ($300); 37th-45th: Christopher Tyau, Nathan Cheung, Orlando Williams, Jonathan Crowe, Jithu Sajeevan, Leon Powers, Mark Jeromin, Boyang Zhao, Sridhar Seshadri ($133.33); U1600, U1600 1st: Jonathan A. Hirsch ($10,800); U1600 2nd: E. Shaun Schneider, Jr. ($5,400); U1600 3rd: Meet Puri ($3,000); U1600 4th: Marcus Matthews ($1,800); 5th: Venkata Pulugurtha ($1,200); 6th-7th: Mukunthan Udhayakumar, William Karafelis ($720); U1400 2nd: Myagmar Nergui ($3,600); U1400 3rd: Neelakantan Ganesh Aravind ($1,800); U1400 4th: Dmitry Agron ($1,200); 8th-14th: David Tsay, Melvin Shepherd, Theron Plaines, Alexandra F. Kouston, Kirk Anderson, Brian F. Swope, Gary Franco Prasanna ($377.14); U1400 1st: Derreion Chase Bailey ($7,200); U1400 5th: Calvin Truong-Anh Nguyen ($900); U1200 2nd: Steven Evans Owlett ($2,400); 15th-23rd: Everardo Gamino, Sakura Mariana Laporte, Patrice Connelly, Eduard Balayan, Yehia A. Massoud, Emmanuel Jagmohan, Kian Sol Morgan, Ruben Balmaceda, Dean Lee Bomar ($360); 24th-36th: Martin D. Boutte, Yanal Hajwis Al Sabbagh, Advai Vijayakumar, Robert W. Whiteside, Aaron Wilson, Ronald J. Fuselier, Nicholas Quinn Rosenkranz, Orion Rojas-Grainger, Adamson Miller Steiner, Gary Michael Robinson, Ali Shirzad, John Barnett, Timur Yonal ($300); 1st U1200: Ryan Tomek ($4,800); 4th U1200: Loyd Gentry ($900); 37th- 42nd: David A. Byrd, Abdullah Abdul-Basir, Hiram Bodon, Isaiah Totaro, Pardhav Chakka, Alan Hiroshi Morris-Suzuki, Bilguun Bayaraa, Dhriti Iyer ($200); U1200 3rd: Vanessa Sun ($1,200); U1200 5th: Max Gurinas ($200). | Chief Tournament Director: Kenneth Robert Ballou.

40 January 2017 | Chess Life Grand Prix Events / Millionaire Chess 3

was exciting, it was intense, and it was everything I could have hoped for. It was the culmination of every little bit of happiness and excitement of the roller coaster ride that was Millionaire Chess 3 that made it so successful. I doubt I will ever have a tournament experience quite like Millionaire Chess again. I’m extremely dismayed that this past tournament was perhaps the last Millionaire. I hope one day it may be able to make a comeback, that it will find support like never before, but no matter what, I will always remember my experience there fondly.” Statements like these are what organizers live for. GM Cristian Chirila, the winner of the U2550 prize, echoed much of the same in an article he wrote for “US Chess News”: “I want to end this journey by thanking Maurice Ashley and Amy Lee for their continuous support for chess in the United States, and for raising the bar for organizers, sponsors, and players. I hope that despite the concerning rumors, this tradition GM Gawain Jones receiving his $15,000 check for second place. Before making the trip to Atlantic City, he had not will continue and the Millionaire Chess family competed in the U.S. since 1997. will reunite in October 2017 in an undisclosed, exotic location!” Words like these do much to warm the heart and make the weeks, months final two tables. After knocking off GM Oliver One of those cases of two good moves, but and even years of hard work feel well worth it. Barbosa 1½-½ in the semifinal match, he found you pick the third. Now the game is only a After all is said and done, Millionaire Chess himself pitted against a determined Jones, who draw. helped to bring a brand new model to chess, had been one of the clear favorites to win the 68. ... Kh4 69. e7 Kg3 70. Rd8?? while also committing significant financial event. Game one, with the time control shifted resources, time and effort. The lack of large- to Game/25 plus a five-second delay, proved The cruelty of fate. Instead of the draw that to be the deciding game. Jones, as White, had was 70. Kf1 Rxg2 71. Nf6 White now gets scale participation in the tournament may have finally outplayed his opponent when the worst mated. been due to various factors (time of year, personal player expense, competition, etc.), but of tragedies struck: 70. ... Rxg2+ 71. Kf1 Nxf3 72. Rd2 Rxd2 73. e8=Q Rf2 mate. in the end the U.S. and world chess markets dictated the viability of the concept of a high MISSING THE FINAL BLOW stakes chess tournament. GM Gawain C.B. Jones (1625) After such a deflating loss, it would be hard “Certain things could have been improved GM Dariusz Swiercz (2709) for anyone to quickly muster up the drive to at the tournament, and at each event we tried Millionaire Chess 3 (Knock-out Final Game fight full throttle, especially with the black 1), Atlantic City, New Jersey, 10.10.2016 to build on the successes and lessons from the pieces. Despite a rich struggle, Jones went down previous one,” opined Amy Lee, who is now in defeat and a new winner for Millionaire fully recovered from an emergency operation Chess was crowned. Congratulations Daro! that kept her away from attending the event Though this short article only allows for she helped create. “With MC3, we were working focused coverage on the very top section, it towards the best Millionaire Chess Open yet, would be a grave oversight not to mention the but unfortunately this did not happen in terms tremendous fighting spirit that took place at of number of participants. We are not able to all the other rating categories as well. A knock - make any kind of commitment regarding MC4 out format brings out the true competitiveness at this time unless we can secure a corporate in players, and it’s rare for amateurs at the lower sponsor. We are very grateful to all the players, levels to be playing in the same hall as top fans and everyone else who sup ported Million - grandmasters and having their games broadcast aire Chess since its inception.” live online for their friends, family and the AFTER 62. ... Rd4 With next year’s event in question, the heated world to see. One beautiful story that stands search for elusive sponsors is now in earnest. out is that of young Vanessa Sun, who finished 63. Ng8+ Kh5 64. Nf6+ Many new ideas for the tournament are being in third place in the U1200 section. In a truly considered including making it a biennial tour - Missing the elbow to the face that was 64. inspirational article about her experience, which nament, hosting it a different time of year, Rh7+! Nxh7 65. e7. she generously titled the “Best Weekend of My shortening the length and/or time control, Life,” (see https://chesssummit.com/2016/10/24/ 64. ... Kh6 65. Ng8+ Kh5 66. Re8 combining it with a scholastic compo nent, or millionaire-chess-the-best-weekend-of-my-life), she including it on the Grand Chess Tour. What - The move 66. Rh7+ still wins easily, for summarized her feelings about the event: ever decisions get made, the three MCs will go those paying attention. “Tournaments like Millionaire teach us the down as an ambitious plan for changing chess 66. ... f4+ 67. Kf2 Rd2+ 68. Kg1? importance of having fun in the midst of pressure. It for the better.

www.uschess.org 41 Grand Prix Events / 2016 U.S. Masters

laying chess in the United States certainly has its own flavor. Tournaments have a Pmuch more streamlined feeling to them, Andrey Stukopin and the concept of double rounds, different schedules, and other formats have been dominant in the country for many years, while the rest of the is the 2016 world sticks to the traditional one-round-a-day format. However, it isn’t only how long a tourna - ment takes that separates tournaments here from U.S. Masters across the pond; European events enjoy a level of pride that is readily apparent whether talking to the organizers, attending the opening ceremony, or simply walking down the playing hall. Champion The U.S. Masters is an interesting mix of both ideas. The tournament was held in the Embassy Suites in Greensboro, North Carolina, a hotel The Greensboro, North Carolina event situated very close to the highway and relatively far from any amenities. The schedule was the usual for America’s top players continues to intense American fare: you arrive, play a round at night, then double rounds until the event is grow and encourage fighting chess. finished. Between the hectic schedule and the location of the tournament hall, it would be easy By GM ALEJANDRO RAMIREZ to dismiss the U.S. Masters as another run-of-the- mill strong Swiss in America, but it certainly is far from that. Walter High and his very accommodating team of volunteers certainly elevate this tournament to new levels. Almost every player is contacted months in advance to guarantee that the tournament will be strong enough for norms and has the players that the organizers themselves want to see play. This has ensured that the tournament consistently attracts some of the highest caliber of grandmasters, but it is also mixed with a of strong upcoming youth and female talent. Conditions in the event are generous by American standards, with most titled players receiving at least a free room. Lastly, and what sets this tournament apart, is the hospitality of the organizers. Any concern that is raised by the players, from the temperature of the playing hall to any kind of “shopping run” to a pharmacy that might be needed, is immediately addressed. It is very clear that the organizers want players to mingle and socialize and enjoy their stay in Greensboro. The skittles room is always a popular place for the players to hang out after their evening play—after all, it is always stocked with two things that many players seem to be fond of: snacks and free, cold, high-quality beer. The result is a much more amicable tournament in which it is not unusual to see such sights as crowds gathered around GM Alexander Shabalov showing a brilliant checkmate

that he missed or GM Alexander Shimanov going THE RIDER over his just-finished game. In this regard, the tournament has always been a pleasant one to play in, and this year was certainly no exception. I hope that more tournaments in the U.S. follow the example set by Walter High.

GM Andrey Stukopin at The University of Rio Grande PHOTO: ANA CAHUICHE/ Valley, where he is studying math and physics.

42 January 2017 | Chess Life Grand Prix Events / 2016 U.S. Masters

This year’s U.S. Masters was quite strong. The Rio Grande Valley sent GM Andrey Stukopin, Sam Sevian should be familiar to anyone that field included 17 grandmasters, quite a feat for a GM Carlos Antonio Hevia Alejano and IM is following the American chess scene. With tournament in North Carolina. Former U.S. Guillermo Vasquez. Personally, I was traveling such a high number of talented youth many Champion and world-championship contender on behalf of Saint Louis University and was upsets were bound to happen, but despite this GM was in the field, but he was rooming with one of our team’s new students: it was Gata Kamsky that started the tournament only the second highest-rated as Shimanov from GM Yaroslav Zherebukh. “Yaro” proved to be a like a rocket blasting off. Webster University topped the field. great roommate and offered some great His double-edged opening choice against This year’s top boards seemed to be full of inspiration for many of my games. Priyadharshan paid off handsomely in round college kids. Besides Shimanov, Webster also There was also a number of talented, even three as he was able to outplay the Indian player sent GM Illya Nyzhnyk, GM Denes Boros and younger-than-college-age players in the with black, and catapulted him to 3/3. His their new grandmaster recruit, GM Priyad- tournament. Names like IM Awonder Liang, pairing with Sevian in round four promised to harshan Kannappan. Univer sity of Texas (UT) IM Ruifeng Li, IM Akshat Chandra and GM be an interesting match up to watch:

BIRD’S OPENING (A03) 10. ... gxf5 11. Nh4 Nxe4 31. Bh3 Nc4?? GM Gata Kamsky (2709) To say that Sevian’s play is fearless would A huge blunder! Sevian surely never saw GM Samuel Sevian (2680) U.S. Masters 2016 (4), Greensboro, North not be accurate. He is simply grabbing pawns White’s next move. Carolina, 08.27.2016 as White has no compensation. 32. Ne7! 12. Nxf5 Bxf5 13. Rxf5 Nd6 14. Rf1 e4 15. Kamsky is always alert! This nice 1. g3 c3 Ne5 16. Qe2 Nd3 wins the game. In the battle of experience against youth, it White has clearly been driven back, Black’s 32. ... Qxe7 is not uncommon for experience to try a passed e-pawn, powerful knight on d3 and different path than the sharpest and latest in central control give him a winning advantage. The alternatives are no better: 32. ... Qg5 theory. Kamsky opts for a kind of reverse Alas, even 2600s make mistakes converting 33. Qf7 Rd8 34. Rg1 is completely winning; Leningrad Dutch. such positions. 32. ... Rd8 33. Rf7 Rd1+ 34. Bf1 is hopeless as Black cannot move the queen without losing 1. ... Nf6 2. Bg2 d5 3. f4 17. Bf4 f5 18. Na3 Be5 19. Be3 Qd7 20. it or allowing checkmate. Well, you don't see this every day. Sevian Rad1 Qg7?! 33. Rf7 swiftly punishes such a set up. The queen doesn’t belong here. 3. ... g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. d3 0-0 6. 0-0 Re8 7. 21. Nc2 Qe1?! Nc6 The continuation 21. Nb5!! Nxb5 22. Rxf5 The move ... c7-c5 is not all that useful, and would have been a surprising but powerful way instead Sevian is focused on breaking with ... of exploiting Black’s last move. The threats of e7-e5, trying to exploit some of the obvious Rg5 and Bxe4 are very annoying and hard to weaknesses down the e-file. Kamsky starts deal with. getting creative, but it backfires. 21. ... Rf8 22. Nb4 f4! 8. e4 dxe4 9. dxe4 e5

The point of the deflection: Black must give up his queen and in the resulting position the rook and minor piece are simply outmatched by the queen. 33. ... Qxf7 34. Qxf7 Nd6 35. Qxc7 a6 36. Bf5 Kamsky starts plucking pawn after pawn. The game is over. Sevian decides it’s time for action. 36. ... Rg7 37. Qd8+ Rg8 38. Qe7 Nxf5 39. 10. f5 23. gxf4 Nxf4 24. Bxf4 Bxf4 25. Nd5 Be5 Qxe5+ Ng7 40. Qxe4 Rb8 41. Qe7 h5 42. Does this work? No, but what else? 10. fxe5 26. Qh5 Rfe8 27. Qh3 Kh8 28. Kh1 Rf8 29. Qc7 Re8 43. Qxb7 Re2 44. Kg1 Kh7 45. Qh5 Rxf1+ 30. Rxf1 Rg8 Nxe5 11. Nxe5 Rxe5 just looks miserable. White c4 h4 46. c5 h3 47. c6 Rg2+ 48. Kf1 Kg6 49. c7 Nf5 50. Qb6+, Black resigned. has to defend his weak e4-pawn the rest of the Time pressure is looming, but Black retains game and he has no compensation for it at all. his extra pawn and the winning chances. Round five had even more exciting battles.

www.uschess.org 43 Grand Prix Events / 2016 U.S. Masters Shabalov quickly drew Kamsky, opening the Reinforcement of the idea that “there are no door for some players to try and catch the obvious moves in chess.” This move objectively legend. Zherebukh kept pace with one of the gives White a huge advantage. Best is 18. ... wildest games that I have ever seen: Nd3! 19. exf5 Bxf5 20. Bg3 Bg6. 19. Bg3 , TAIMANOV VARIATION (A67) White keeps the edge with 19. Bh2! fxe4 20. GM Timur Gareyev (2686) Ndxe4 f5 21. Nd6! when here Black doesn’t have GM Yaroslav Zherebukh (2674) the move ... f5-f4! attacking the bishop on g3; U.S. Masters 2016 (5), Greensboro, North that’s the difference between Bg3 and Bh2. Carolina, 08.27.2016 19. ... Nd3 20. axb5 axb5 21. Rxa8 Rxa8 Notes by Zherebukh. 22. exf5 c4+ 23. Kh2 Qd4 24. Nb3 Qb6 Good news, everyone! You are about to enjoy 25. d6 Bc6 26. Nc1 b4 Theory says, “it’s hard to play with one queen the most complicated game of the year. At one against three.” White admitted defeat. Both point, we had four queens on the board (!!!!), players were happy to be a part of some thing which is partially Timur’s fault since we could've unique and enjoyed the process enormously. had five queens if he hadn’t underpromoted his d-pawn to a knight on move 41. Kamsky with White is certainly a fearsome opponent, and despite Yaro’s excellent game 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. against Timur, Kamsky was able to grind him cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 down in a methodical game (featuring a superior A direct attempt to refute the Benoni and knight against bishop and a problem of the put all Benoni players like me into a month- isolated queen’s pawn in an endgame). With long depression until a new opening is learned. Gata’s 5½/6, most people were already thinking 7. ... Bg7 8. Bb5+ Nfd7 9. a4 0-0 10. Nf3 about how to finish in second place in the Na6 11. 0-0 Nb4 12. h3!? tournament, but things took a sharp turn in 27. Nxd3?? the last three rounds! A great game up to this point by Timur, but First and foremost, some of the players that for the next few moves he decides to take a started out slowly were making a quick come - nap on a railway track. After 27. N3e2 Nxb2 back. Andrey Stukopin started with a loss on 28. Qc2 c3 29. Qb3+ Kh8 30. Nxc3! and White round two, but through the magic of the “Swiss has a significant advantage and perfect chances ” and some strong play he found himself for a win. sitting on 5/6, just half a point out of first. Despite Kamsky’s consistent play up to this 27. ... bxc3 28. Nf4 cxb2 29. Ne6 Ra1 30. point, Stukopin proved that the former world- Qg4 Qb7 31. Nxg7 Rxf1 32. Ne6+ Kh8 33. number-four was far from invul nerable. Be5! Nice, yet insufficient. SICILIAN DEFENSE, 33. ... Rh1+ 34. Kxh1 b1=Q+ 35. Kh2 fxe5 KAN VARIATION (B42) A completely incomprehensible move to me GM Andrey Stukopin (2685) at the time the game was played. Now, once I 36. Qg5 Qf7 37. Qd8+ Be8 38. d7 Qb5 39. Nc5 c3 40. Qc8 c2 41. d8=N GM Gata Kamsky (2709) was forced to leave my shelter of comfort and U.S. Masters 2016 (7), Greensboro, North laziness, I managed to decipher what Timur If 41. d8=Q, c1=Q . This analysis position Carolina, 08.28.2016 had in mind. The main line is 12. Re1 a6 13. deserves a diagram. Bf1 Re8. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Ba7 12. ... a6 13. Bxd7 Bxd7 14. f5! Kamsky has relied on this variation of the The point. White is not wasting time with Sicilian Kan before. Re1 (the rook is more useful on f1 in many lines), and proceeding with the typical plan 7. 0-0 d6 8. Qg4 Nf6 under clearly much better circumstances. Kamsky’s choice here was 8. ... Qf6 in the World Blitz championship against Leko. I 14. ... gxf5 would be surprised if it doesn’t lose by force. The move 14. ... c4! is my top choice after 9. Qxg7 Rg8 10. Qh6 Nc6 11. Bg5 Rg6 12. the extensive consultations with “Doctor Qh4 Ne5 13. N1d2 Bd7 .” 7. 15. Bg5 f6 16. Bf4 Nd3 17. Nd4 Qb6 18. Be3 Qxb2 19. Nce2 Nc5! and my How often do you see five queens on the (see diagram next page) evaluation here is "quite a mess." board in 2600+ practice? So far this has followed the game 15. Bg5 f6 16. Bf4 Re8 17. Nd2 b5! 41. ... Qfc4 42. Nde6 c1=Q, White Shaposhnikov-Kamsky, played in May, 2016. Playing such a variation as a surprise weapon All the best moves so far. resigned. doesn’t seem like a bad idea to me, but repeating 18. Bxd6 Qb6? (see diagram top of next column) it when the game is in the database is probably

44 January 2017 | Chess Life Grand Prix Events / 2016 U.S. Masters

this isn’t something Black could afford. No 30. ... Kg7 31. h6+ Kf8 32. Qxa7 Qf3 33. better is 18. ... Bxe3 19. fxe3 Rxg5 20. Qxg5 Qb8+ Ke7 34. Qxe5+, Black resigned. when the knight still can’t move because of The point. The deflection trades queens. Qg8+. 19. Rg3 It was the Russian player that studies at UT White now has, as they say, the pawn and Rio Grande that now took the lead, followed compensation. closely by Yuniesky Quesada Perez from , Gata Kamsky at 5½ and a few grandmasters 19. ... Kd7 with 5/7. The tournament had been blown This move cannot be any better or any worse wide open and it was unclear who would take than the alternatives. the top prizes. suicidal. The line itself cannot be sound: Black’s Stukopin defended his black pieces against 20. Nf3 Qg8 21. Nxe5+ dxe5 22. Rd3+ Quesada quite comfortably, while the second compensation for the pawn, based on some Nd5 pressure on the kingside, is iffy at best, though board between Shimanov and Kamsky was it does hold practical chances. Some trickery, but it fails. drawn. Zherebukh and I won our games against 23. exd5 Rxg5 24. dxe6+ Kxe6 25. Qe4 GM Andrey Gorovets and Shabalov, respec- 14. Rae1 Qg6 26. Qxb7! Qxd3 27. Qxc8+ Kf6 28. tively, to be part of the mix of players vying The move 14. Kh1 the continuation in the h4! for first place in the last round. I was paired Shaposhnikov game, but after 14. ... h6 15. Bxf6 against Stukopin while Quesada Perez faced Qxf6 16. Qxf6 Rxf6 Black had compensation, Zherebukh, two games that were drawn as defending the dark squares is not trivial. without too much action. This opened the door for Kamsky to potentially win the 14. ... Bb5 tournament on tiebreaks if he beat Gareyev, It is unclear how removing the bishop on but just because you start a tournament well d3 will help Black too much. The continuation does not mean it ends well. In a long positional 14. ... h6?! 15. Be3 diffuses a lot of threats. struggle, Gareyev was simply the better player 15. Bxb5+ axb5 16. h3 Rc8 17. c3 Nd3? and took out Kamsky. With this result Stukopin was the winner of $5,000 and the U.S. Masters Cup for 2016. Second was split between Zherebukh, Quesada Perez, Gareyev and myself. Quite a strong field! The point of this move will be obvious soon. But besides the top finishers, it is important to 28. Qa6+ Kg7 29. Qxa7 Qf3 is just a draw! also point out an outstanding performance: 28. ... Rg6 29. h5! Rg5 30. Qa6+ Apurva Virkud, en ter ing the tournament at 2144, scored an amazing 5½/9 and gained 158.40 (!) FIDE points. I hope that she can show the level of play that she did in Greensboro in future U.S. Women’s Championships! A very well organized event, and one that I will hope to play every year. The organizers Overlooking White’s reply. are simply very inviting, the tournament is 18. Re3! always strong, and its a very pleasant place to play some chess. It is by no means a perfect Not very hard to find, but devastating. 18. Re2 tournament—the schedule is quite grueling and is also enough for a huge advantage, which just the food choices are overall extremely limited shows that Black’s strategy really isn’t working. because of the hotel location—but overall 18. ... Ne5 Aha! Now the king has no good squares to playing in the U.S. Masters is always a positive This loss of tempo is now forced, but clearly go to. expe rience.

At A Glance U.S. Masters 2016

Date: August 25-29, 2016 | Location: Embassy Suites Hotel, Greensboro, North Carolina | 83 players | Top Finishers: 1st, 7: 1 Andrey Stukopin; 2nd-5th, 6 ⁄2: Yaroslav Zherebukh, Alejandro Ramirez, Yuniesky Quesada Perez, Timur Gareyev; 6th-13th, 6: Gata Kamsky, Alex Shimanov, Akshat Chandra, Samuel Sevian, Priyadharshan Kannappan, Andrey Gorovets, Alexander Shabalov, Awonder 1 1 1 Liang; 1st-2nd Under 2400, 5 ⁄2: Raja Panjwani, Konstantin Kavutskiy; 1st Under 2300, 5 ⁄2: Apurva Virkud; 2nd Under 2300, 4 ⁄2: 1 , Andrew Hong; 1st-4th Under 2200, 4 ⁄2: Sanjay Ghatti, Jennifer Yu, Chao Zhang, Ilker Nadi Bozkurt; 1st-4th Under 1 2100, 3 ⁄2: Vlad Yanovsky, Prateek Mishra, Austen Green, Megan Lee. | Chief Tournament Director: L. Thad Rogers. For more information and complete standings see: http://www.carolinaschessinitiative.com/.

www.uschess.org 45 Solitaire Chess / Instruction Magnus the Magician An early example of the world champion’s ability to find wins where seemingly none exist.

By BRUCE PANDOLFINI

THIS PAST NOVEMBER GM MAGNUS next move only after trying to guess it. If you Black is not afraid to castle kingside, even Carlsen successfully defended his world champi- guess correctly, give yourself the par score. with White’s far advanced h-pawn. Add 1 bonus onship title against the formidable challenge Sometimes points are also awarded for second- point if you planned to answer 14. ... Nxh5 with of Russia’s Sergey Karjakin, winning the last best moves, and there may be bonus points—or 15. Nd6+, complicating the game en - game of the speed playoff with a thrilling deductions—for other moves and variations. chantingly. checkmate that appeared like magic (see next Note that means that White’s move is on  15. Nxf6+ Par Score 5 month’s Chess Life for the full story). But there’s the next line. nothing surprising about anything he does. 11. Bf4 Par Score 5 White is not afraid to trade knights here, The brilliant Norwegian has a history of turning thinking he can exploit the e5-square afterward. little movements into nimble prestidigitation. White plays for activity. At the same time, 15. … Nxf6 Consider the following charming gem he played he seizes control of the b8-h2 diagonal. Accept against Sipke Ernst (Black) at Wijk aan Zee in full credit for 11. Bd2. Black takes back with the knight so that he 2004, when Magnus was but 14-years-old. 11. … Ngf6 activates his knight and keeps the h5-pawn Seemingly out of nowhere, he unveils winning under fire. But, of course, he does relinquish rabbits from his resourceful hat covering his Black develops his king-knight, while control of e5. ingenious head. The game began as an ordinary observing some key squares, such as d5 and e4. 16. Ne5 Par Score 5 Caro-Kann: 12. 0-0-0 Par Score 5 A powerful invasion. From e5, the knight CLASSICAL queenside here for White in the looks commandingly over and upon the CARO-KANN DEFENSE (B19) Caro-Kann is typical. There’s nothing new yet. opponent’s camp. IM Magnus Carlsen (FIDE 2484, NOR) … 12. Be7 … GM Sipke Ernst (FIDE 2474, NED) 16. Rad8 This is also not unusual. With White’s bishop Corus GM Group C, Wijk aan Zee, Black centralizes his rook and thereby pins , 01.24.2004 controlling d6, Black’s bishop must settle for a the d4-pawn. White must now keep an eye on less ambitious placement. 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 the advance c6-c5. 13. Ne4 Par Score 5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 17. Qe2 Par Score 5 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 The knight is centralized. From e4, it imperiously looks out over d6, as well as toward White gets out of the pin. But maybe there’s the black kingside. more to it. 17. … c5 13. … Qa5 And this is a standard idea too. Black tries to Black could also have tried 13. ... Nd5, trade the c-pawn for White’s center pawn, hoping attacking the bishop at f4. With the text, White must now concern himself with defense of the to reduce some of White’s central pressure. But Carlsen has some ideas in mind, too. a2-pawn.  18. Ng6 Par Score 6 14. Kb1 Par Score 5 This sudden intrusion enlivens the position This is a common move once White has greatly. Black’s bishop and rook are now forked. castled queenside and the a-pawn comes under 18. … fxg6 Now make sure you have the above position fire, say by a queen from a5. In playing Kc1- set up on your chessboard. As you play through b1, White also removes the king from the c1-h6 In light of what soon transpires, Black the remaining moves in this game, use a piece diagonal, for even greater safety. perhaps should have considered the more solid of paper to cover the article, exposing White’s 14. … 0-0 18. ... Rfe8, turning down the material offer.

46 January 2017 | Chess Life Solitaire Chess / Instruction

PROBLEM I PROBLEM II PROBLEM III ABCs of Chess Mating net Mating net Mating net

These problems are all related to key positions in this month’s game. In each case, Black is to move. The answers can be found in Solutions on page 71.

January Exercise: A useful tack to improve your problem-solving abilities is to create your own chess problems. On an empty board, set up a position with Black already mated. After that, take it back a PROBLEM IV PROBLEM V PROBLEM VI move, so that it’s now mate in one. Mating net Mating net Mating net Once you’ve found the mating move, go back a step further, so that the situation is now mate in two. Having done that, and feeling a bit more ambitious, take it back even further, so that the position offers a forced mate in three. This retrogressive technique is harder than it sounds, but it’s surely a good way to hone your checkmating skills.

19. Qxe6+ Par Score 5 On 22. ... Kg7, White has 23. Rh7 mate. Add The expected continuation. Again, Black has 1 bonus point if you saw this slight trick ahead little choice. This seems to gain back material, and even of time. more. Add 1 bonus point if you planned to 26. … Rg6 23. Qxe7 Par Score 5 answer 19. ... Rf7 by 20. hxg6, ganging up on Black needn’t worry about 27. Rxg6+ Kxg6 the pinned rook. With this capture, White threatens mate at 28. Qxf8 because of 28. ... Qe1 mate (1 bonus 19. … Kh8 h7. To be sure, Black doesn’t have much left in point). his own hat. 27. Qe5+ Par Score 5 Black opts for the corner and the hope of 23. … Nf7 greater safety. We shall see how safe it really is. Black’s replies are greatly restricted. If 27. ... Kh6, then 28. Rh3 is mate; and 27. ... Kh7 28. 20. hxg6 Par Score 7 Black sacrifices the knight to obstruct the white queen’s path to h7. Sacrificing the rook Qh5+ soon mates as well (1 bonus point). Another Carlsen surprise. He turns down at f7 wouldn’t have been any better. To be sure, 27. … Kxf7 taking the bishop in favor of opening the h- it would have been worse. file. Moreover, the g6-pawn becomes a very When you’re losing, you ain’t got nothing 24. gxf7 Par Score 5 useful weapon. to lose. (Somebody—not a magician—once told me that.) 20. … Ng8 Time to catch one’s breath. Black must now worry about a check along the h-file. 28. Qf5+ Par Score 5 Naturally, Black defends his bishop and 24. … Kg7 uncovers his own attack against White’s This wins at once. Black’s position falls apart. bishop. Sometimes a menaced king must fend for 28. … Rf6 itself. Too bad it can’t disappear altogether. 21. Bxh6 Par Score 8 That way it couldn’t be checked on the h-file. The try 28. ... Ke7 would have delayed the inevitable, but not for long. And now a bolt from the blue—well, at least 25. Rd3 Par Score 6 from the dark squares. 29. Qd7 mate. With this rook lift White prepares to shift … 21. gxh6 the attack to the g-file. How is Black to find The game ends with a version of the epaulette At least this answer keeps e7 defended (for some shelter for his king? mate—Presto! the meantime). 25. …`Rd6 22. Rxh6+ Par Score 8 This works because of a not-so hidden It’s just one wizard-like ploy after the other. resource. Add 1 bonus point if you saw that 26. Make sure you’re registered to vote in the Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain. Qxd6 loses to 26. ... Qe1+. upcoming US Chess Executive Board election. Go to secure2.uschess.org/voter-registration.php to check 22. … Nxh6 26. Rg3+ Par Score 5 your status.

www.uschess.org 47 The Practical Endgame / Instruction

How Magnus Does It Analyzing an ending that won’t win a tournament’s brilliancy prize, but that will bring the dedicated analyst a great deal of instructional value and satisfaction.

By GM DANIEL NARODITSKY

THIS MONTH WE HAVE A FASCINATING 43. Kf4 Ne8 44. Kg5 endgame between two titans of modern chess: A healthy start. Now, 44. ... f6 is obviously GMs Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura. suicidal due to 45. Kg6, so the air grows even Rather than address this endgame at a superficial thinner for Nakamura. level, we will delve as deep as we possibly can, seeking meaningful justifications and explana - 44. ... Ke7 45. Bf4 tions over engine analysis. We will focus not Another classy move, closing off c7 street. only on what is going on, but also on unearthing the trains of thought that led the players to 45. ... a6 make certain decisions. Much like our recent White has improved his piece placement to presidential election, this will be a trying the maximum, and the time has come for more process. And perhaps a rewarding one as well. concrete measures. What exactly are those measures? When you are dominating your seamlessly interweaves small tactical tricks to A REWARDING GAME opponent but have no clear way forward, a ensure that everything remain under his control. GM Magnus Carlsen (FIDE 2834, NOR) very common—and very effective—technique 53. ... Nh7+ 54. Kh5 Nf6+ 55. Kg5 Nh7+ GM Hikaru Nakamura (FIDE 2793, USA) is “carving:” using a pawn(s) to physically carve LONDON 2015 (7), out a path for your king and other pieces. Draw? London, England, 12.11.2015 Carving takes a lot of patience and precision; 56. Kh4! one misstep, and you might accidentally release your opponent from the gridlock. Of course, No way! Through his outwardly meaningless “precision” and “Magnus Carlsen” are synonyms. maneuvers, Magnus has imprisoned Black’s king, and this sacrifice is obviously temporary. 46. h4! On the other hand, the weakness of the f6- In this position, there is only one way to square will be permanent. carve: by slowly and carefully advancing the 56. ... gxh6 pawn to h6, weakening the f6-square. In doing so, White must take care not to allow the This is forced; the stubborn 56. ... g6 would knights any freedom, and not to allow Black’s have led to even more disastrous consequences king to land on f6 before White takes the square after 57. fxg6 fxg6 58. Bd5 Nd4 59. Bf4! (but under control. not 59. Bxb7?? Nf5+), and Black has no way to AFTER 42. ... Kd7 stop the dual threats of Bxb7 and Bg8. 46. ... Kf8 47. Bg3 57. Kh5 Nf6+ 58. Kxh6 Ng4+?! This unconventional minor-piece endgame There was nothing wrong with the imme - arose after a lengthy stage of endgame maneu - diate 47. h5, but Carlsen prefers to torture his This does not lose, but it exacerbates an vering. It appears the time is ripe to declare a opponent first. In general, the psychological already difficult situation. Black should sit tight truce: White’s bishop pair is counterbalanced strategy of pretending that you cannot find a with 58. ... Kd7, when I cannot see a direct way by his abysmal pawn structure, and Black’s twin way to make progress, and then—after your to break through. The point is that 59. Kg7 is cavaliers are keeping every point of infiltration opponent has gotten his hopes up—to suddenly met by 59. ... Ne8+, and Black saves the game under firm control. crash through, is tremendously effective. by a hair’s breadth after 60. Kxf7 Nxd6+ 61. But don’t jump to conclusions. Black is devoid 47. ... Nf6 48. Bd6+ Ke8 49. Kf4 Nd7 50. cxd6 Nd8+!!. This crucial intermezzo let’s Black of any counterplay, and White’s pawns, especially Bg2 Kd8 51. Kg5 Ke8 52. h5! Nf6 53. h6! halt the progress of White’s f-pawn and trade the ones on c5 and f5, are nicely holding back off his remaining pawn on the queenside. their counter parts on b7 and g7. White has all (see diagram top of next column) Obviously, 59. Kg7 is not forced, and White the time in the world to improve his position, Carving at its best. It appears that White has can continue to torture Black with various so why not make a few more moves? walked right into a perpetual, but Magnus bishop-related shenanigans ad infinitum.

48 January 2017 | Chess Life The Practical Endgame / Instruction

PROBLEM I: 1500 LEVEL PROBLEM II: 2000 LEVEL Brilliant Magnus GM Magnus Carlsen (2772) GM Magnus Carlsen (2851) GM Dmitri Jakovenko (2742) GM Vladimir Kramnik (2801) Tactics Nanjing Pearl Spring, 10.09.2009 Stavenger, Norway, 04.27.2016

Each month GM Naroditsky will present two problems taken from actual games that illustrate the theme of this month’s column. Your task is to find the best line of play. Problem I should be solveable by a player at roughly a 1500 rating and Problem II by a player roughly at a 2000 rating.

See the solutions on page 71. WHITE TO MOVE WHITE TO MOVE

59. Kg7! take an easy way out. In this case, it would appear that White has two candidate moves: Typical Carlsen fare: rather than retreat with 67. Bd6, defending the pawn, and 67. c6. But if 59. Kg5, he seizes his opportunity and pene - we force ourselves to calculate them out, as trates further. In my opinion, it is this ability Magnus certainly did, we see that neither of to pounce on the first chance he gets that truly them do the trick: separates Carlsen from the rest of the elite gang: he operates with ruthless precision 100 percent 1) 67. Bd6? is a draw after 67. ... Nxf5+ 68. of the time. Kxf6 Nxd6 69. cxd6 Kd7 70. Bxa6 Nc5, and Black picks up the d6-pawn. 59. ... Nd4 60. Be4 Nf2 61. Bb1! 2) 67. c6? looks impressive, but is cooly How nimbly the bishops move across the refuted by 67. ... Nxf4 68. c7 Nxf5+ 69. diagonals! Black’s knights are more active than Kxf6 Nd6 70. Ke5 Kd7!. ever before, but they are incapable of covering give up his knight and won easily. For instance, all of the bases. Having calculated these lines, Magnus 69. ... Nxc6+ 70. Bxc6+ Ke7 71. Bd5 Nc3 72. Bc4 undoubtedly forced himself to go outside the a5 73. Kd4 Nd1 74. Bb3 Nf2 75. Kc5 and the 61. ... Ng4 62. Bf4 box: we know that knights are usually hapless game is over: White picks up the a-pawn, while The bishop has done its job on d6, and now at dealing with passed pawns, and that the light- the bishop drops back to c2 to keep f5 protected. it moves to f4 to circumscribe Black’s knight. square bishop (rather than its colleague) is the 69. ... a5 70. a4 Kf7 71. Bd5+ Kf8?? 62. ... f6 63. Be4 Nf2 64. Bb1 Ng4 65. crucial piece in this position. So, the question Nakamura returns the favor, although I Be4 Nf2 is: does White really need the dark-square bishop? would argue that Magnus certainly deserved Once again, Carlsen has led Nakamura to the full point after demonstrating such incred - 67. Kxf6!! believe that he is on the verge of conceding a ible technique. As it turns out, the highly draw, but a draw is the last thing on his mind This is a fantastic move that sent the com - counterintuitive 71. ... Kg6 would have drawn: right now. mentators and fans (including myself) into a after 72. c6 Nxc6 73. Bxc6 Kf7 74. Bd5+ Kf8, 66. Bxb7 Nd3! frenzy. But the point I am trying to make in and White simply cannot make progress. When this column is that it was arrived at through White’s king leaves the the f-pawn’s zone, Black logical, understandable thinking: thinking that plays ... Nc3-xa4 and follows up with ... Kf7. we can all strive to emulate in every game that This is why it would have been so much better we play. As it turns out, Black’s knights are to keep the pawn on f5! pushed back rather easily, and White’s twin 72. Ke4! passers easily run through Black’s position. Now, it is all over: Black is in . 67. ... Nxf4 68. Ke5 Nfe2 72. ... Nc2 (see diagram top of next column) Or 72. ... Ke8 73. Bc4 followed by Ke3, 69. f6? winning easily. Even Magnus is mortal. As it turns out, this 73. c6 Nc3+ 74. Ke5 Nxa4 75. Bb3 Nb6 The critical point has been reached. In fact, move—tempting as it—actually allowed Black 76. Bxc2 a4 77. c7 Kf8 78. Bxa4, Black resigned. this position constitutes much of the reason I to almost steal the game from his clutches. The am showing this game. In the endgame, various thing to understand is that pushing the pawn This is not the kind of game that wins a evil forces often induce uncharacteristic mis- is actually in Black’s favor, since the pawn brilliancy prize in a tournament, but it is the takes: in particular, the most common manifes - becomes of a more strength than a liability. kind of game that brings its dedicated analyst a ta tion, fatigue, is an increased tempta tion to The simple 69. c6 would have forced Black to great deal of instructional value and satisfaction.

www.uschess.org 49 2016 TROPHIES PLUS GRAND PRIX SUMMARY

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50 January 2017 | Chess Life 2016 US CHESS JUNIOR GRAND PRIX TOP OVERALL STANDINGS

Official standings for events received and processed by December 6, 2016 Name State Pts. Name State Pts. are unofficial and subject to change STEINER, ADAMSON DC 15716 KUMAR, NAMAN FL 6777 during the year or until year-end PARK, EVAN PA 9965 PARASHAR, DHEEMANT SAUMIL GA 6768 tabulation is complete. RAO, VINAY NJ 9737 MYDUKUR, AMIT GA 6758 The top prize for 2016 will be a Chess.com ARAYATH, NIKHIL NJ 9669 JIN, LISA NY 6621 one-year Diamond membership valued at $100, a Chess.com gear/merchandise LUO, RYAN DE 9099 HETMAN, JACOB JAMAL NY 6463 package valued at $100, a US Chess award, ARAYATH, ATHIRA NJ 8464 ZHOU, LIRAN NY 6378 free entry into the 2017 U.S. Open, and PREM, PRANAV VA 8401 RAO, VARUN NJ 6347 $1,000 of expense money from US Chess MATURA, MAX C IL 8061 GUIPI BOPALA , PRINCE ERIC, JR 6292 to offset the trip. For the top five players HUANG, EDISON NY 7803 JHAVERI, ARYAN NJ 6275 on the overall list and to each state winner, XU, ARTHUR IL 7799 NGO, BACH FL 6269 Chess.com will also award a choice of a one-year ChessKid.com gold membership YE, LUKE SICONG MO 7691 MODRAK, JASON MS 6204 (valued at $50/annually) or a one-year TSAY, VINCENT NY 7682 ZHENG, MICHAEL ZIHAN MI 6116 Chess.com Gold membership (valued at CHINNAMBETI, ABHINAV NJ 7316 NATH, NITISH CA-N 6038 $40/annually). US Chess gratefully acknowl- WANG, WILLIAM IL 7296 EMRIKIAN, AREN C IL 5917 edges the participation of Chess.com! DONG, JOSHUA NY 7127 WU, ROCHELLE AL 5897 WANG, ELLEN NY 6979 MANU, MANAS CA-N 5822 NATH, NAVEEN CA-N 6977 BRODSKY, DAVID NY 5637 GUO, JONATHAN NY 6969 LUO, TERRY DE 5561 BELLAYARU, SAMARTH RAO GA 6827 PHAM, LINDA IL 5551 KAMATH, ATUL R CA-N 6814 DASARI, SRIHITHA GA 5549 Be a US Chess Benefactor! Benefactor Membership includes Life Membership, a special membership card, and recognition on a benefactor page of our website and periodically in Chess Life. The cost is $3,000, or $1,500 to existing Life Members. Half the funds collected will go to US Chess Life Member Assets Fund and half to assist US Chess operations. Become a Benefactor at uschess.org, by phone at 1-800-903-8723, or by mail to US Chess, PO Box 3967, Crossville TN 38557. SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OUR BENEFACTORS!

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52 January 2017 | Chess Life See previous issue for TLAs appearing January 1-14

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Entry Fees by the TD/Affiliate area or sent to: US Chess, TLA Dept., PO Box 3967, Crossville, TN 38557. 1/10: 1-day sections (Ages 6/8 & under): $48, 2-day sections (Ages 10/12/14/16/18/20 & under): $63, Add Add $10 (1/11-17), Add $25 345666*5..6,1/326 201+6$2/ 65"514.6+361346*0"5643615&5..02/-!656&*3-0.4/&63263,4*643,210)514.%66*5! (1/18-20), Add $40 for onsite. A change fee equal to the late fee will +36*3#5"526*0"56436*0"564*5625,/25+61,)5263'623,1+.601+6/)5631423-6/1632+526'326.&*3-0.4/&601+6!3,4* apply for any changes, except bye requests within a week of the tour- (-0!52.64360/16  $ 6(3/14.6'326(2/5.%66326)3256/1'32)04/316(-50.56.5564*56 $62,-5.6046*44(###%,.&*5..%32 nament. Out of state entries 20% off (mail entry or email +040(05 $,-5.%(*(% [email protected] with USCF ID for online entry coupon code). Chief Organizer: J. Sztaray. TDs:, T. Langland, R. Koepcke, J. McCumiskey. Sponsored by CalChess and Bay Area Chess. More info & flyer: 6SS, 40/2, SD/1. Parsippany Hilton, 1 Hilton Ct., Parsippany, NJ 07054. GAMES DAILY!!! HR: Parsippany Hilton NEWLY RENOVATED! NEW www.bayareachess.com/events/17/usjr/. Register online at www.Bay Chess Rate valid until 1/17. Reserve early 973-267-7373 or 1- 800- LIGHTS! HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING! Chess rates expire AreaChess.com/my/usjr. Mail entries to Bay Area Chess, 2050 Concourse HILTONS. Morris/Essex train to Morris Plains 1.5 miles. Open to 4- 1/17/2017. Rates $119 (single double) $121 (Triple, Quad) 2nd hotel Drive #42, San Jose, CA 95131. Email: [email protected], 408- player teams with one optional alternate. Team average (4 highest rat- attached to Hilton $126 per night (single-double) $128 (triple, Quad)- 409-6596. W. ings—2017 January Rating list) must be under 2200. EF: $170 postmarked Hampton Inn—-includes breakfast each day. For help forming teams US Chess Junior Grand Prix! by 2/5/17. ALL-$210 after or at door.—all teams, any changes at site and more information contact: [email protected]. Chks FEB. 17-19 OR 18-19, FLORIDA $25 charge. Check out official website www.njscf.org. Prizes: 1-5th payable to NJSCF, mail by 2/05/17 to: E.Steven Doyle, 17 Stonehenge 2017 U.S. AMATEUR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP - SOUTH Place teams, plaque and 4 digital clocks; Top Team (Denis Barry Rd., Morristown, NJ 07960. (Include Team name, Captain, players 5SS, G/120 d5 (2-day Option Rd. 1 G/60 d5). Holiday Inn Orlando SW Award) U2100, 2000, 1900, 1800, 1700, 1600, 1500, 1400, 1300, 1200, full names, USCF Expiration, ID numbers and ratings in board order). Celebration Area, 5711 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy., Kissimmee, FL 1000 each plaque and 4 Digital Clocks; Top college team (same school) No team can include more than two GM’s. Include SASE for confirmation ; Top HS team (grades 9-12 same school), 34746. 4-player teams (with one optional alternate). Minutes away 4 Digital Clocks & plaque if wanted, No registered or certified mail accepted. W from Disney, Universal, etc. mid-70’s. Top Middle School (grades 5-9 same school), Top Elementary School Temperature Two sections (grades K-6 same school), Top 2 Scholastic Teams (mixed schools okay) A Heritage Event! (each paired separately & with their own prizes). Team average (4 US Chess Junior Grand Prix! highest ratings - January Supplement) must be under 2200 for Open (Collins Award), Mixed Doubles (2 males, 2 females-no alternates), Seniors (all players over age 50), Military, each plaque & FEB. 18-20 OR 19-20 (BLITZ FEB 20), CALIFORNIA, NORTHERN section & under 1500 for U1500 section. Winning team in Open section 4 Digital Clocks to top team; Company Team (same employer), Family (4 family 2017 (33RD) U.S. AMATEUR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP WEST qualifies for National playoff online. EF: Per player: $49 by 2/12, $59 members), State teams—CT, DE, MD, MA, NJ, NY ( ), Santa Clara Convention Center, 5001 Great America Pkwy. Free Parking! later. Team (one entry must be made for all players) $180 Benjamin Award SPECIAL EF: PA, VA, NC, RI each plaque top team ; Special Plaque: Top Future Teams: Four-player teams plus optional alternate, average rating of by 2/12, $210 later (any team changes $10). Teams from outside Florida team, (all players under age 10), Top Military College, Top Parent/Child four highest must be under 2200, difference between ratings of board will receive $25 off team entry fee. Scholastic teams receive $10 off (2 pairs, one parent, one child), Best Player 1-4 and top alternate, 3 & 4 must be less than 1000. January 2017 Supplement, CCA min, & team entry fee. PRIZES: Top 1st-3rd place teams & Top Boards 1-4 in All 6-0 scores each Digital clock. Biggest Individual upset each round TD discretion used to place players accurately. Main Event Prizes: each section; Top teams: Open section: U2000 & U1800; U1500 section: Engraved Cross pen; Entry fee refunded to team with Best “Chess Special 4 commemorative clocks and team trophy to the team for Top 3 Top U1300 & U1000. Also in Open section: Top Senior team (all 50 & related” name, Sunday night— Best “Chess Related costumes or gim- overall teams, top team u2000, u1800, u1600, u1400, and u1200. Trophies above as of 2/17), Top College team (same school), Top High School mick”—1st-gourmet dinner for four. 2nd—Gourmet dinner for 4. Reg. to all players of the top “Female” team, top “College” team (students/ team (same school). Also in U1500 section: Top Female team, Top 9-12 .Sat 2/18: Rds. 1-7:30, 11-6, 9-3:30. Surprises and special alumni of a college), top “High School” team (students/alumni of a 7- Middle School team (same school, grades 6-8), Top Elementary School give-aways each round. Sunday night—Bughouse $20 per team. Cash 12 school), top “Elementary School” team (students/alumni of a K-6 team (same school). Schedule: 3-day: 1st Rd. Fri. 7:30, 2-Day 1st Rd. prizes. Classical Chess-Best game awards to Vienna, Queen and school), top “Club” team, and top “Family” team (related by blood or Sat. 10; Rds. 2-5 Sat. 1:30, 6:45, Sun. 9:30, 2:45. Blitz Tourn.: G/5 d0, King , Ruy Lopez, and Petroff and Durkin Attack! FREE marriage within 3 generations). Clocks to top scorer on each board (1- Sunday at 8:00 p.m.; EF $15 for those in main event, $25 for all others. LECTURES LOBBY DAILY!! TITLED PLAYER IN LOBBY TO REVIEW YOUR 4), trophy to top reserve as well as second and third scorers on each HR: $75 until cut-off date, Reservations can be made online (link on website) or by calling 800-465-4359 (group code “CHE”). Free parking, Internet & refrigerator. $15 resort fee has been waived. Full breakfast buffet $6 (must email organizer for this special deal). Ent: Boca Raton Chess Club, 2385 Executive Ctr. Dr., Ste. 100, Boca Raton, FL 33431. Online entry & add’l info: www.bocachess.com, 561-479-0351. TOURNAMENT LIFE: ABBREVIATIONS & TERMS US Chess Junior Grand Prix! All tournaments are non-smoking with no computers allowed unless otherwise advertised. FEB. 17-19 OR 18-19, ILLINOIS 2017 U.S. AMATEUR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP - NORTH BLZ: Blitz rated. Memb. Membership required; cost follows. Usually refers Open: 5SS, G/90+30/increment, Choice of 2-day or 3-day schedule, 2- req’d: to state affiliate. day: rds.1-2 G/60 d5. Hyatt Regency Schaumburg, 1800 E. Golf Rd., QC: Quick Chess events. Schaumburg, IL 60173. 847-605-1234. $89.00 chess rate single-dou- $$Gtd: Guaranteed prizes. Open: A section open to all. Often has very strong play- ble-triple-quad until 2/3, Free WiFi included with hotel booking! Please ers, but some eligible for lower sections can play reserve early. Open to four-player teams with one optional alternate. $$b/x: Based-on prizes, x = number of entries needed to for the learning experience. Team average (4 highest ratings - January Rating Supplement) must be payfull prize fund. At least 50% of the advertised under 2200. EF: $160, per team if received USPS or online by 6 PM on prize fund of $501 or more must be awarded. Quad: 4-player round robin sections; similar strength 2/1, $180 if received USPS or online by 6 PM 2/10, $200 online until players. Bye: Indicates which rounds players who find it incon- 2/17 6 PM and at door. Individuals wishing to play, send $50 and request Rated Beginner’s Open. to be put on a team by USPS or online by 2/14 6 PM, $60 thereafter. venient to play may take 1⁄2-point byes instead. RBO: Team changes on-site or after 2/17 6 PM are $20. Check out official For example, Bye 1-3 means 1⁄2-point byes are Rds: Rounds; scheduled game times follow. For exam- website www.chessweekend.com for more info and complete prize list. available in Rounds 1 through 3. ple, 11-5, 9-3 means games begin 11 a.m. & 5 p.m. Prizes: Awards to top two teams. Winning team qualifies for national on the first day, 9 a.m. & 3 p.m. on the second day. play-offs. Also awards to top teams with average rating U1900, U1600, CC: Chess club. U1300, and U1000, and for Top Juniors Team (high school and younger), dx: Time delay, x = number of seconds. Reg: Registration at site. Top College team, Top High School Team, Top Senior team (all 50 and Round robin (preceded by number of rounds). over), Top Coach and Student team, Top Mixed Doubles team (must +xx: Time increment, xx = number of seconds added RR: have 2 females), Best Costume and Best Team Name. Prizes to Top after each move. SD/: Sudden-death time control (time for rest of game Score on each board. All prizes are Amazon gift cards. 3-day: Rounds: EF: Entry fee. follows). For example, 30/90, SD/1 means each on-site registration/check-in Fri. 5:30-6:30 PM, rds.: Fri. 7 PM, Sat. 10 player must make 30 moves in 90 minutes, then AM & 4 PM, Sun. 10 AM & 3:30 PM. 2-day: on-site registration/check- Ent: Where to mail entries. in Sat. from 8:00-9:30 AM, rds. 10 AM & 1 PM then merge with 3-day. complete the rest of the game in an hour. Results submitted to FIDE for possible rating. Midwest Blitz Championship on Saturday night, $25 by 2/14 USPS FIDE: SS: Swiss-System pairings (preceded by number of or online, $30 on-site. First round 8 PM, two games with each opponent, G/: Game in. For instance, G/75 means each side has rounds). five rounds. All: Register online at www.onlineregistration.cc. Checks 75 minutes for the entire game. made payable to and sent to: ChessWeekend, 21694 Doud Ct., Frankfort, Unr: Unrated. IL 60423. Please include Team name and roster (including US Chess ID GPP: Grand Prix Points available. W: Site is accessible to wheelchairs. #’s), captain’s email and phone number, and desired schedule. Info: HR: Hotel rates. For example, 60-65-70-75 means $60 www.chessweekend.com, for questions, email [email protected], WEB: Tournaments that will use a player’s online rating. no phone calls please. Sets & Boards provided, please bring Clocks. single, $65 twin, $70/3 in room, $75/4 in room. US Chess Junior Grand Prix! JGP: Junior Grand Prix. FEB. 18-20, NEW JERSEY WORLD AMATEUR TEAM & U.S. TEAM EAST

www.uschess.org 53 Tournament Life / January

board (1-4). Gift certificates for best 3 team names. Main Event EF: PO Box 90925, Henderson, NV 89009-0925 or www.VegasChessFes- rd. 2, others before rd. 4. Unofficial uschess.org ratings usually used $249/team or $64/player by 2/10. 2/11-17: $10 extra per player or tival.com. FIDE. if otherwise unrated. Foreign player ratings: See chesstour.com/for- $40 per team. Onsite: $20 extra per player, $80 extra per team. A eignratings.htm. HR: $112-112-122, 877-286-8389, 925-825-7700, reserve An American Classic! by 12/30 or rate may increase. Avis, 800-331-1600, use change fee equal to the late fee will apply for any changes, other than A Heritage Event! Car rental: bye requests within 3 days of the tournament. 3-day Sched: Onsite AWD #D657633. Ent: Continental Chess, Box 249, Salisbury Mills, NY Registration @ Sat 9-10a, Round Times at Sat & Sun 11a 5p, Mon 10a US Chess Junior Grand Prix! 12577. Questions: chesstour.com, DirectorAtChess.US, 347-201-2269. JUNE 16-18 OR 17-18, NEVADA 3:30p. Time Control: 40/120 SD/30 d5. 2-day Sched:Onsite Registration: US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:300 (ENHANCED) $15 service charge for refunds. Bring set, board, clock if possible; none Sun 8-8:30a, Round Times: Sun 9:30a 12p 2:20p 5p, Mon 10a 3:30p. supplied. Advance entries posted at chessaction.com (online entries Time Control: G/61 d5 in Rounds 1-3, 40/120 SD/30 d5 in Rounds 4-6 2017 NATIONAL OPEN posted instantly). Blitz tournament Sun 10 pm, enter by 9:45 pm. 6-SS, 40/90, SD/30 +30 (2-day rounds 1-3 and Unrated Section G/40 (merge in Round 4 with 3-day schedule). Info/flyer: www.BayArea +5). Westgate Resort & Casino, 3000 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas 89109. An American Classic! Chess.com/events/17/usatw/. Scholastic Event Prizes: Trophies to A Heritage Event! each player in Top 3 teams overall, Top u1200 team ,u900 team, u600 $100,000 Guaranteed Prize Fund will not be reduced! In 8 sections, top 2 FIDE rated. Open: $8,000-4,000-2,000-1,000-600-500-400-300- US Chess Junior Grand Prix! team, u300 team. Trophies to top “Girls” team, top “School” team, and JAN. 13-16, 14-16 OR 15-16, PENNSYLVANIA top “Club” team. Trophies to top two scorers on each board (1-4). Com- 300-300, top under 2500 $2,500, top under 2400 $2,400, EXTRA $2,500 for perfect score. The winner of the Open section also receives a replica US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:100 (ENHANCED) memorative medals to all others. $159/team or Scholastic Event EF: of the Edmondson Cup. $6,000-3,000-1,500-750-400-350- $43/player by 2/10. 2/11-17: $10 extra per player or $40 per team. Under 2300: 49TH ANNUAL LIBERTY BELL OPEN 300-250-250-250. Under 2100: $6,000-3,000-1,500-750-400-350-300- 7SS, 40/100, SD/30 d10 (3 day option, rds. 1-2 G/60 d10, 2-day option Onsite: $20 extra per player or $80 extra per team. Discount: $10/player 250-250-250. Under 1900: $5,000-2500-1250-600-350-300-250-250- in U2100 to U1250, rds. 1-4 G/30 d10). Sonesta Hotel, 1800 Market ($40/team) if registering for 2-day schedule and scholastic event. Sched: 250-250. $4,000-2,000-1,000-500-300-250-250-250-250-250. St., Philadelphia 19103. paid entries (re-entries, GMs Onsite Registration: Sat 8:30-9a. Games at Sat 10a 11:30a 1p 2:30p Under 1700: $$20,000 b/320 Under 1500: 3000-1500-700-350-300-250-250-250-250-250. Under & U1250 section count 70%), else in proportion, except minimum 75% 4:15p. www.BayAreaChess.com/events/17/usatw/. Info/flyer: Blitz 1300: $2000-1,000-500-300-250-250-250, top under 1000 (no provisional) of each prize guaranteed. From 2006 to 2016, the tournament had over Registration Mon 7-8pm, Rounds 8:30-10:30pm. EF: $14, $16 Event: $900. Unrated/Under 1000: 3 schedules with 5 rounds per day $200- 320 paid entries each year and the $20,000 projected prize fund was onsite. 75% of entry fees returned as prizes. Organized by Contact: 125-75 each day plus $300 overall (best 2 results). Plus Score Bonus: increased to over $20,000 in proportion. In 6 sections. Open: $2000- Judit Sztaray. Directed by Tom Langland, John McCumiskey, Jordan ($12,000 guaranteed) in addition to any other prizes, every player with 1000-600-400-300, 1st clear or on tiebreak $100 bonus, top Under Langland, and others. Sponsored by Bay Area Chess. Online entry at 3-1/2 points or more wins a $50 gift certificate. Plus score certificates 2300/Unr $900-500. FIDE. Under 2100: $1200-600-400-300-200. Under www.BayAreaChess.com/my/usatw or mail to Bay Area Chess, 2050 will be awarded on site only. Mixed Doubles: best male/female combined 1900: $1200-600-400-300-200. Under 1700: $1000-600-400-300-200. Concourse Drive #42, San Jose, CA 95131. For questions or help in 2-player team score: $1,500-750-350-250-150. Teammates may play in Under 1500: $1000-600-400-300-200. Under 1250: $800-400-300-200- forming teams email [email protected]. W. different sections but must have average rating below 2200. The Freddie: 100. Unrated may enter any section, but may not win over $150 in US Chess Junior Grand Prix! Players age 14 and under are eligible for best game prizes including U1250, $300 U1500, or $450 U1700. Mixed doubles bonus prizes:best MAY 12-14, TENNESSEE the Freddie Award and $400 in cash prizes (donated by Fred Gruenberg). male/female 2-player “team” combined score among all sections: SUPERNATIONALS VI Unrated players may play only in Unrated or Open Section. Provisionally $1000-600-400. Team average must be under 2200; teammates may 2017 Elementary, Junior High and High School National Championships rated players may not win more than 40% of top prize in any under play in different sections; teams must register (no extra fee) before in one great event! Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, section; balance goes to next player(s) in line. CCA minimum ratings or both players begin round 2. Top 5 sections EF: $108 online at chess- 2800 Opryland Dr., Nashville, TN 37214. 615.889.1000 or online at other ratings may be used if higher than US Chess June Supplement. action.com by 1/11, $120 phoned by 1/9 (406-896-2038, entry only, no https://aws.passkey.com/event/15611400/owner/760/landing. HR: EF: $199 by 1/31, $225 by 5/26, $250 by 6/14, $280 later. Add $125 for questions), 4-day $114, 3-day $113, 2-day $112 if check mailed by 1/4, $161 single-quad. All under one roof! 25 Sections (Select only one): adults rated under 2200 or juniors under 2100 playing in the Open $130 (no checks, credit cards OK) at site, or online until 2 hours before High School: 7-SS, G/120 d5. K-12 Championship; K-12 U1900; K-12 Section. $40 less for seniors 65 and over. Unrated section only: $125 rd 1. GMs free, $100 deducted from prize. U1250 Section EF: All $30 U1600; K-12 U1200; K-12 U800; K-12 Unrated. Junior High: 7-SS, G/120 less for players in only 1 schedule, $60 less for 2 schedules. Reg.: 2 less than top 5 sections EF. All: Unofficial uschess.org ratings usually d5. K-9 Championship; K-8 Championship; K-9 U1250; K-8 U1000; K-8 p.m.-10 p.m. Thursday, 8:30-9:30 a.m. Friday. Rds.: 11-5:30, 10-4:30, used if otherwise unrated. Special 1 yr USCF dues with magazine if U750; K-9 Unrated. Elementary: 7-SS, G/90 d5. K-6 Championship; K- 10-4:30. 2-day schedule: Reg.: 8:30-9 a.m. Saturday. Rds.: 10-12-2 then paid with entry: Online at chessaction.com, Adult $35, Young Adult $22, 5 Championship; K-6 U1400; K-6 U1000; K-5 U1200; K-5 U900; K-6 merge with 3-day in round 4 at 4:30. Half point byes available in any Scholastic $15. Mailed, phoned or paid at site, Adult $40, Young Adult Unrated; K-3 Championship; K-3 U1000; K-3 U700; K-3 Unrated; K-1 round; round 5 or 6 byes must be requested before the start of round 2 $25, Scholastic $17. Re-entry (no Open to Open) $70. 4-day schedule: Championship; K-1 U500. EF: $50 postmarked, faxed or online by and may not be cancelled. Chess sets and boards provided for tournament Reg ends Fri 6 pm, rds. Fri 7 pm, Sat 12 & 6, Sun 12 & 6, Mon 10 & 3:15. 4/24/2017, $70 postmarked, faxed or online by 5/5/2017, $85 after play only, not for skittles. Please bring digital chess clocks! The LAS 3-day schedule: Reg ends Sat 10 am, rds. Sat 11, 2:30 & 6, Sun 12 & 5/5/2017, $90 on site. DO NOT mail entries after May 5 as they may VEGAS INTERNATIONAL CHESS FESTIVAL features the National Open, 6, Mon 10 & 3:15. 2-day schedule (no Open Section): Reg. ends Sun. not be received in time. $5 extra for all phoned registrations. $20 change the U.S. Women’s Open, the International Youth Championship, and 9 am, rds. Sun 10-12-2-3:45-6, Mon 10-3:15. Bye: all, limit 3, Open must fee for roster or section changes after May 5. US Chess membership is other events. Many free extras and surprises! Free parking. Free commit before rd. 2, others before rd. 4. HR: $103-103-103-103, 1-800- required (may be paid with entry). AWARDS: Trophies awarded in raffles with great prizes. Free GM Lectures. FreeGM analysis of your SONESTA, 215-561-7500, request Continental Chess rate, reserve by accordance with Scholastic Regulations and based on number of par- games. Free Daily Bulletins and free commemorative DVD mailed to all 1/2 or rate may increase. Parking: Chess rate at Sonesta approx. ticipants. Team score = total of top four (minimum two) finishers from participants. Grandmaster Simuls and Chess Camp for all ages on $20/day (half of normal rate). 1540 Spring St, 12 minutes walk, is about each section. May 2017 Rating Supplement will be used. BYES: One Thursday. U.S. Women’s Open Wednesday and Thursday. Walter $7/day Sat & Sun, $20 other days; 1815 JFK Blvd, 3 minutes walk, is 1/2 –pt. bye available in rounds 1-6 if requested prior to 11 AM, Fri Browne Memorial Blitz Thursday 7:30 p.m. Youth Tournaments about $10/day Sat & Sun. Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use (5/12). On site entries after 11 AM, Fri 5/12 will receive a 1/2- Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Blitz Sectionals Friday, Saturday & Sunday. AWD#D657633 or reserve through chesstour.com. Ent: chessaction.com point bye for the first round and begin play in round 2. SCHEDULE Poker Tournament Monday Morning. Don’t be shut out - make your or Continental Chess, Box 249, Salisbury Mills, NY 12577. Questions: for K-12, K-9 and K-8 Sections: Rounds 1-2: Friday (5/12) 1:00 PM & reservations early and be sure to ask for the CHESS rates — $69 single DirectorAtChess.US, www.chesstour.com, 347-201-2269. $15 service 7:00 PM, Rounds 3-5: Saturday (5/13) 9:00 AM, 2:00 PM, & 7:00 PM, or double ($89 Friday and Saturday nights) guarantees a premium room charge for refunds. Advance entries will be posted at chessaction.com Sunday (5/14) Rounds 6-7 9:00 AM, & 2:00 PM. SCHEDULE for K-6, K- with new furniture, refrigerator, flat screen TV and more. The optional (online entries posted instantly). Blitz tournament Sun. 10 pm, enter 5 and K-3 Sections: Rounds 1-2: Friday (5/12) 1:00 PM & 6:00 PM, resort package including access to the Fitness Center, free WI-FI, and by 9:45 pm. more is substantially discounted for our group. Rounds 3-5: Saturday (5/13) 10:00 AM, 2:00 PM, & 6:00 PM, Sunday Cutoff for special hotel US Chess Junior Grand Prix! (5/14) Rounds 6-7 10:00 AM, & 2:00 PM. SCHEDULE for K-1 Sections: rate is May 26; after that rates will increase significantly and there may not be any rooms available. (800) 732-7117 or www.Veg- A State Championship Event! Rounds 1-2: Friday (5/12) 1:30 PM & 5:30 PM, Rounds 3-5: Saturday JAN. 14-15, MICHIGAN (5/13) 9:30 AM, 1:30 PM, & 5:30 PM, Sunday (5/14) Rounds 6-7 9:30 asChessFestival.com/hotel. ENT: Vegas Chess Festivals, PO Box US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:10 AM, & 1:30 PM. AWARDS CEREMONIES, Sunday (5/14); K-12, K-9 90925, Henderson, NV 89009-0925, on line at www.VegasChessFes- tival.com. Info: (702) 930-9550 and leave a message. FIDE. 2017 MICHIGAN MASTER/EXPERT & CLASS CHAMPIONSHIPS and K-8 Sections at approximately 7 PM; K-6, K-5 and K-3 Sections at 5-SS. Radisson Hotel Lansing, 111 N. Grand Ave., (517) 482-0188. HR: approximately 6 PM; K-1 Sections at approximately 5:30 PM. SIDE $110.95+tax by 1/2/17, after if space available. www.radisson.com/lans- EVENTS: Bughouse Championships (Three Sections: K-12, K-9 ingmi - Code: CHES17. 8 Sections: M/X, A, B, C, D, E (U1200), Novice and K-6): Thursday (5/11) 11:00 AM, Register ON SITE ONLY by 10:00 Grand Prix (Sat)/Fun Swiss (Sun): Both U1000/Unr. M/X Section will be FIDE rated. AM. EF: $25 per team of 2. Blitz Championships (Four Sections: K- US Chess Junior Grand Prix! Most recent USCF rating supplement used for ratings. Players must 12, K-9, K-6 and K-3): Thursday (5/11) 5:00 PM. EF $15 postmarked, play in class of their rating. Unrated players must play in Novice sect. faxed or online by 5/5, $20 after 5/5 or on site. On-site registration JAN. 13-16, 14-16 OR 15-16, CALIFORNIA, NORTHERN US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:150 (ENHANCED) Players may request to play up in class (or unrated players may request ends at 4 PM. Many GM simuls, workshops and lectures planned! being seeded into a class) if their recent tournament history shows Please refer to the SuperNationals VI website: www.uschess.org/tour- 8TH ANNUAL GOLDEN STATE OPEN achievement into that class. TD must approve all requests and will 7SS, 40/100, SD/30 d10 (3-day option, rds. 1-2 G/60 d10, 2-day option naments/2017/snvi to register on-line, see up-to-the-minute registrations, assign a rating to the player within the rating window of that class. EF: for more information, updated details, corrections, any added events except in Open Section, rds. 1-4 G/30 d10). Crowne Plaza Hotel, 45 M/X $45 (U18 $5 off), Free entry to GM, IM, FM, & 2200+, advanced and other activities. Advance entries must include player’s name/infor- John Glenn Dr., Concord, CA 94520 (free BART shuttle often available). entry fee deducted from prize. A, B, C, D, E: $42 (U18 $5 off); Novice: mation and all fees to be accepted. Roster changes are considered $25,000 prize fund unconditionally guaranteed. In 5 sections. Open, $25. Advance entries must be received by 1/12/17, after $10 more. new entries and will be charged according to date received. List open to all. $3000-1500-800-500-300, clear or tiebreak winner $100, Fun Swiss: $15. Make checks payable to MCA. MCA memb req’d for name, address, phone, section, grade, school (even if no team), email, top U2300/Unr $1000-500. FIDE. Under 2100: $1700-900-500-300-200, Michigan residents, other states OK. TL: M/X & Class: G/115 d5, birthdate, US Chess ID number (enclose US Chess dues if necessary). top U1900 $800-400 . Under 1800: $1700-900-500-300-200, top U1600 Novice/Fun Swiss: G/30 d5. Reg:. Online: https://onlineregistration.cc/. Players must be eligible to play in accordance with US Chess Scholastic $600-300. Under 1500: $1400-800-400-300-200, top U1300 $400-200. Sat, 8-9am; Fun Swiss: Sun, 8:30-9:30am. Rds.: Sat 10am-2:30pm-7pm; Regulations. Entries may be faxed to: 931.787.1238. Mail Entries To: Under 1200: $800-500-400-300-200, top U1000 $200-100. Unrated (0- Sun 10am-2:30pm. $$Gtd: $2850; M/X: $300-$200, X: $230 U2100: US Chess Federation, ATTN: SuperNationals VI, P. O. Box 3967, Crossville 3 lifetime games rated) may enter any section, with maximum prize $120; Class A, B, C, D, E: $180-$120; U1900/U1700/U1500: $100; TN 38557. Please note that US Chess Scholastic Regulations Rule U1200 $200, U1500 $350, U1800 $500 (NOTE CORRECTION). Mixed Novice/Fun Swiss: Trophies to Top 5 Overall, Top U800, Top U700, Top 12.4 requires players who enter an “Under” or “Unrated” section to doubles bonus prizes: best male/female 2-player “team” combined 600, Top Unr. State Champions (Top Michigan Resident): Master/Expert, disclose at the time of registration whether they have one or more score among all sections: $1000-500-300. Team average must be under Expert, and Each Class plus Novice. Trophies for all place-winners listed ratings in another over-the-board rating system(s). US Chess may use 2200; teammates may play in different sections; teams must register above. Ent & Info: Jeff Aldrich, P.O. Box 40, Flint, MI 48501; jef- this rating information to determine section and prize eligibility in accor- at site (no extra fee) before both players begin round 2; teammate [email protected]; (810) 955-7271. dance with US Chess Rules 28D and 28E. pairings avoided but possible. Top 4 sections EF: $133 online at ches- saction.com by 1/11, $140 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 1/9 (entry only, US Chess Junior Grand Prix! US Chess Junior Grand Prix! no questions), 4-day $139, 3-day $138, 2-day $137 mailed by 1/4, all JAN. 14-15, CALIFORNIA, SOUTHERN JUNE 14-15, NEVADA $150 at site, or online until 2 hours before round 1. GMs free; $120 US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:6 US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:50 (ENHANCED) deducted from prize. U1200 Section EF:$50 less than top 4 sections MARTIN LUTHER KING MEMORIAL 2017 U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN entry fees. All: Special 1 yr USCF dues with paper magazine if paid with (A Sponsored event) 4 Sections. Open/U1800/U1400/U700; 6SS, G/61 5SS, G/90 +30. Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, 3000 Paradise entry. Online at chessaction.com, Adult $35, Young Adult $22, Scholastic d5 for top 2 sections and G/30 d0 for bottom 2 sections. 11514 Santa Rd., 89109. $$3,500 Guaranteed Prize Fund. $1000-600-400, U2000 $15. Mailed, phoned or paid at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $25, Scholastic Monica Blvd., LA 90025, 2nd fl. EF: $75; $55 LACC members; No prizes $350-200, U1800 $250-150, U1600 $200-100, U1400 $150-100. EF: $99 $17. Re-entry (no Open to Open) $60. Online EF $5 less to CalChess 1/2, spouses/siblings 1/2, new members 1/2, Free new LACC Life mem- by 5/26, $125 later. REG.: 9-9:30 a.m. RDS.: 10-2:30-7, 10-2:30. 1/2 members. 4-day schedule: Late reg. ends Fri 6 pm, rds. Fri 7 pm, Sat bers. GMs free! Reg.: Sat 10-11:45 am. Register at LAChessClub.com point bye available in any round (limit 1). HR: $69 ($89 Friday and 12 & 6, Sun 12 & 6, Mon 10 & 3:15. 3-day schedule: Late reg. ends Sat and receive a free gift. GMs free! Rds.: 12, 2, 4 pm each day. Byes: Up Saturday nights) (800) 732-7117 ask for the CHESS rates. This event 11 am, rds. Sat 12, 3 & 6, Sun 12 & 6, Mon 10 & 3:15. 2-day schedule: to three 1/2-point byes available. Last Rd bye before 4 pm. 1-Day kicks off the LAS VEGAS INTERNATIONAL CHESS FESTIVAL on Late reg. ends Sun 9 am, rds. Sun 10, 12, 2, 3:45 & 6, Mon 10 & 3:15. option I: Play 1 day- no 1/2 pt byes- 1/2 EF. 1-Day option II: Play 1 Wednesday before the National Open. ENT: Vegas Chess Festivals, No 2-day Open Section. Byes: OK all, limit 2; Open must commit before day & get three 1/2 pt byes- Full EF. Prizes: $$1,500 (b/45) $750 Gtd.

54 January 2017 | Chess Life See previous issue for TLAs appearing January 1-14

1st-3rd $400-200-100 U2000: $100. U1800: $200-100-$50; U1600: $100- 9-SS, G/3 +2. FIDE Blitz rated. $500: $200-100, top U2400/unr, U2200, 4 SS, G/80 d5. Robert Michel Student Center, 915 N. Elmwood, Peoria, 50; U1400: $100-50; U1200: Book prize. Best attack: $25; Biggest upset: U2000, U1800: $50. USCF regular rating used for pairings & prizes. EF: IL 61625. 2 Sections: Open & Reserve (1400 & Under). EF: $30 by $25. Info: (310) 795-5710; [email protected] or www.LAChess- $30, MCC Mbrs $20. GMs Free. Reg.: 6:15-6:45. Rds.: 7-7:30-7:50-8:10- 1/19, $35 at site, free to Masters. $$Gtd: $620 (1st, 2nd 3rd & Upset in Club.com. Parking: Free on streets, BoA, or basement. 8:40-9-9:20-9:40-10pm. Max three byes. Request at entry. 23 W. 10th Open & 1st, 2nd & Upset in Reserve). Class prizes are b/3 for X, A, B, & St., NYC. 212-477-3716. www.marshallchessclub.org. C for Open section & D & E for Reserve section. Open: 1st $240, 2nd US Chess Junior Grand Prix! $120, 3rd $60, X, A, B & C $60 & $30 each, Upset $25. Reserve (1400 JAN. 14-16 OR 15-16, CALIFORNIA, SOUTHERN US Chess Junior Grand Prix! 1st $90, 2nd $60, Classes D & E $60 & $30 each, Upset $25. US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:150 (ENHANCED) & Under): JAN. 27-29 OR 28-29, FLORIDA Reg.: 8-8:45. Rds.: 9,12, 2:45, 5:30. Bye: 1-4, www.bradleywinteropen.com. 3RD ANNUAL DREAMING KING OPEN US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:20 Ent: Murrel Rhodes, 1116 N. Parkside Dr., Peoria, IL 61606, 309-256- 6-SS, 5 Sections, G/100, +30 (2-day schedule rds. 1 - 3 are G/45 d5). CENTRAL FLORIDA CLASS CHAMPIONSHIPS 3559, [email protected]. Four Points by Sheraton at 8110 Aero Dr., San Diego, CA 92123. $$13,000 5SS, G/120 d5 (2-day: Rd.1 G/60 d5). International Palms Resort, 6515 Guaranteed prize fund. Prizes: Open Section: $1,800-1,300-900-600- International Dr., Orlando, FL 32819. $$7,500 b/150, 70% Guaranteed. US Chess Junior Grand Prix! 400-200, U2300 $800-500. U2100, U1900, U1700 Sections, all $800- 6 Sections: Mast/Exp: $1000-400-200,U2200 $350. Class A (1999- JAN. 28-29, IOWA 500-300-200, U1500 Section: $300-200, BU1300 $300-150, BU1100 1800): $700-300, U1900 $150. Class B (1799-1600): $700-300, U1700 US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:10 (ENHANCED) $100, Book Prize for Best Unr in each section. Plus Best Game Prize: $150. Class C (1599-1400): $700-300, U1500 $150. Class D (1399- 3RD ANNUAL PORT OF BURLINGTON OPEN FIDE AND USCF $50. Jan. official rating list will be used. Fines: $5 for cell phone violations 1200): $700-300, U1300 $150. U1200: $500-300, U1000 $100, U800 RATED and possible $25 for forfeits. Reg.: 3-day: 8:30 - 9:30 AM on Sat, 2- $50. Rated players may play up one class only. Unrateds limited to $100 5SS, G/90 i30. The Loft of Burlington, 416 Jefferson St., Burlington, IA day: 8 - 9 AM on Sunday. Rds.: 3 day: 10 AM & 4 PM all 3 days. 2- day: unless Place prize in Mast/Exp. Event part of CFCC GP with $600 52601. $600 Guaranteed. Open $200+Trophy-125-100 U2000 $100 U1800 9:30 AM, 11:30, 1:30 PM & 4:00 PM (merged) on Sunday, then 10 AM & additional prizes for year. Trophies to top in each section (& Class X), $75 Chess Book for top three Upsets; EF: $50 till Jan 26th then $60; $20 4 PM on Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday). EF: $90 if received also Class F, G, H, I, J & Unr in U1200 having more than one entry. Tro- extra for players u1600 to play in open section. IM and GM free with ($50 by 11/30/16 (Early Bird Special), or $100 between 12/01/16 and phies to Rated Florida residents. EF: $80 by Jan 22, $90 later; plus $5 deducted from prize). Iowa State Membership (if resident of Iowa) Req’d, 1/08/17; $120 after 1/08/17 and late registration at door is $140. No if paid on-site; $20 less to students in grades K-8 in U1200 section. Other States Welcome. Reg.: Ends 15 min before round 1. No electronic credit cards at door, checks or cash only. Special rate of only $75 if CFCC memb discount: $10 ($5 for Jr/Sr memb). Re-entry $40. Reg.:ends devices in the playing hall. Rds.: Sat 10:00am; 2:30pm; 7:30pm; Sun U1500 or unrated. GMs, WGMs, IMs and WIMs all play for free, but 1/2 hr before 1st rd. Rd.1: 7pm Fri (2-day: 10am Sat at G/60 d5). Rds.: 9:00am; 2:00pm. All Sections One half point bye if requested before round1. $100 deducted from any prize winnings. Re-entry from 3-day to 2-day: 2-5: Sat 1 & 6, Sun 9 & 2. 1/2-pt. byes if commited before rd. 2 (max Additional Info:USCF and FIDE Rated. Jan 2017 USCF Rating supplement $75, for players rated U2300 only. This event will NOT be FIDE rated, 2). HR: $89 (No Resort Fee) (407) 351-3500; (Mention “Chess”); or at will be used for Pairing Purposes. FIDE rules will be used. Espresso sorry. SCCF membership req’d ($18 Adult, $13 Jr, or $3 for Jr w/o mag) http://tinyurl.com/Jan2017Hotel.(72-hr 1-day Cancellation fee.) machine will be onsite. Port of Burlington Reserve-Jan. 28, 2017: 4 for all So Cal residents. Two byes allowed, but must be requested at Reserve by Jan 6. Free Parking & WiFi for all. Ent: CFCC, c/o Harvey round Swiss, G/60 d5. EF: $25 before Jan 28, $30 After Jan 28th or onsite. least 1 hour before round and last round byes must be requested before Lerman, 921 N. Thistle Ln., Maitland, FL 32751; or online: https://online Rounds: 10AM, 12:30pm, 3:45pm ASAP. Prizes: $100 1st place, $75 second, $50 3rd based on 15 entries. (60% payout), Chess Book for U1400 round 2 and are irrevocable. Ent: SDCC, PO Box 120162, San Diego, CA registration.cc/CFCC/CFCL17 by Jan 26. Info: Call 407-629-6946, 92112 or enter online at www.scchess.com. For more info call Chuck (after Jan 27 3pm 407-670-9304 for onsite cell) or www.cen- 1st and 2nd. Chess Book for best upset and Board Raffle Prizes! Free tralflchess.org regular Scholastic membership if expired or new member for all sections. Ensey at (858) 432-8006, or email me at [email protected] Hotel 5 round swiss, G/30 d5. $15, Special rate of only $135 if booked by 12/15/16. Rates may be Port of Burlington RBO-Jan. 28, 2017: EF: Rates: US Chess Junior Grand Prix! $20 After Jan 28th or onsite. 5 Rounds: Sat 10, 11, 1pm, rounds 4 and 5 cheaper if booked early, but rooms will sometimes sell out or rates JAN. 27-29 OR 28-29, OHIO ASAP. Prizes: Trophies 1-5th place U1000, U800, U600 1st and 2nd U400 may go up. Phone: 858-277-8888, website is fourpoints.com/sandiego. US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:50 1st and 2nd, U200 1st and Unrated 1st and 2nd, Board Raffle Prizes! ENT: Parking is $8 a day. 2017 CARDINAL OPEN Eric Vigil, 445 Galway Dr., Iowa City, IA 52246, [email protected], 319- JAN. 17, NEW YORK 5 Rounds, 40/110 SD 30 d10, 2-day Rounds 1&2 G/75 d5. (U-1200: All 621-3116 or online https://www.onlineregistration.cc/. US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:10 Rounds G/60 d5, Saturday and Sunday Only) At Hilton Garden Inn, 700 US Chess Junior Grand Prix! MARSHALL MASTERS Beta Dr., Mayfield, OH 44143. Hotel rate $119 night, up to 4 per room, 440-646-1777, Free parking. Prize fund $10,000 b/120 paid. Open JAN. 28-29, CALIFORNIA, SOUTHERN 4-SS, G/25 d5. Open to 2000+ players. $725 GTD: 250-150-100. Top US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:6 U2400 100, Top U2300 75, Biggest upset $50. $40, Mbr $30. GMs Section (FIDE RATED): $1500-$900-$400 (TOP 3 GUARANTEED), top EF: MEMORIAL Free. Reg.: 6:15-6:45pm. Rds.: 7-8:15-9:30-10:45pm. Max one bye, for U2300/Unrated $440-$210. U-2100, U1800, U1500: Each: $1000-$500- $200. U-1200: $600-$400-200. Unrated may win no more than half of (A Sponsored event) 4 Sections. Open/U1800/U1400/U700; 6SS, G/61 round 1 or 4 only. Request at entry. www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. d5 for top 2 sections and G/30 d0 for bottom 2 sections. 11514 Santa 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. any prize except in Open Section. EF: $95 by 1/25, $105 after or at site. Free to GMs, IMs & WGMs, no prize deduction. Re-entry: $40, not Monica Blvd., LA 90025, 2nd fl. EF: $75; $55 LACC members; No prizes A Heritage Event! available in Open Section. Register online at www.progresswithchess.org. 1/2, spouses/siblings 1/2, new members 1/2, Free new LACC Life mem- US Chess Junior Grand Prix! 3-day Schedule: Registration Ends Fri 7:00pm. Rounds: Friday 7:30pm, bers. GMs free! Reg.: Sat 10-11:45 am. Register at LAChessClub.com JAN. 20-22 OR 21-22, ARIZONA Saturday 10-4:30 Sunday 9-3. 2-day Schedule: Registration ends and receive a free gift. GMs free! Rds.: 12, 2, 4 pm each day. Byes: Up US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:40 (ENHANCED) 9:30am. Rounds: Saturday 10-1:30, then merge with 3-day. Under 1200 to three 1/2-point byes available. Last Rd bye before 4 pm. 1-Day TUCSON OPEN AND SCHOLASTICS Schedule: Saturday 10-1:30-4:30, Sunday 10-1. All: Half point byes OK, option I: Play 1 day- no 1/2 pt byes- 1/2 EF. 1-Day option II: Play 1 Tucson Hilton East, 7600 E. Broadway Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85710, 520- excluding round 5, limit 1, must commit before Rd. 2. OCA membership day & get three 1/2 pt byes- Full EF. Prizes: $$1,500 (b/45) $750 Gtd. 721-5600. SECTIONS: Championship (FIDE rated), Reserve (U1800), & required for Ohio residents, See Flyer. Contact: Michael Joelson, 216- Booster (U1400). Scholastic tournament held the same weekend (K- 321-7000, [email protected]. 6/U1000) & (K-6/U600) visit sazchess.org for more info! SCHEDULE: CONTINENTAL CHESS SCHEDULE 5/SS, 40/90 SD/30 + 30 inc. Reg.: 1/20 5:30-6:30 PM; Rds.: A Heritage Event! (3-day) US Chess Junior Grand Prix! 7, 10-5, 9:30-3:30. (2-day) 5/SS, Rds.: 1-2 G/60 + 30 inc. Rds: 3-5 Visit www.chesstour.com for late news, hotel JAN. 27-29, NORTH CAROLINA availability, results, games, minimum ratings, etc. 40/90 SD/30 + 30 inc. Reg.: 1/21 8:30-9:30 AM; Rds: 10-1:30-5, 9:30- US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:50 (ENHANCED) 3:30. (Booster 2-day only) 5/SS, G/90; d/5. Reg.: 1/21 8:30-9:30 AM; Enter tournaments at chessaction.com. Rds: 10-1:30-5, 9:30-1. PRIZES: (Championship) $$Gtd: $700+Plaque- LAND OF THE SKY XXX To receive our free email newsletter, see 500-300; $$b/4 X, A, B/below $150 ea. $25 SACA gift certificate to Top 5SS, 40/120,SD/30 d5 (U12 is G/90 d5). Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville, chess calendar.com or chesstour.com. Jr. U18, Sr. 50+; (Reserve) $$b/38: $250-150; $$b/4 C, D/below $100 One Resort Dr., Asheville, NC 28806. Weekend before Super Bowl at Most tournaments have alternate schedules newly renovated hotel. $10,000 b/175 fully paid, $7,500 gtd. Prizes ea. $25 SACA gift certificate to Top UNR, Jr. U14, Sr. 50+; (Booster) with less or more days than below. Trophy + $50 SACA gift certificate to 1st Place, Trophy to 2nd - 5th guaranteed 75% across all sections, increased if attendance exceeds projection. $1400-350-250-200-150. U2300 $350- Asterisk means full details in this issue- Place, Top E, U1000/Unr. EF: GM, IM, FM, WGM, WIM, WFM FREE! Open (FIDE-rated): 200. Asheville (FIDE-rated, Under 2200): $700-350. 1999-1900, otherwise, see future issues or our website. USCF 2200 & above entry fee returned upon completion of schedule. Events in red offer FIDE norm chances. (Championship) $65, additional $20 if U1800; (Reserve) $45, additional 1899-1800, U1800 $350-200 each; Unrated: $100. Buncombe (Under 1700): $700-350. 1599-1500, 1499-1400, 1399-1300, Under 1300 $350- 1/6-8: Boston Chess Congress (See Dec issue) $20 if U1400; (Booster) $30. LATE FEE: Additional $10 if entry received 1/13-16: Liberty Bell Open, Philadelphia PA* after 1/12, $20 after 1/19. 1/2 pt. byes all rounds but must be 200 each; Unrated: $100. U12 (Under 1200): $350-175. U900: $175-100 ALL: Unrated: $100. Biggest Upset in Tmnt: $50. 1/13-16: Golden State Open, Concord CA* requested prior to start of Round 2 (max 2). Re-entries $40. $98 EF (Open, Asheville, Bun- HR: $84 by 1/20. GMs/IMs free ($94 deducted from prize). 2/16-20: Southwest Class, Fort Worth TX* , breakfast for up to four included, use code combe): EF: must reserve by 1/3 $42 by 1/20. 2/24-26: George Washington Open, Falls Church VA* “ ”. Martha Underwood, 520-990-6765, email: information@ (U12): “No-prize” EF for under age 18 in Asheville, CHESS Info: $21 (no discounts). 3/3-5: Western Class Championships, Van Nuys CA* sazchess.org Events4Chess.com; postal registration available if Buncombe, U12: Unrated EF in Asheville, Bun- Ent: $21 (no discounts, eligible for unrated prize only). 3/3-5: Pittsburgh Open, Pittsburgh PA* postmarked by 1/13 (checks payable to SACA) to SACA, Attn: 2017 combe, U12: ALL: On-site entries $10 more. Discounts (pre-reg or on-site, one per player): 3/11-12: New York State Scholastics, Saratoga Springs* Tucson Open, PO Box 40663, Tucson, AZ 85717. W. $10 off for players new to Land of the Sky, 2nd family member, or Under 3/24-26: Mid-America Open, St Louis MO* US Chess Junior Grand Prix! 18. Add $42 to play in a section more than 200 points above your rating, 3/24-26: Southern Class Championships, Orlando FL* JAN. 22, NEW JERSEY 1 section max. Rds.: 1st rd. either Fri 7pm or Sat 9am (G/90 d5), then 4/12-16: Philadelphia Open, Philadelphia PA* US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS: 15 (ENHANCED) Sat 1pm - 7pm, Sun 9am - 3pm. One 1/2 pt bye avail rds. 1-4, declare 4/28-30: Eastern Class Championships, Sturbridge MA* DR. DAVID OSTFELD MEMORIAL ICA OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP by rd. 2. BLITZ: Sat 10 am EF: $20. 100% of entry fees paid in prizes. 5/25-29: Chicago Open, Wheeling IL* Site: Bergen Academy, 200 Hackensack Ave., Hackensack, NJ 07601. ENT: WW, PO Box 1123, Weaverville, NC 28787, 828-645-4215, fax: 6/9-11: Northeast Open, Stamford CT Open to All Ages With Rating above 1400. 4SS, G/61 d5. Prize Fund 1st 828-645-4216. HR: $93 dbl. Reserve early at 828-254-3211 or 800-733- 6/16-18: Continental Class, Falls Church VA - 3rd $300, $250, $200, U2200, U2000, U1800, U1600 each $100 Best 3211 and mention tournament. INFO: Wilder Wadford, wwadford48@ 6/23-25: World Open Senior, Philadelphia PA* Under 13 Years Old $75, Best Over 55 Years Old $75. Reg Ends at 9 AM gmail.com, www.ncchess.org 6/24-29: Philadelphia International, Philadelphia PA* Only one 1/2-point bye allowed, if requested before the start of round US Chess Junior Grand Prix! 6/28-29: World Open Under 13, Philadelphia PA* two. EF: Adv (pmk. By JAN 18) $45, AT Site $50. GMs Free Entry. INFO JAN. 27-29 OR 28-29, CALIFORNIA, NORTHERN 6/29: World Open Action, Philadelohia PA* 201 287 0250 or [email protected]. $$b/40: Prize Fund Will Not US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:30 (ENHANCED) 6/29-7/4: World Open, Philadelphia PA* Be Reduced Below 70%. Rds.: 9:30 AM, 11:45 AM, 2:15 PM, 4:30 PM. BAY AREA CHESS CM AZHAR CHAMPIONSHIP 7/14-16: Chicago Class, Wheeling IL ENT: Make EF payable to: International Chess Academy Mail. To: Diana 1639A S. Main St., Milpitas, CA 95035. 5SS, G/90+30 2-day rds. 1-2 7/14-16: Pacific Coast Open, Ontario CA Tulman, 28 Canterbury Ln., New Milford, NJ 07646. W. G/60 d5. Park free. Prize: 5,000 b/90 (60% guar). 3 sects: 2000+ 7/21-23: Southern Open, Orlando FL JAN. 23, 30, FEB. 6, 13, NEW YORK (FIDE) $1,000-500-200, u2300: 250-125-100. 1600-1999: $700-300- 7/21-23: Bradley Open, Windsor Locks CT US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:6 100, u1800: 200-100, u1600: $700-300-100 u1400: 125-100, u1200: 8/11-13: Continental Open, Sturbridge MA 28TH NASSAU G/60 CHAMPIONSHIP 100. Unr max $100 exc Open. Jan 17 Supp & TD disc. Reg.: F 6:30- 8/11-13: Cleveland Open, Cleveland OH 8-SS, G/55+5sec or G/60. 1st Presbyterian Church, 1st & Main Sts., 6:45p & Sa 9:30-9:45a. Rds:. F 7p, Sa 10a, 3p Su 10a 2:30p. (2-day Sa 8/18-20: Manhattan Open, New York NY Mineola. EF: $40 by 1/20, $47 at site, non-memb $10 more. $$ (700 10a 12:30 & merge). EF: 99, Econ EF: 79 w 60% prz, after 1/22 +20. 8/25-27: Atlantic Open, Arlington VA b/20, top 2 G) 180-120, U2100, 1850, 1600, 1350/UR each 100. 4 byes Playup +25. Rated 2250+ $0 by 1/13 (prize - EF). Info: http://BayArea 8/25-27: Indianapolis Open, Indianapolis IN 1-8. Rds.: 7:15-9:25 each Mon. [email protected] Ent: Harold Chess.com/champs. 9/2-4: New York State Championship, Albany Stenzel, 80 Amy Dr., Sayville, NY 11782. 10/6-9: Washington Chess Congress, Arlington VA US Chess Junior Grand Prix! 10/6-8: Midwest Class Championships, Wheeling IL JAN. 27, NEW YORK JAN. 28, ILLINOIS US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:6 US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:6 For later events, see chesstour.com. MARSHALL $500 FIDE BLITZ (BLZ) BRADLEY WINTER OPEN

www.uschess.org 55 Tournament Life / January

1st-3rd $400-200-100 U2000: $100. U1800: $200-100-$50; U1600: $100- schedule Reg. ends Sat 10am rds. 11, 1:15 & 4:00, Sun 9 &1:00. U1250 uschess.org ratings usually used if otherwise unrated. Foreign player 50; U1400: $100-50; U1200: Book prize. Best attack: $25; Biggest upset: 3-day schedule Reg. ends Fri 7 pm, rds. Fri 8, Sat 11 & 4:00, Sun 9 & ratings (Expert & below): See chesstour.com/ foreignratings.htm. HR: $25. Info: (310) 795-5710; [email protected] or www.LAChess- 1:00. Ent: MCA, 1827 Thornton Ridge Rd., Towson, MD 21204. Detailed $100-100, 817-358-1700, reserve by 2/3 or rate may increase. Car Club.com. Parking: Free on streets, BoA, or basement. rules, more information and registration http://thebaltopen.com. rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633. Ent: Continental Chess, US Chess Junior Grand Prix! Box 249, Salisbury Mills, NY 12577. Questions: chesstour.com, Direc- US Chess Junior Grand Prix! torAtChess.US, 347-201-2269. $15 service charge for refunds. Bring JAN. 29, MASSACHUSETTS FEB. 11, OHIO US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:6 US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:10 set, board, clock if possible; none supplied. Advance entries posted at chessaction.com (online entries posted instantly). Blitz tournament WN 2017 WINTER OPEN FREEZING WEATHER XXXIV Sun 10:30 pm, enter by 10:15 pm. Town Hall Annex, 381 Main St., West Newbury, MA 01985. In 2 Sections, 4SS, G/60, +10. Dayton Chess Club, 18 W. Fifth St., Dayton, OH 45402. Open: 4SS, G/65 d5, $$GTD: $150-100-50. U1950 $75. U1700: 4SS, EF: $40 to Feb 8th then $50. GTD Prizes: Open $400-200, U1900 $201- US Chess Junior Grand Prix! G/65 d5, Open to 1699 & under. $$GTD: $100-80-60-50-40. U1200 $45. $50, U1600 $200-50. Reg.: 9:30-1015. Rds.: 10:30-1:30-4:30-7:00. DCC FEB. 17-19 OR 18-19, GEORGIA ALL: EF: Entry fee $32 postmarked by 21 January, $37 at site. Free mbrs $5 disc. Mail EF to: Dayton Chess Club, 18 W. 5th St., Dayton, OH US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:10 entry to those rated 2200 or above. Reg.: 8:45-9:15. Rds.: 9:30-12:30- 45402 or register online at www.daytonchessclub.com. More info: email 2017 ATLANTA WINTER CONGRESS 3-5:30. 1 half point bye rounds 1-3. ENT: Alex Relyea, 49 Technology [email protected] or call 937.461.6283. 5-SS, Interactive College of Technology, 5227 New Peachtree Rd., Chamblee, Dr. #89, Bedford, NH 03110. INFO: Alex Relyea [email protected]. GA 30341. $5,000 b/95 in top 6 sections; $3,000 Guaranteed. In 7 sections: Website: www.relyeachess.com. US Chess Junior Grand Prix! Master/Expert: $500-350-200; under 2200: 400-200-100. FIDE rated. FEB. 11-12, ALABAMA US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:6 Must be 1950 with no playing up! Class A (1800-1999): $400-200-100. US Chess Junior Grand Prix! Class B (1600-1799): $400-200-100. Class C (1400-1599): $400-200- A State Championship Event! QUEEN OF HEARTS - 45TH ANNUAL 100. Class D (1200-1399: $300-200-100. Class E (1000-1199): FEB. 4, PENNSYLVANIA 5SS, TC: G/120 d5. AUM Taylor Center. 7401 East Dr., Montgomery, AL $300-150-100. Under 1000: (February 19th only!) Trophies to top 7 under US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:6 36117. OPEN (PF: $625 - $$GTD): $275-150-X:100-A:100; RESERVE 1000 and top 7 under 800. Entry Fees: $74 3-day, $73 2-day by February 2017 PA STATE GAME/75 CHAMPIONSHIP (PF: $550 - $$GTD): $225-125-100-U1400: $100;AMATEUR (PF: $475 16th; $79 at site. GMs, IMs & WGMs free, $60 deducted from prize. Under 4SS, G/75 d5. O’Hara Student Center, Univ. of Pitt., 4024 O’Hara St., - $$GTD): $175-100-100-U1000: $100.EF: $50; if mailed by FEB 4th; 1000: $35. Unrated: $40 Limited to 2nd place prize in each section. Pittsburgh PA 15213. 3 Sections, $$ (695G): Championship: EF: $30 $60 at site. Late REG.: FEB 11th, 8-8:30am. Rds.: 9-2-7; 9-2:30. Unofficial uschess.org ratings used if otherwise unrated. Players may by 1/27, $40 later. $200-100, U2000 $75, U1800 $50. Premier: U1600. SCHOLASTIC (K-12): NOVICE (5SS. TC: G/20 d5, Not Rated): EF: play up one section! 3-day schedule: Reg. ends Fri. 6:30 p.m. Rounds: EF: $25 by 1/27, $35 later. $90-60, U1400 $50, U1200 $40, U1000 $30; $20; if mailed by FEB 4th; $30 at site. Trophy: Top 3; Medals 4th-6th. Fri. 7 pm, Sat. 2:30 and 7, Sun. 10 and 3:15. 2-day schedule: Reg. ends Trophies to Top 2, Top 2 U1400, Top 2 U1200, Top 2 U1000. Scholastic: Rds.: 9:15-10:15-12-1:15, 2:30. Checks payable to: Caesar Chess. ENT: Sat. 10 am. Rounds: 10:30 then merges with 3-day. Under 1000: Reg. Grades K-12 U900. EF: $15 by 1/27, $25 later. Trophies to Top 7, 1-3 Caesar Chess LLC, 5184 Caldwell Mill Rd., Suite 204 - 202, Birmingham, ends on 2/19 at 10:30 am. Rounds: 11-12:30, then as soon as possible. U600. ALL: Teams of 4 to 7 combined from all sections, Trophies 1st- AL 35244 or email your entry form information before FEB 8th and pay Time Controls: Master/Expert: G/90, Inc. 30.; Class A and below: G/120 2nd schools, clubs. PSCF $5, OSA. Reg ends 9:30am. Rds: 10-1-4-7. at site. Info: [email protected]; www.AlabamaChess.org. d5. 2-day option: G/90 d5. Under 1000: G/30 d5. All, Byes: Available all Ent/Info: PSCF, c/o Tom Martinak, 25 Freeport St., Pittsburgh, PA US Chess Junior Grand Prix! rounds (limit 2), must commit before 1st round. No cellphones in playing 15223, 412-908-0286. FEB. 16-20, 17-20, 18-20 OR 19-20, TEXAS rooms. Information: [email protected] or (478)-973- FEB. 4, MISSOURI US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:150 (ENHANCED) 9389. Enter: www.americanchesspromotions.com US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:20 8TH ANNUAL SOUTHWEST CLASS CHAMPIONSHIPS FEB. 21, NEW YORK 9TH ANNUAL METRO SAINT LOUIS CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP 9SS (Master Section), 7SS (other sections). DFW Airport Marriott South, US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:10 3SS, G/85 d5. Chess Club & Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, 4657 Mary- 4151 Centreport Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76155. Free parking, free airport MARSHALL MASTERS land Ave., Saint Louis, MO 63108. Free entries for GMs and IMs. EF: shuttle. 5-day schedule, Feb 16-20: Master Section only, GM & IM 4-SS, G/25 d5. Open to 2000+ players. FIDE Rapid rated. $750 GTD: $50, $40 for annual members of the club if registered by 2/3. PF: $2000 norms possible, 40/2, SD/30 d10. 4-day schedule, Feb 17-20: Expert 250-150-100. Top U2400 125, Top U2300 100, Biggest upset $25. EF: UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED!! Master/Expert Section $500-$300- through Class E, 40/2, SD/30 d10. 3-day schedule: Expert through $40, MCC Mbrs $30. GMs Free. Reg.: 6:15-6:45pm. Rds.: 7-8:15-9:30- $200. $200 for 1st in each Section: A, B, C, D, U1200/UNR. Players Class E, Feb 18-20, rds 1-2 G/60 d10, then merges with 4-day. 2-day 10:45pm. Max one bye, for round 1 or 4 only. Request at entry. Website: must compete in their own class. Reg.: 10-10:45. Rds.: 11, 2:30, 6. One schedule: Class B through E only, Feb 19-20, rds. 1-4 G/30 d10, then www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. 1/2 point bye if declared before round 1. Ent: 4657 Maryland Ave., Saint merges with others. $30,000 prize fund unconditionally guaranteed. Louis, MO 63108, or online at saintlouischessclub.org. 314-361- FIDE ratings used in Master Section, USCF February official in others. FEB. 24, NEW YORK Info: US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:6 CHESS, [email protected]. In 7 sections; rated players may play up one section; foreign FIDE rated may enter Master Section. Master (2200/up): $3000-1500-1000- MARSHALL $500 FIDE BLITZ (BLZ) A Heritage Event! 600-400, clear or tiebreak winner $200, top FIDE U2300 $1400-700. 9-SS, G/3 +2. FIDE Blitz rated. $500: $200-100, top U2400/unr, U2200, US Chess Junior Grand Prix! FIDE. Expert (2000-2199): $2000-1000-500-300-200. Class A (1800- U2000, U1800: $50. USCF regular rating used for pairings & prizes. EF: FEB. 10-12 OR 11-12, MARYLAND 1999/Unr): $2000-1000-500-300-200. Class B (1600-1799/Unr): $30, MCC Mbrs $20. GMs Free. Reg.: 6:15-6:45. Rds.: 7-7:30-7:50-8:10- US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:30 $2000-1000-500-300-200. Class C (1400-1599/Unr): $1700-900-500- 8:40-9-9:20-9:40-10pm. Max three byes. Request at entry. Website: 55TH ANNUAL BALTIMORE OPEN 300-200. Class D (1200-1399/Unr): $800-400-300-200-100. Class E www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. 5-SS, 40/90, SD/30 + 30” incr, (Rnd. 1 G/90 +30” incr) (2-day schedule: (Under 1200/Unr): $800-400-300-200-100. Unrated (0-3 lifetime games US Chess Junior Grand Prix! rds. 1-2 G/45+30”incr) U1250 & U1000 G/120 d5 (rds. 1-2 G/60 d5), rated) may enter A through E, with maximum prize E $150, D $300, C FEB. 24-26 OR 25-26, VIRGINIA (U1250 3-day option rds. 1&2 G/120 d5) Sheraton BWI, 1100 Old Elkridge $450, B $600, A $750. Mixed doubles bonus prizes: best male/female US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:100 (ENHANCED) Landing Rd., Linthicum Heights, MD 21090. $$Based on score. 7 sections: 2-player “team” combined score among all sections: $1000-600-400. Championship (min. rating of 1900) FIDE rated: 5.0 =$1600, 4.5 =$800, In Master Section, only rounds 1-7 count. Team average must be under 2ND ANNUAL GEORGE WASHINGTON OPEN 4.0=$450, 3.5=$175, 3.0=$50 [min $1500 payout, top score group 2200; teammates may play in different sections; teams must register 5SS, 40/100, SD/30 d10 (2-day option, rds. 1-2 G/60 d10). Westin raised if less than $1500]. U2100 (FIDE rated): 5.0 =$1500, 4.5 =$700, (no extra fee) before both players begin round 2; prize limits do not Tysons Corner, 7801 Leesburg Pike (VA-7), Falls Church, VA 22043 (from the east, take, I-66W to VA-7, from other directions, take I-495 4.0=$350, 3.5=$150, 3.0=$40. U1900: 5.0 =$1200, 4.5 =$650, apply to mixed doubles. Top 5 sections EF: $158 online at 4.0=$350, 3.5=$125. U1700: 5.0= $1200, 4.5 = $600, 4.0= $300, chessaction.com by 2/15, $180 at site, or online until 2 hours before to VA-7). Free parking, free shuttle to Tysons Corner Center and Metro. 3.5= $100. U1500: 5.0= $1000, 4.5= $500, 4.0= $250, 3.5= $100. round 1. $170 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 2/13 (entry only, no questions); 25 minutes drive from Washington, 50 minutes from Baltimore. $13,000 U1250: 5.0= $500, 4.5= $250, 4.0= $125, 3.5= $50. U1000 (no adult no phone entry after 2/13. 5-day $165, 4-day $164, 3-day $163, 2-day guaranteed prizes. In 5 sections. Open: Open to players who are/were 1800/over or pay $100 more. $1500-700-500-300, clear/tiebreak win Unr): 5.0= $250, 4.5= $125, 4.0= $50, 3.5= $20, Trophies to top 10 $162 mailed by 2/7. GMs, foreign IMs, foreign WGMs in Master & top U800 in U1000. If no 5-0 in section, then sole 1st @ 4.5 or Section free; $150 deducted from prize. Minimum prize $300 to foreign $100 bonus, top Under 2300/Unr $600-300. Under 2100: $1000-500- shared 1st at lower score receive bonus (added to score prize) - GMs who play all 9 games with no byes; deduction cannot lower prize 300-200, top U1900/Unr $500-250. Under 1800: $1000-500-300-200, top U1600 (no unr) $400-200. $800-400-200-100, top Championship: $300; U2100 $200, U1900 $150, U1700 & U1500: $100; to below the minimum US IMs, foreign FIDE rated players in Master Under 1500: U1250 & U1000: $50. Unrated may not win over $100 in U1000, $200 Section, EF $80 less. All $80 less than top 5 U1300 (no unr) $280-140. Under 1200: $300-200-100-50, top U1000 Class D or E Section EF: (no unr) $120-60. best male/female U1250, or $400 in U1500. Sets and boards provided. Clocks provided sections EF. (no Master to Master) $60. Special 1 yr USCF Mixed doubles bonus prizes: Re-entry All: 2-player “team” combined score among all sections: $600-300. Team in the Championship through U1700 sections. Optionally, pairings dues with magazine if paid with entry. Online at chessaction.com, Adult $35, Young Adult $22, Scholastic $15. Mailed, phoned or paid at site, average rating must be under 2200; teammates may play in different can be texted/emailed to your phone. Free Sunday morning con- sections; teams must register (no extra fee) by 2 pm 2/25. Free parking. EF: $99 by 1/27, $109 Adult $40, Young Adult $25, Scholastic $17. Late reg. Unrated tinental breakfast for players. 5-day schedule: may enter any section, with prize limit U1800 $400, U1500 $200, by 2/7, and $114 online only by 2/9, $120 at the door. Special EFs: $35 ends Thu 6 pm, rds. Thu 7, Fri 12 & 7, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 11 & 6, Mon 10 & U1200 $100; balance goes to next player(s) in line. less for U1250, $55 less for U1000; GMs free, $50 deducted from prize; 4. Late reg. ends Fri 6 pm, rds. Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 & 6, Top 4 sections 4-day schedule: $98 at chessaction.com by 2/22, $110 phoned to 406-896-2038 IMs $45 off EF, $20 deducted from prize. HR: $89, ($5 EF discount if Sun 11 & 6, Mon 10 & 4. Late reg. ends Sat 10 am, EF: 3-day schedule: (no questions) by 2/20, 3-day $108, 2-day $107 if check mailed by staying at hotel). Rooms may not be avail after 1/27. 3-day schedule: rds. Sat 11, 2:30 & 6, Sun 11 & 6, Mon 10 & 4. Late 2-day schedule: 2/15, all $120 (no checks, credit cards OK) at site, or online until 2 reg. ends Sun 9 am, rds. Sun 10, 12, 2, 3:45 & 6, Mon 10 & 4. OK Reg. ends Fri 7pm, rds. Fri 8, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 9 & 3. 2-day schedule: Byes: hours before round 1. GMs free; $90 from prize. Reg. ends Sat 10am rds. 11, 2:15 & 6, Sun 9 & 3. U1250 & U1000 all, limit 2; Open must commit before rd. 2, others before rd. 4. Under 1200 Section Unofficial EF: all $50 less than top 4 sections EF. Re-entry $50, not available in Open. No checks at site, credit cards OK. Unofficial uschess.org ratings usually used if otherwise unrated. Special 1 year USCF dues with magazine if paid with entry. Online at chessaction.com, Adult $35, Young Adult $22, Scholastic $15. Mailed, phoned or at site, 2nd annual Adult $40, Young Adult $25, Scholastic $17. 3-Day Schedule: Reg. ends Fri 6 pm. Rds. Fri 7, Sat 11 & 5, Sun 10 & 3:15. 2-Day Schedule: Reg. ends Sat 10 am. Rds. Sat 11, 2 & 5, Sun 10 & 3:15. Half point GEORGE WASHINGTON OPEN byes available all rounds, limit 2 byes, Open must commit before rd. 2, others before rd. 3. HR: $99-99, 1-866-716-8108, reserve by 2/10 or rate may increase, chess block may sell out before 2/10. Ent: February 24-26 or 25-26, Westin Tysons Corner chessaction.com or Continental Chess, Box 8482, Pelham, NY 10803. $15 service charge for refunds. Questions: chesstour.com, chesstour.info, DirectorAtChess.US, 347-201-2269. Advance entries posted at chessaction.com (Online entries posted instantly). Blitz Falls Church, VA, 25 minutes from Washington tournament Sat 9:30 pm, enter by 9:15 pm. US Chess Junior Grand Prix! MAR. 3-5 OR 4-5, PENNSYLVANIA $13,000 GUARANTEED PRIZES US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:50 (ENHANCED) 18TH ANNUAL PITTSBURGH OPEN 5SS, 40/100, SD/30 d10 (2-day option, rds. 1-2 G/60 d10). Wyndham Garden Pittsburgh Airport Hotel, One Industry Ln., Pittsburgh 15275. For full details see “Grand Prix” in this issue. Free parking, free airport shuttle, free internet in guest rooms and skittles room. Hotel restaurant is expected to be open most of the time this year; many other restaurants are 1 to 1.5 miles away (free shuttle).

56 January 2017 | Chess Life See previous issue for TLAs appearing January 1-14

Prizes $10,000 based on 140 paid entries (U1200 & re-entries count limits do not apply to mixed doubles. Top 6 sections EF: $115 online at to: Buckeye Chess Club, 6321 E. Livingston Ave. Suite E, Reynoldsburg, half), $7000 (70% each prize) minimum guaranteed. In 5 sections. Open: chessaction.com by 3/1, $120 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 2/27, 3-day OH 43068. Questions: Chairman of Chess – Mr. Kelly M. Bloomfield Open to players who are/were 1800/up or pay $100 extra. $1400-700- $118, 2-day $117 mailed by 2/22, $130 online until 2 hours before game – [email protected] or 614-668-5588 350, top Under 2300/Unr $500. Under 2100: $1000-500-300, top Under or at site. Class E EF: all $50 less than top 4 sections EF. GMs free; MAR. 4, NEW HAMPSHIRE 1900/Unr $400. Under 1800: $1000-500-300, top Under 1600 (no unr) $100 deducted from prize. No checks at site; credit cards OK. SCCF US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:6 $300. Under 1500: $800-400-200, top Under 1300 (no unr) $200. Under memb. ($18, under 18 $13 with magazine, $3 without) required for 4TH QUEEN CITY TORNADO 1200: $400-200-100. Mixed doubles bonus prizes: best male/female rated Southern CA residents; join/renew at scchess.com. All: Special 1 2-player “team” combined score among all sections: $300-150. Team yr USCF dues with magazine if paid with entry: Online at chessaction.com. 4SS, G/60 d5. Radisson Hotel, 700 Elm St. (Granite St. exit off I-293), average must be under 2200; may play in different sections; must Adult $35, Young Adult $22, Scholastic $15. Mailed, phoned or paid at Manchester, NH. $$G 1,230. Three sections. Open, EF: $37 if rec’d by register (no extra fee) by 2 pm 3/4. prize limits: $100 in U1200, site, Adult $40, Young Adult $25, Scholastic $17. Re-entry (except Master) 3/2, free to GM/IM. $$G: $200-130-100, U2050 $120. Under 1800, EF: Unrated $35 if rec’d by 3/2. $$G: $150-100-60, U1600 $95. No Unr. may win $200 U1500, $400 U1800. Top 4 sections EF: $95 online at $60. 3-day schedule: Reg. Fri to 6 pm, rds. Fri 7, Sat 11 & 5, Sun 10 & chessaction.com by 3/1, $100 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 2/27, 3-day 3:15. Reg. Sat to 10 am, rds. Sat 11, 2 & 5, Sun 10 & over $80. Under 1400, EF: $33 if rec’d by 3/2, except $27 for age U21 2-day schedule: or rated U1000. $$G: $100-70-40, U1200 $65. No Unr. may win over $103, 2-day $102 mailed by 2/22, all $110 (no checks, credit cards OK) 3:15. Byes: OK all rds, limit 2; Master must commit before rd. 2, others at site, or online until 2 hours before rd 1. GMs, IMs & WGMs free; $90 before rd. 3. $119-119, 818-997-7676, reserve by 2/17 or rate may $55. All, EF $5 more if paid at site. Online advance entry available at HR: www.nhchess.org until 6 p.m. on 3/3. NHCA membership required of from prize. U1200 Section EF: all $50 less than top 4 sections EF. increase. Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633. Ques- usually used if otherwise unrated. chesstour.com, 347-201-2269, DirectorAtChess.US. rated NH residents; dues $8 adult, $6 age U19. Reg.: 8:30-9:35 a.m. Unofficial uschess.org ratings tions: Ent: Sat. 3/4. 10-1-3:30-6. Half-point bye OK for any one rd, must Special 1 year USCF dues with magazine if paid with entry. Online at chessaction.com or Continental Chess, PO Box 8482, Pelham, NY 10803. Rds.: chessaction.com, Adult $35, Young Adult $22, Scholastic $15. Mailed, $15 service charge for withdrawals. Advance entries posted at chess- commit before rd 2; no half-point byes for players receiving full-point phoned or at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $25, Scholastic $17. action.com (online entries posted instantly). Saturday byes. Ent: NHCA, c/o Hal Terrie, 377 Huse Rd. Unit 23, Manchester, NH Re-entry Blitz tournament 03103. Info: [email protected] or (603) 668-8368. $60 (not Open to Open). 3-day schedule: Reg ends Fri 6 pm, rds. Fri 7 9:30 pm, enter by 9:15 pm. pm, Sat 11 & 5, Sun 10 & 3:15. 2-day schedule: Reg ends Sat 10 am, US Chess Junior Grand Prix! rds. Sat 11, 2 & 5, Sun 10 & 3:15. All: Half point byes OK all, limit 2, US Chess Junior Grand Prix! MAR. 3-5 OR 4-5, OHIO MAR. 4-5, MARYLAND Open must commit before rd. 2, others before rd. 3. HR: $102-102, 1- US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:30 US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:15 800-996-3426, 724-695-0002; reserve by 2/17 or rate may increase. UMBC OPEN - ALVIN S. MINTZES CHESS TOURNAMENT Ent: chessaction.com or Continental Chess, Box 8482, Pelham, NY 10803. 2017 ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER OPEN (OPEN SECTION FIDE 5SS, G/90, +30incr. University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1000 $15 service charge for refunds. Questions: www.chesstour.com, Direc- RATED) Hilltop Circle, Baltimore (in Commons, 3rd floor). Held concurrently with torAtChess.US, 347-201-2269. Entries posted at chessaction.com (online 5SS, 40/100 SD 30 d10 (2-day option, rds. 1-2 G60 d10 schedules merge Maryland “Sweet 16” (Invitational)—winner to receive in-state fixed- starting round 3 for all sections). The Greater Columbus Convention entries posted instantly). Blitz tournament Saturday 9:30 pm, enter dollar tuition scholarship to UMBC. Open: (All) $$1260: $400-300-200 by 9:15 pm. Center, 400 North High St., Columbus, OH 43215. Playing hall in rooms Gtd., Class prizes $120 ea. to top U2300, U2100, U1900. Free ent. to A102 – A104, Skittles area in room A101. For hotel information or parking US Chess Junior Grand Prix! GMs, $50 deducted from any prizes. U1800: (U1800/Unr.) $$1080 b/40: go to: http://arnoldsportsfestival.com/visitor-info/find-a-hotel/ or $350-250-150, Class prizes $110 ea. to top U1600, U1400, U1200 (b/4). MAR. 3-5 OR 4-5, CALIFORNIA, SOUTHERN http://arnoldsportsfestival.com/visitor-info/parking/. Over 185,000 spec- US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:100 (ENHANCED) No Unr. player may win more than $250 in this section. All: EF: $50 if tators at this sports festival so make your accommodation’s early. Your postmarked by 2/17, $60 later, $10 less if under age 20. Reg.: 8:30- 24TH ANNUAL WESTERN CLASS CHAMPIONSHIPS entry fee gets you a wristband that gives you access to all the sporting 9:30am Sat., Rds.: 10-3-7:30pm Sat, 10:30-3:30pm Sun. Byes: Up to 5SS, 40/100, SD/30 d10 (2-day option, rds. 1-2 G/60 d10). Airtel Plaza events and EXPO and is required by all participants. Prizes $7000 based three 1/2-pt. byes avail. in Rds. 1-5 if req’d at least 1 hr. before Rd. Hotel, 7277 Valjean Ave., Van Nuys, CA 91406. Parking $8/day to midnight on 100 paid entries in 4 sections: Open $1200 - $900 - $600 - $400 Top (before Rd. 2 for any Rd. 4-5 bye), but only at most one 1/2-point bye in or $12/day including overnight. Flyaway bus from LAX to Van Nuys $9 U2300 - $450 $700 - $500 - $300 - $150 $500 - $350 - U2000 U1700 Rds. 4-5. HR: La Quinta Inn and Suites, 1734 West Nursery Rd., Linthicum, each way; free shuttle to bus and train station. Free wireless, indoor $200 - $100 U1300 $350 - $200 - $100 Unrated players and provisional MD 21090, 410-859-2333, www.lq.com (From I-95, take Exit 47A onto pool, gym, hot tubs; restaurants within walking distance. $18,000 guar- rated players only qualify for 25% of any prize in all sections except I-195 towards BWI Airport. Take Exit 2A onto 295 north towards Balti- 7 sections. (over 2199): $2000-1000-500-300, Open, balance goes to next player in line. Online - $100 ($90 anteed prizes. Master Entry Fee: more; take first exit, bearing right onto West Nursery Road.) Directions clear or tiebreak winner $100 bonus, top U2300 $600-300. (2000- Expert plus $10 athlete wristband) by February 14, 2016 after that EF is $115 to UMBC: Take Exit 47B off I-95 & follow signs to UMBC. Park in 2199): $1200-600-400-200. (1800-1999/Unr): $1200-600-400-200. Class A ($105 plus $10 athlete wristband), Mail - $105 by February 14, 2016 after Commons Drive garage. Ent: Register online at http://mdchess.com Class B (1600-1799/Unr): $1200-600-400-200. Class C (1400-1599/Unr): that EF is $115, On-site EF $115. All: No checks at site credit cards are (email questions to [email protected]), or mail to Joel DeWyer, UMBC, $1100-600-300-200. Class D (1200-1399/Unr): $900-500-300-200. Class ok. Re-Entry all sections - $20. GM & IM free entry. 3-day Schedule: Attn: Open, 1000 Hilltop Circle, The Commons, Rm. 335, Baltimore, MD (Under 1200/Unr): $500-250-150-100. may play up E Rated players Reg. ends Fri 6pm, rds. Fri 6:30pm, Sat 10:30pm & 4pm, Sun 10am & 21250. Make out check to Maryland Chess Association. For more infor- one section. Unofficial uschess.org ratings usually used if otherwise 3:30pm. 2-day Schedule: Reg. ends Sat 9am, rds. Sat 9:30am, 12:15pm, mation: www.umbc.edu/chess. W. unrated. Prize limits: Unrated may not win over $100 in E, $200 D, & 4pm, Sun 10am & 3:30pm. Byes: all sections, limit 1 - 1/2 point bye, $300 C, $500 B, or $700 A. Mixed doubles bonus prizes: best no last round bye, must commit before round 3. Side Event: Sat 9pm A State Championship Event! male/female 2-player “team” combined score among all sections: $600- Blitz (G/5 d0) (USCF Rated) 9 rounds entry fee $20, 80% entries= MAR. 10, PENNSYLVANIA 300. Team average must be under 2200; teammates may play in different prize fund. Location: Room A102 at the Columbus Convention Center. US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:6 sections; teams must register at site (no extra fee) by 2 pm 3/4, prize Entry or more information: http://buckeye chess.com/Arnold or mail 2017 PA QUICK CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP (QC)

24th annual WESTERN CLASS CHAMPIONSHIPS March 3-5 or 4-5, 2017 - Van Nuys (Los Angeles), California Airtel Plaza Hotel- $8 day parking, $12 overnight, $9 LAX bus, $18,000 guaranteed! 5 rounds, 40/100, SD/30, d10 (2-day Rated players may play up one SCCF membership ($18, under 18 option, rds 1-2 G/60, d10). Both section. Unrated must play in A or below $3) required for rated So. CA residents. schedules merge & play for same prizes. with prize limit E $100, D $200, C $300. B Airtel Plaza Hotel, 7277 Valjean $500, A $700. Balance goes to next 3-day schedule: Reg. Fri to 6 pm, Ave, Van Nuys CA 91406. Free wireless, player(s) in line. rds Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 am & 5 pm, Sun 10 indoor pool, hot tubs, shuttle from Mixed doubles bonus prizes: best am & 3:15 pm. bus/train; restaurants within walking male/female 2-player team combined 2 day schedule: Reg Sat to 10 am, distance. score among all sections: $600-300. rds Sat 11, 2 & 5, Sun 10 & 3:15. Team average must be under 2200; Half point byes OK all rounds; limit $18,000 GUARANTEED PRIZES. In teammates may play in different sections; 2, Master must commit before round 2, 7 sections: register by 2 pm March 4. others before round 3. Master Section (over 2199): $2000- 1000-500-300, clear/tiebreak 1st $100, Top 6 sections entry fee: $115 online Bring set, board, clock if possible- top U2300 $600-300. 100 GPP. at chessaction.com by 3/1, $120 phoned none supplied (for sale at site). Expert Section (2000-2199): to 406-896-2038 by 2/27, 3-day $118, 2- Hotel rates: $119-119, 818-997- $1200-600-400-200. day $117 if check mailed by 2/22, all $130 7676 or use link at chesstour.com, Class A Section (1800-1999/Unr): online until 2 hours before round 1 or at reserve by 2/17 or rate may increase. $1200-600-400-200. site until 1 hour before. No checks at site, March official ratings used (web Class B Section (1600-1799/Unr): credit cards OK. unofficial ratings usually used if $1200-600-400-200. Class E Section entry fee: all fees otherwise unrated). Class C Section (1400-1599/Unr): $50 less than top 6 sections. Entry: chessaction.com or $1100-600-300-200. All: Special USCF dues with magazine Continental Chess, Box 8482, Pelham Class D Section (1200-1399/Unr): if paid with entry fee: see Chess Life TLA NY 10803. $15 charge for refunds. $900-500-300-200. or chesstour.com. Re-entry $60 (not Entries posted at chessaction.com Class E Section (Under 1200/Unr): available for Master Section to Master (online entries posted immediately). $500-250-150-100. Section). Blitz tmt. Sat 9:30 pm, reg. by 9:15.

www.uschess.org 57 Tournament Life / January

6SS, G/8 d3. Lancaster Host Resort and Conference Center, 2300 Lincoln 5SS, 40/100, SD/30 d10 (2-day option, rds. 1-2 G/60 d10). Wyndham may play in different sections, teams must register (no extra fee) by 2 Hwy East (Rt 30), Lancaster, PA 17602. 3 sections, EF rec’d by 2/25: Orlando Resort, 8001 International Dr., Orlando 32819. Special parking pm 3/25. Top 6 sections EF:$109 at chessaction.com by 3/22, $115 Open: $12. U1500: $11. U1100: $10. $$ (750G): Open: 175-100-50, $5. Prizes $14,000 guaranteed.. In 7 sections. Master (2200/up): phoned to 406-896-2038 by 3/20 (entry only, no questions), 3-day $113, U1800 $45, U1600 $40. U1500: 125-75-50, U1300 $40, U1200 $30, Unr $1400-700-400-300, clear or tiebreak winner $100 bonus. Expert (2000- 2-day $112 mailed by 3/15, $130 online until 2 hours before rd. 1. GMs $20. U1100: Trophies: 1-12, U800, U600, U400, 1-2 Unr. All: EF: $20 2199): $1000-500-300-200. Class A (1800-1999): $1000-500-300-200. free; $100 deducted from prize. U1000 Section EF: all $50 less than after 2/25, PSCF $5 OSA. Reg.: 5:30-6:15pm. Rd 1: 7pm. Feb 2017 Reg Class B (1600-1799): $1000-500-300-200. Class C (1400-1599): $1000- above. Online EF $3 less to MCA members. No checks at site,credit rating used. Bye: limit 1, ask by rd. 2. HR: Mention “chess tourney”: 500-300-200. Class D (1200-1399): $800-400-200-100. Class E (Under cards OK. Unofficial uschess.org ratings usually used if otherwise 800-233-0121 $82-$82-$87-$92. Ent: PSCF, c/o Tom Martinak, 25 1200): $500-250-150-100. Rated players may play up one section. unrated. Special 1 yr USCF dues with magazine if paid with entry: Online Freeport St., Pittsburgh, PA 15223-2245. Info: martinak_tom_m@hot- Unrated may enter A through E, but may not win over $100 in E, $200 at chessaction.com, Adult $35, Young Adult $22, Scholastic $15. Mailed, mail.com, 412-908-0286, pscfchess.org/pascholasticchamp/. D, $300 C or $500 B. Mixed doubles bonus prizes: best male/female phoned or paid at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $25, Scholastic $17. Re- US Chess Junior Grand Prix! 2-player “team” combined score among all sections: $400-200. Team entry $60; not available in Open Section. 3-day schedule: Reg ends Fri A State Championship Event! average must be under 2200; teammates may play in different sections; 6 pm, rds. Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 & 5, Sun 10 & 3:15. 2-day schedule: Reg teams must register at site (no extra fee) by 2 pm 3/25. Top 6 sections MAR. 11-12, PENNSYLVANIA ends Sat 10 am, rds. Sat 11, 2 & 5, Sun 10 & 3:15. Byes: OK all, limit 2; US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:10 EF: $103 online at chessaction.com by 3/22, $110 phoned to 406-896- Open must commit before rd. 2, others before rd. 3. HR: $99-102, includes 2038 (entry only, no questions) by 3/20, 3-day $108, 2-day $107 mailed free full hot buffet breakfast. 888-303-1746, 314-726-5400, request chess 2017 IRA LEE RIDDLE MEMORIAL PA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP by 3/15, $120 (no checks, credit cards OK) at site, or online until 2 rate, reserve by 3/10 or rate may increase. Car rental: Avis, 800-331- & PA COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIP hours before rd. 1. GMs & IMs free; $90 deducted from prize. Class E 1600, use AWD #D657633, or reserve car online through chesstour.com. 5SS, G/90 d5. Lancaster Host Resort and Conference Center, 2300 Lincoln EF: all $40 less than above. Unofficial uschess.org ratings usually Ent: chessaction. com or Continental Chess, Box 8482, Pelham, NY 10803. Hwy East (Rt 30), Lancaster, PA 17602. 3 sections: $$ (1875G): Open: used if otherwise unrated. Special 1 year USCF dues with magazine Questions: DirectorAtChess.US, chesstour.com, chesstour.info, 347-201- 350-150, U2200 $125, U2000 $100. 200-150, U1650 $125, U1500 U1800: if paid with entry. Online at chessaction.com, Adult $35, Young Adult 2269. $15 service charge for refunds. Advance entries posted at $100. U1400: 200-150, U1200 $90, U1000 $75, Unr $60. All: College Tr: $22, Scholastic $15. Mailed, phoned or paid at site, Adult $40, Young 1-2 in each section, 1-2 team (top 4 over all sections). $40 rec’d by chessaction.com (online entries posted instantly). Blitz tournament Sat- EF: Adult $25, Scholastic $17. Re-entry $60; not available in Master Section. urday 9:30 pm, enter by 9:15 pm. 2/25, $50 after, PSCF $5 OSA. Reg.: 8:45-9:30 am. Rds.: 10-2-5:30, 9-1. 3-day schedule: Reg ends Fri 6 pm, rds. Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 & 5, Sun 10 Feb 2017 ratings used. Bye: limit 1, ask by rd. 2. HR: Mention “chess & 3:15. 2-day schedule: Reg ends Sat 10 am, rds. Sat 11, 2 & 5, Sun A Heritage Event! tourney”: 800-233-0121 $82-$82-$87-$92. Ent: PSCF, c/o Tom Martinak, 10 & 3:15. All: Half point byes OK all, limit 2, Master must commit US Chess Junior Grand Prix! 25 Freeport St., Pittsburgh, PA 15223-2245. Info: 412-908-0286, before rd. 2, others before rd. 3. HR: $119-119-119-119, 1-800-421- APR. 7-9 OR 8-9, OHIO [email protected], pscfchess.org/pascholasticchamp/. 8001, 407-351-2420; reserve by 3/10 or rate may increase. Car rental: US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:20 US Chess Junior Grand Prix! Avis, 800-331-1600, AWD D657633, or reserve car online through chess- 53RD CINCINNATI OPEN MAR. 17-19 OR 18-19, GEORGIA tour.com. Ent: chessaction.com or Continental Chess, Box 8482, Pelham, Hilton Garden Inn, 5300 Cornell Rd., Blue Ash, OH 45242. 5SS; Sections: US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:15 NY 10803. $15 service charge for refunds. Questions: DirectorAtChess.us, Open, U2100, U1700, U1300. Open section FIDE rated. Players may choose 2017 BORIS KOGAN MEMORIAL chesstour.com, chesstour.info, 347-201-2269. Entries posted at chess- to play up one section only. Time Control: Open section 40/90, SD/30, i30 5-SS, Interactive College of Technology, 5227 New Peachtree Rd., Chamblee, action.com (online entries posted instantly). Blitz tournament Sat 9:30 except 2-day rds 1&2 G/75 d5. Other sections G/120 d5. Prizes: Open: GA 30341. $3,000 guaranteed. In four sections. Championship: FIDE pm, enter by 9:15 pm. $800-500-400-300, top under 2300 $250-200; U2100: $600-400-300-200, and USCF rated. Must be rated at least 1900 USCF. $400-300-200. under top under 1900 $175-125; U1700: $400-300-225-150, top under 1500 $125- US Chess Junior Grand Prix! 100; U1300: $250-200-150-125, top under 1100 $125-100; prizes based on 2200 $250, under 2050 $250. Amateur: Under 1900 $300-200-100, under MAR. 24-26 OR 25-26, MISSOURI 1750 $200, under 1600 $200. Reserve: Under 1400 $250-150-100, under 120 paid entries, else proportional. No unrated may win more than the third- US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:120 (ENHANCED) place prize amount except in Open. Entry fee: Advance $99, must be received 1200 $100. Unrated: Trophies to top five. Time Controls: Championship 21ST ANNUAL MID-AMERICA OPEN G/90, inc. 30; Others sections G/120 d5. Two-day schedule’s first round by April 6; onsite $110; re-entry $50. For those who played in 2016 Cincinnati 5SS, 40/100, SD/30 d10 (2-day option, rds. 1-2 G/60 d10). Clayton Plaza Open, $10 loyalty discount; for all others who played in 2012-2015 Cincinnati is G/90 d5 for all sections. Entry fee: $60 three-day, $59 two-day by Hotel St. Louis-Clayton, 7750 Carondelet Ave., St. Louis, MO 63105 (I-64 March 16, $65 at site. Unrateds $30, GMs and IMs free. Reentry except Open, $5 loyalty discount; $3 discount for current Ohio Chess Association W/US 40-W Exit 32B, 1.2 miles north on Hanley Rd). Free parking. Championship $35. Available all rounds (limit two), must commit $$ members. Free entry to GMs/IMs/WGMs/WIMs; $99 less applicable dis- Byes: In 7 sections: Open to players before first round. Three-day schedule: Registration ends 6:30 p.m. 20,000 GUARANTEED PRIZE FUND. Open: counts deducted from prize. Advance registration: Mail entries to Cincinnati March 17. Rounds 7 p.m., 2:15 p.m.-7 p.m., 10 a.m.-3:15 p.m. who are rated 1800/over or pay $100 extra. $2000-1000-500-300, clear Open, 9180 Pinewood Dr, Loveland, OH 45140 or enter online at www.chess- Two-day winner or 1st on tiebreak $100 bonus, top U2300/Unr $800-400. FIDE. schedule: Registration ends 10 a.m. First round 10:30 a.m., then merges cincinnati.com. Onsite registration: Friday, April 7 5:30-6:30 pm; Saturday, $1400-700-400-200. $1400-700-400-200. with three-day. Info: (478) 973-9389 or [email protected] Under 2100: Under 1900: Under April 8 8:00-10:00 am. Open 3-day schedule: Fri 7, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 9 & 3. Enter: americanchesspromotions.com. 1700: $1400-700-400-200. Under 1500: $1200-600-300-200. Under 1300: Open 2-day schedule: Sat 11 & 2, then merge with 3-day. All other $1000-500-300-200. Under 1000: $500-300-200-100, plaques to first 3, sections: Fri 7, Sat 9, 2 & 7, Sun 9 & 2; six rounds are scheduled; players US Chess Junior Grand Prix! top U800, U600, Unrated Prize limits: Unrated may not win over $150 in must select one zero-point bye so all players play five rounds. Byes: Up to MAR. 24-26 OR 25-26, FLORIDA U1000, $300 U1300, $500 U1500, or $700 U1700. Mixed doubles bonus two optional half-point byes, must commit before 5:00 pm Sat; optional half- US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:60 (ENHANCED) prizes: best male/female 2-player team combined score among all point byes are additional to zero-point bye in U2100, U1700 and U1300 15TH ANNUAL SOUTHERN CLASS CHAMPIONSHIPS sections: $800-400-200. Team average must be under 2200, teammates sections. HR: $105/king bed, $119/two queen beds. Reserve by Friday,

Categories  Added    

RUN AN ADDITIONAL TOURNAMENT THIS SPRING! Each affiliate is entitled to one TLA per month of up  Chess Life to 8 lines and up to 2 issues of Chess Life, for any tournament between April and June 2017, if no TLA for such an event ap- peared in 2016, and the TLA is e-mailed by the appropriate deadline. The 8 free lines cannot be applied to longer TLAs. Only $49 for Premium Membership, which includes a copy of Chess Life SPECIAL CATEGORIES QUALIFY FOR FREE TLAS! Each affiliate is entitled to one TLA per month of up to 8 lines for events in the following categories, if submitted by e-mail. The free lines cannot be applied to longer TLAs: every month. Regular Memberships are available for $40 and give online-only access to Chess Life. SENIOR For age 50 or above, or a CHESS CLUB SPECIAL A tourna- COLLEGIATE A tournament limited to higher minimum age. ment playing only on one or more college students. (Note to affiliates: If you collect a weekday evenings. $49 membership, you may submit UNRATEDS FREE Any tournament JUNIOR For age 20/below (age 20 it online to US Chess for $46.) that offers free entry to unrated players. must be eligible). RBO Open to Under 1200/ Unr or If your prizes are based on entries, say Under 1000/ Unr. Tournament name “paid entries.” NON-SCHOLASTIC WITH SCHOLASTIC must include “Rated Beginners Open” A tournament for all ages held concur- US CHESS BOOSTER TOURNAMENT or “RBO.” rent (same location) with a scholastic A tournament that offers at least two tournament that in its previous year US Chess membership renewal BLITZ Time control of Game/5. TLAs drew at least 50 players. We encourage prizes, or a quad that offers at least such as “USCF-rated Blitz every Friday organizers of scholastics to hold open one per section. 7 pm” are accepted. or collegiate events on the side.

SPECIAL RATES FOR CLUB ADS. Up to 5 lines $180 per year, $100 for 6 months for unchanged club ads in the TLA section. Announce meeting dates & times, activities, contact info, etc. US CHESS DISCUSSION GROUPS. See www.uschess.org/forums for four groups: Tournament Organization, Chess Club Organization, Tournament Direction, US Chess Issues.

58 January 2017 | Chess Life See previous issue for TLAs appearing January 1-14

March 24, 2017 to ensure rate and room. For reservations, call 513-469- entry after 4/11: available until 2 hours before round 1, same price as 5SS, 40/100, SD/30 d10 (2-day option, rds. 1-2 G/60 d10). Host Hotel at 6900, reference code “CSC”, or use link on our website to book online. Bring entry at site. EF $100 less to seniors 65/over in Open through U1400. Cedar Lake, 366 Main St., Sturbridge, MA 01566 (I-84 Exit 3, near I-90). sets and clocks, especially clocks with increment feature for Open section. Special 1 year USCF membership with magazine if paid with entry: Free parking. $$20,000 guaranteed prizes. In 7 sections: Master Complete information, including online and mail registration forms, at Online at chessaction.com, Adult $35, Young Adult $22, Scholastic $15. (2200/up): $2000-1000-500-300, clear winner or 1st on tiebreak $100 www.chesscincinnati.com. Questions: [email protected] or call/text Mailed, phoned or paid at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $25, Scholastic $17. bonus, top U2300 $800-400. Expert (2000-2199): $1500-700-400-300. Alan at 513-600-9915. No checks at site, credit cards OK. Re-entry: $100, no re-entry from Class A (1800-1999/Unr): $1500-700-400-300. Class B (1600-1799/Unr): Open Section to Open Section. 5-day schedule (Open only): Reg. ends $1500-700-400-300. Class C(1400-1599/Unr): $1300-700-400-300. Class US Chess Junior Grand Prix! Wed 6 pm, rds. Wed. 7 pm, Thu 12 & 7, Fri 11 & 6, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 10 & D (1200-1399/Unr): $700-400-200-100. Class E (Under 1200/Unr): $600- APR. 12-16, 13-16, 14-16 OR 15-16, PENNSYLVANIA 300-200-100, plaques to top 3, 1st U1000, U800, U600, Unr. US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:200 (ENHANCED) 4:15. 4-day schedule (except Open): Reg. ends Thu 6 pm, rds. Thu 7 pm, Rated players Fri 11 & 6, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 10 & 4:15. 3-day schedule (except Open): may play up one section. Prize limits: Unrated may not win over $100 in 11TH ANNUAL PHILADELPHIA OPEN Reg. ends Fri 10 am, rds. Fri 11, 2:30 & 6, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 10 & 4:15. 2- E, $200 D, $400 C or $600 B. Mixed doubles bonus prizes: best OPEN SECTION, APR 12-16: 9SS, 40/2, SD/30 d10. GM & IM norms pos- day schedule (except Open): Reg. ends Sat. 9 am, rds. Sat. 10, 12, 2, male/female 2-player “team” combined score among all sections: $600- sible, FIDE rated. OTHER SECTIONS, APR 13-16, 14-16 OR 15-16: 7SS, 3:45 & 6, Sun 10 & 4:15. 4-day, 3-day, 2-day merge & compete for same 300. Team average must be under 2200; teammates may play in different 40/2, SD/30 d10 (3-day option, rds. 1-2 G/60 d10; 2-day option, rds. 1-4 prizes. Byes: Half point byes OK all rounds, limit 3 byes, limit 2 in last 4 sections; teams must register (no extra fee) before both players begin G/30 d10). Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, 1201 Market St., Philadelphia, rounds. Open Section must commit before rd. 2, other sections before rd. round 2. Top 5 sections EF: $115 online at chessaction.com by 4/26, PA 19107, directly across the street from Reading Terminal Market with 4. Bring sets, boards, clocks if possible- none supplied. HR: $106-106- $120 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 4/24 (entry only, no questions), 3-day 80 food vendors. Prizes $80,000 based on 500 paid entries (seniors, re- 126, 215-625-2900, reserve by 3/31 or rate may increase. Parking: (rates $118, 2-day $117 mailed by 4/19, $130 at site, or online until 2 hours entries, GMs, IMs, WGMs count as half entries, U1100 Section as 40% subject to change) Marriott valet, about $20/day (60% off regular rate) before round 1. GMs free, $100 deducted from prize. Class D or E EF: entries), else proportional, minimum $60,000 (75% of each prize) guaranteed. for first 100 spaces sold. Gateway Garage, 1540 Spring St. (3/5 mile from All $50 less than top 5 sections EF. No checks at site, credit cards OK. In 7 sections: Open: $7000-4000-2000-1000-800-600-500-500-400-400, Marriott, 1 block from Sheraton Hotel), $7/day Sat & Sun, $20/day other Online EF$5 less to MACA members; may join/renew at masschess.org. clear or tiebreak first $200 bonus, FIDE Under 2400/Unr $2000-1000. days. 1324 Arch (2/5 mile from Marriott), $16/day. Car rentals: Avis, Unofficial uschess.org ratings usually used if otherwise unrated. Under 2200/Unr, Under 2000/Unr, Under 1800: each $5000-2500-1200- 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633 or reserve car online at chesstour.com. Special 1 yr USCF dues with magazine if paid with entry: Online at 800-600-500-400-300-300-300; unrated may not win over $2000 in Under Ratings: FIDE April used for Open, USCF April official for U2200 & below; chessaction.com, Adult $35, Young Adult $22, Scholastic $15. Mailed, 2000. Under 1600: $4000-2000-1000-700-500-400-300-300-300-300. Under note that USCF ratings after the April list (see above) may result in a phoned or paid at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $25, Scholastic $17. Re- $3000-1500-1000-700- 500-400-300- 300-300-300. 1400: Under 1100/Unr: $1500 prize limit. Foreign player ratings: see www.chesstour.com/for- entry $60; not available in Master Section. 3-day schedule: Reg ends $1000-700-500-400-300-300-200-200-100-100; unrated may not win over eignratings.htm. Cellphone & anti-cheating rules: see www.chess Fri 6 pm, rds. Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 & 5, Sun 10 & 3:15. 2-day schedule: Reg $300. Unrated not allowed in U1800, U1600 or U1400 sections. Mixed tour.com/devices.htm. Players must submit to a search for electronic ends Sat 10 am, rds. Sat 11, 2 & 5, Sun 10 & 3:15. Byes: OK all, limit 2; best male/female combined 2-player team score: Doubles Bonus Prizes: devices if requested by Director. Ent: chessaction.com or Continental Master must commit before rd. 2, others before rd. 3. HR: $97-97, 800- $1000-500-300-200. In Open Section, only the first 7 rounds are counted. Chess, Box 8482, Pelham, NY 10803. $15 service charge for refunds. Ques- 582-3232, 508-347-7393, request chess rate, reserve by 4/7 or rate may Team average must be under 2200; teammates may play in different sec- tions: DirectorAtChess.us, 347-201-2269, chesstour.com. Advance entries increase. Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633, or reserve tions; teams must register (no extra fee) before both players begin round posted at chessaction.com (online entries posted instantly). car online through chesstour.com. Ent: chessaction.com or Continental 2. if otherwise unrated. Blitz tour- Unofficial uschess.org ratings usually used nament Sat. 10:30 pm, reg. by 10:15 pm. Chess, Box 8482, Pelham, NY 10803. Questions: DirectorAtChess.us, Prize limits: 1) If post-event rating posted 4/10/16-4/10/17 is more than chesstour.com, chesstour.info, 347-201-2269. $15 service charge for 30 points over section maximum, prize limit $1500. 2) Players with under US Chess Junior Grand Prix! refunds. Entries posted at chessaction.com (online entries posted instantly). 26 lifetime games as of 4/17 official cannot win over $500 in U1100, $1000 APR. 20, 27, MAY 4, 11, 18, 25, NEW YORK Blitz tournament Sat 9:30 pm, enter by 9:15 pm. in U1400, $1500 U1600, or $2000 U1800. 3) Balance of any limited prize US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:20 goes to next player(s) in line. Open EF, for GMs, IMs & WGMs: $130 LONG ISLAND CC ILAN KREITNER MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT US Chess Junior Grand Prix! online by 4/11, $160 at site. Minimum prize guarantees in Open Section, 6SS, G/90 d5. United Methodist Church, 470 East Meadow Ave., East MAY 5-7 OR 6-7, MICHIGAN US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:20 to players who enter online by 3/1 and play all 9 games with no byes: US Meadow, NY 11554. Open to all: $2000 GTD: $600-$400. Top U-2000, GM $300, foreign GM $700 (limited to first 5 to enter, others $400), foreign U-1750, U-1500, U-1250/unr. $250 ea. EF (cash only): $50 LICC Mem- 14TH ANNUAL GREAT LAKES OPEN IM/WGM $400, foreign FM/WIM $300, foreign FIDE rated $200. Open bers, $60 Non-LICC members. Reg: 6:45 – 7:20 PM. Adv. Ent: Cash Held at McCamly Plaza Hotel, 50 Capital Avenue SW, Battle Creek, MI EF, for US players who are not USCF or FIDE rated 2200/over: $355 only in person at the LICC any Thursday evening prior to rd. 1 (NO adv 49017 (See Lodging below). 4 Sections: OPEN, U1800 (RESERVE), U1400, online at chessaction.com by 2/4, $375 online by 4/11, $400 at site. Open entry via mail, e-mail, or online). Rds: 7:30 PM SHARP ea. Thursday. 2 Novice (U800, 1 Day Only). 5-SS (4-SS in Novice). OPEN Section USCF EF, for others: $205 online at chessaction.com by 2/4, $225 online by byes 1- 6 (rd. 6 bye decl. before rd. 3), No draws by agreement prior to and FIDE-rated. OPEN Section participants must have USCF and FIDE 4/11, $250 at site. Open mailed or phoned entries: all $10 more than Black’s 25th move, Rdm. pairings var. (within each score group) of the memberships in addition to a State membership; can be purchased on site (FIDE membership is free). USCF rating is used for PAIRING and online entry, mail by 4/4, phone to 406-896-2038 by 4/10. U2200 through SS used. Info: www.lichessclub.com. U1400 Sections EF: $205 online at chessaction.com by 2/4, $225 online PRIZES. GRAND PRIX POINTS: 20. 2-day & 3-DAY SCHEDULES. Up to by 4/11, $250 at site. Mailed EF: 4-day $214, 3-day $213, 2-day $212 A Heritage Event! two 1/2-point byes allowed; must be requested prior to start of RD. 3. mailed by 2/4, all $20 more mailed by 4/4. U1100/Unr Section EF: $75 US Chess Junior Grand Prix! SCHEDULES MERGE AFTER RD. 2. NO RE-ENTRIES IN OPEN OR NOVICE online at chessaction.com by 4/11, 4-day $84, 3-day $83, 2-day $82 mailed APR. 28-30 OR 29-30, MASSACHUSETTS SECTIONS. Re-Entry in Reserve (U1800): $40. Re-entry in U1400: $35. by 4/4, $100 at site. Phoned EF: All $10 more than online EF, 406-896- US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:120 (ENHANCED) USCF and a STATE Membership Required – can be purchased on site! 2038 (entry only, no questions), available only through 4/10. Online late 26TH ANNUAL EASTERN CLASS CHAMPIONSHIPS Cell Phone and Headset Rules firmly apply; Rules posted on site. Prize

11th annual PHILADELPHIA OPEN April 12-16, 13-16, 14-16 or 15-16, Easter weekend at luxurious Philadelphia Marriott Prizes $80,000 based on 500 paid entries, $60,000 minimum, IM and GM norms possible!

Open: 9SS, 40/2, SD/30, d10. Under 1100 Section: $1000-700- Online late entry: available until 2 Other sections: 7SS, 40/2, SD/30, 500-400-300-300-200-200-100-100. hours before round 1; same fee as at site. d10 (3-day option, rds 1-2 G/60, d10; 2- Unrated not allowed in U1400, U1600 Phone or mail entry: see Chess Life or day option, rds 1-4 G/30, d10). All or U1800. Maximum prize for unrated in chesstour.com. merge & play for same prizes. U1100 Section $300, in U2000 Section Senior 65/over in U1400/up, $100 Marriott Hotel, 1201 Market St, $2000. less. directly across street from famous Mixed doubles: $1000-500-300-200. Re-entry (no Open to Open) $100. Reading Terminal Market (over 80 food 2-player male/female teams averaging vendors). Chess rates $106-106-126, under 2200, may play in different sections; 5-day Open schedule: Reg. ends 215-625-2900, reserve by 3/31. see TLA or chesstour.com. Wed 6 pm, rds. Wed 7, Thu 12 & 7, Fri 11 Parking: Marriott valet about $20. Prize limits: 1) If post-event rating & 6, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 10 & 4:15. Gateway Garage, 1540 Spring St (3/5 posted 4/10/16-4/10/17 is more than 30 4-day: Reg. ends Thu 6 pm, rds. Thu mile from Marriott, 1 block from Sheraton pts above section max, limit $1500. 2) 7, Fri 11 & 6, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 10 & 4:15. Hotel) about $5 Sat & Sun, $18/day Players with under 26 lifetime games as of 3-day: Reg. ends Fri 10 am, rds. Fri other days. 4/17 official list cannot win over $500 in 11, 2:30 & 6, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 10 & 4:15. U1100, $1000 in U1400, $1500 in U1600, 2-day: Reg. ends Sat 9 am, rds Sat 7 sections. Prizes based on 500 paid or $2000 in U1800. 10, 12, 2, 3:45 & 6, Sun 10 & 4:15. entries, else proportional (seniors, re- Half point bye OK all, limit 3 (limit 2 entries, GMs, IMs, WGMs count half, Open entry fee: last 4 rounds). Open must commit before U1100 Section 40%), with 75% minimum GMs/IMs/WGMs $130 online by round 2, others round 4. ($60,000) guaranteed. 4/11, $160 at site. Open: $7000-4000-2000-1000-800- US player not FIDE or USCF 2200/ All: FIDE ratings used for Open, USCF 600-500-500-400-400, clear/tiebreak 1st over: $355 online at chessaction.com by April for others, unofficial usually used if $200, FIDE U2400/Unr $2000-1000. FIDE 2/4, $375 by 4/11, $400 at site. otherwise unrated. Bring set, board, clock rated, 200 Grand Prix points. Others: $205 at chessaction.com by if possible- not supplied. USCF Under 2200, Under 2000, Under 2/4, $225 online by 4/11, $250 at site. membership required; see Chess Life or 1800 Sections: Each $5000-2500-1200- Minimum prize guarantees for GMs chessaction.com for special dues rates. 800-600-500-400-300-300-300. & foreign FIDE: see TLA or chesstour.com. Entries posted at chessaction.com Under 1600 Section: $4000-2000- U2200 to U1400 Section: $205 (online entries posted instantly). $15 1000-700-500-400-300-300-300-300. online by 2/4, $225 by 4/11, $250 at site. charge for refunds. Under 1400 Section: $3000-1500- U1100 Section entry fee: $75 online Blitz tournament Sat 10:30 pm, 1000-700-500-400-300-300-300-300. by 4/11, $100 at site. enter by 10:15 pm.

www.uschess.org 59 Tournament Life / January

Fund: $4,700. (66 2/3% Guar.). ONLINE REGISTRATION (beginning in Open, U2300, U2100 or U1000). Open: Open to players who are/were 2-day schedules merge & compete for same prizes. Byes: OK all, limit December 19th) available at: www.bccfoundation.org/glopen. CHIEF rated 2200/over by USCF or FIDE or pay $100 extra. $10000-5000-2500- 4 (limit 2 in last 4 rds), Open must commit before rd. 2, others before rd. TD: Tony Nichols ([email protected]). NATIONAL ARBITOR: DR. 1300-1000-800-600-500-400-400, clear or tiebreak winner bonus $300, 4. Hotel rates: $109-109-109-109, 800-937-8461, 847-777-6500, reserve ED MANDELL ([email protected]). EF: (*SEE NOVICE Section top FIDE Under 2400/Unr $2000-1000. FIDE rated, GM and IM norms by 5/11 or rate may increase. Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, AWD below) By April 28th (add $10 after, add $15 on site): OPEN SECTION: possible. Under 2300: $5000-2500-1200-800-600-500-400-300-300-300. #D657633, or reserve car online through chesstour.com. Foreign player 3-DAY, $83. 2-DAY, $82. IM’s/GM’s Free! ($80 EF deducted from prize.) Under 2100: $5000-2500-1200-800-600-500-400-300-300-300; unrated ratings: See www.chesstour.com/foreignratings.htm. US player ratings: U1800 SECTION: 3-DAY, $63. 2-DAY, $62. U1400 SECTION: 3-DAY, limit $1000. Under 1900: $5000-2500-1200-800-600-500-400-300-300- May official ratings used; FIDE ratings used for Open Section. Unofficial $46. 2-DAY, $45. NOVICE (U800): $12. TL: 3-DAY: Rds. 1-5, 40/120 d5, 300. Under 1700: $5000-2500-1200-800-600-500-400-300-300-300. uschess.org ratings usually used if otherwise unrated. Special rules: SD/30. 2-DAY: Rds. 1-2, G-60 d5. RDs 3-5, 40/120;d5 SD/30. RDS.: 3- Under 1500: $4000-2000-1000-700-500-400-300-300-300-300. Under 1) Players must submit to a search for electronic devices if requested DAY: Fri: 7 pm. Sat: 12, 6:00. Sun: 10, 3:30. 2-DAY: Sat: 12:30, 3, 6:00. 1300: $4000-2000-1000-700-500-400-300-300-300-300. Under 1000: by Director. See also chesstour.com/devices.htm. Ent: Continental Chess, Sun: 10, 3:30. REGISTRATION: 3-DAY: Fri, May 5, 4:30–6:00 PM. 2- $1000-500-300-200-200-150-150-100-100-100, unrated limit $200, trophies Box 8482, Pelham, NY 10803. Questions: chesstour.com, chesstour.info, DAY: Sat, May 6: 9:00–11:30 AM. ONLINE REGISTRATION (beginning to first 10, top U800, U600, U400, Unrated. Prize limits: 1) If any post- DirectorAtChess.US, 347-201-2269. $15 service charge for refunds. December 19th) available at: www.bccfoundation.org/glopen. MAIL-IN event rating posted 5/24/16-5/24/17 was more than 30 points over Entries posted at chessaction.com (online entries posted instantly). REGISTRATION: Holly Munsch, Battle Creek Community Foundation, 34 section maximum, prize limit $1500. 2) Players with under 26 lifetime Bring set, board, clock if possible- none supplied. W. Jackson St., Ste. 1, Battle Creek, MI 49017. *NOVICE SECTION games rated as of 5/17 official list cannot win over $500 in U1000, $1000 U1300, $1500 U1500, $2000 U1700, or $2500 U1900. 3) Balance of any JUNE 14-15, NEVADA (U800): 4-SS. Sat, May 6 (1 Day Only). Open to U800 or Unrated Only. US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:50 (ENHANCED) REG.: Sat, 9-10:30 am. TL: G/25 d5. RDS: 11:30, 1, 2:30, 4. PRIZES: limited prize goes to next player(s) in line. Mixed Doubles Bonus Prizes: Trophies for Top 5 overall. Trophies also for Top U600, U400, UNR. best male/female combined 2-player “team” score: $2000-1000-500- 2017 U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN Medals to everyone scoring 2.5 and not receiving a trophy. $$: $4,700 400-300. For Open Section, only rounds 1-7 counted towards mixed See Nationals. Prize Fund (66 2/3% Guar). OPEN SECTION: $2,500 (b/40): 1st, 2nd, doubles. Team average must be under 2200; teammates may play in dif- JUNE 16-18 OR 17-18, NEVADA 3rd: $900, $500; $350. Top U2200, U2000, U1800/UNR: $250 Each. ferent sections; teams must register (no extra fee) before both players US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:300 (ENHANCED) RESERVE (U1800): $1,300 (b/34): 1st, 2nd: $550, $350; TOP U1600, begin round 2; teammate pairings avoided but possible; teams including 2017 NATIONAL OPEN U1400/UNR: $200 Each. U1400 SECTION: $90 (b/34): 1st, 2nd: $350, an unrated limited to $500. Open through U1300 entry fee: $207 online See Nationals. $250; TOP U1200, UI000, U800/UNR: $100 Each. UNR eligible for Top at chessaction.com by 3/20, $227 by 5/24. $215 phoned to 406-896- or UNRATED Prizes ONLY. LODGING: This AAA Four-Diamond Hotel is 2038 by 3/21, $235 phoned by 5/22 (entry only, no questions). 5-day JUNE 23-25, PENNSYLVANIA located in Downtown Battle Creek. Call Toll-Free 1-888-622-2659 for $215, 4-day $214, 3-day $213, 2-day $212 mailed by 3/21, all $20 more US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:50 (ENHANCED) Reservations or go online at www.mccamlyplaza.com. Ask for the Great mailed by 5/12. All $250 online until 2 hours before round 1 or at site 2ND ANNUAL WORLD OPEN SENIOR Lakes Open chess rate ($94/night)–must reserve by April 9th for this until 1 hour before round 1. No checks at site, credit cards OK. Do not 5SS, 40/100, SD/30 d10. Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, 1201 Market great rate! Parking $8, unlimited in and out privileges. Free parking in mail entry after 5/12. Open EF for titled players: GMs free; $200 St., Philadelphia 19107 (see World Open for rates & parking info). Open nearby areas on weekends. For directions to hotel, go online to deducted from prize. IMs/WGMs $100; another $100 deducted from to all born before 6/25/67. $5000 guaranteed prizes. In 2 sections. www.mapquest.com or www.yahoo.com/maps. registration Info: Holly prize. EF $100 less to seniors age 65/over, except U1000 Section. Under Open, open to all. $1000-600-300, clear or tiebreak win $100 bonus, Munsch, (269) 962-2181. Email: [email protected]. CHESS INFO: 1000 Section EF: $57 online at chessaction.com by 5/24, $65 phoned Under 2210/Unr $440-220, Under 2010/Unr $400-200. Under 1810: Chief Tournament Director, Tony Nichols, Email: [email protected] to 406-896-2038 by 5/22 (entry only, no questions), 4-day $64, 3-day $$600-320-200, Under 1610 (no Unr) $280-140, Under 1410 (no Unr) $63, 2-day $62 mailed by 5/12, all $80 online until 2 hours before round $200; unrated limit $200. EF: $98 online at chessaction.com by 6/21, An American Classic! 1 or at site until 1 hour before round 1. No checks at site, credit cards $105 mailed by 6/12 or phoned to 406-896-2038 by 6/19, $120 at site, A Heritage Event! OK. Online EF $5 less to ICA members; join at il-chess.org. An ICA Tour or online until 2 hours before round 1. GMs free; $90 deducted from US Chess Junior Grand Prix! Event. Special 1 yr US Chess dues with magazine if paid with entry: prize. Reg.: ends 6 pm 6/23, rds. Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 am & 5 pm, Sun 10 MAY 25-29, 26-29, 27-29 OR 28-29, ILLINOIS Online at chessaction.com, Adult $35, Young Adult $22, Scholastic $15. am & 3:15 pm. OK all rounds, limit 2 byes (limit 1 bye US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:200 (ENHANCED) Half point byes Mailed, phoned or paid at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $25, Scholastic if under 2010 in Open or under 1410 in U1810), must commit before rd 26TH ANNUAL CHICAGO OPEN $17. Re-entry: $100, no re-entry from Open to Open. 5-day schedule .2. Special USCF dues: see World Open. Ent: chessaction.com or Con- Open Section, May 25-29: 9SS, 40/2, SD/30 d10, GM & IM norms pos- (Open only): Reg. ends Thu 6 pm, rds. Thu 7 pm, Fri 12 & 7, Sat 11 & 6, tinental Chess, PO Box 8482, Pelham, NY 10803. $15 service charge for sible, FIDE rated. Other Sections, May 26-29, 27-29 or 28-29: 7SS, Sun 11 & 6, Mon 10 & 4:15. 4-day schedule (U2300 to U1500): Reg. refunds. Advance entries posted at chessaction.com (online entries 40/2, SD/30 d10 (3-day option, rds. 1-2 G/60 d10; 2-day option, rds. 1- ends Fri 6 pm, Rds. Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 11 & 6, Mon 10 & 4:15. 3- posted instantly). 4 G/30 d10). Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel, 601 North Milwaukee day schedule (U2300 to U1500): Reg. ends Sat 10 am, Rds. Sat 11, 2:30 Ave., Wheeling, IL 60090 (from Chicago, I-294 north to US-45 north; & 6, Sun 11 & 6, Mon 10 & 4:15. 2-day schedule (U2300 to U1500): US Chess Junior Grand Prix! from Milwaukee, I-94 east to Lake Cook Rd to US-45 south.) Free parking. Reg. ends Sun 9 am, Rds. Sun 10, 12, 2, 3:45 & 6, Mon 10 & 4:15. Under JUNE 24-29, PENNSYLVANIA Free lectures and analysis of your games by GM John Fedorowicz. 1300 & Under 1000 schedules: Same as U2300 to U1500 (4-day, 3- US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:200 (ENHANCED) $100,000 guaranteed prize fund. In 8 sections (unrated allowed only day, 2-day options), except last round Mon is 3:15. 4-day, 3-day & 11TH ANNUAL PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL GOLD & SILVER AFFILIATES

ChessIQ Marshall Chess Club GOLD Any affiliate that has submitted at least 50 US Chess memberships during 4957 Oakton Street, Suite 113 23 West 10th Street the current or previous calendar year, or is the recognized State Affiliate, is eligible to Skokie, IL 60077 New York, NY 10011 become a Gold Affiliate. Gold Affiliates are honored in a special list in larger type in 847-423-8626 212-477-3716 Tournament Life each month, giving the affiliate name, address, phone number, e-mail [email protected] [email protected] address, and website. Gold Affiliation costs $350 per year, and existing affiliates may www.chessiq.com www.marshallchessclub.org subtract $3 for each month remaining on their regular affiliation, or $20 for each month remaining on their Silver Affiliation. By paying an annual payment of $500 (in- Chesskidz Tournaments Oak Hall School Chess Club stead of $350), Gold Affiliate status may be obtained with no minimum requirement P.O. Box 34722 7257 NW 4th Boulevard, Suite 21 for memberships submitted. Reno, NV 89533 Gainesville, FL 32607 775-223-9644 352-316-1199 Bay Area Chess [email protected] [email protected] 1639A South Main Street www.chesskidz.org Any affiliate that has submitted at least 25 US SILVER Milpitas, CA 95035 PaperClip Pairings Chess memberships during the current or previous calendar ChessNYC.com 408-409-6598 c/o Remy Ferrari year, or is the recognized State Affiliate, is eligible to become c/o Russell Makofsky [email protected] 4 Jalapa Court &Michael Propper a Silver Affiliate. These affiliates will be recognized in a spe- www.bayareachess.com Brownsville, TX 78526 P.O. Box 189, 1710 1st Avenue cial list in Tournament Life each month, giving the affiliate 956-621-0377 New York, NY 10012 name, state, and choice of either phone number, e-mail ad- [email protected] dress, or website. Silver Affiliation costs $150 per year, and Cajun Chess 212-475-8130 existing affiliates may subtract $3 for each month remaining 12405 Hillary Step Drive [email protected] San Diego Chess Club www.chessnyc.com on their regular affiliation. Alternatively, for an annual pay- Olive Branch, MS 38654 2225 Sixth Avenue ment of $250.00 (instead of $150), the requirement for a 504-208-9596 Continental Chess San Diego, CA 92101 minimum number of US Chess members will be waived. [email protected] Association 619-752-4377 www.cajunchess.com P.O. Box 8482 [email protected] Boca Raton Chess Club (FL) Michigan Chess Association (MI) Pelham, NY 10803 www.sandiegochessclub.org www.bocachess.com www.michess.org [email protected] Chess Club and Silver Knights Chess Dallas Chess Club (TX) Oklahoma Chess Foundation (OK) www.chesstour.com www. Scholastic Center www.dallaschess.com OCFchess.org 8500 Executive Park Avenue #404 Sparta Chess Club (NJ) of Saint Louis Eagle Chess Academy, Inc. Fairfax, VA 22031 Jersey Shore HS www.spartachessclub.org 4657 Maryland Avenue PO Box 6141 703-574-2070 Chess League (NJ) Success Chess School (CA) St. Louis, MO 63108 Largo, MD 20774 [email protected] [email protected] www.successchess.com 314-361-CHESS 301-467-5024 www.silverknightschess.com Little House of Chess, Inc. (NY) The Berkeley Chess School (CA) [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.berkeleychessschool.org www.saintlouischessclub.org www.eaglechessacademy.com UPDATED 09-13-2016

60 January 2017 | Chess Life See previous issue for TLAs appearing January 1-14

9SS, 40/2, SD/30 d10, open to all. GM & IM norms possible, satisfies Top FIDE U2200/Unr $5000-2500-1500. If tie for first, top 2 on tiebreak FIDE requirement that one GM norm be in an event with only one round play speed game 10 pm 7/4 for title & bonus prize. GM & IM norms per day for a minimum of 3 days. FIDE rated. Philadelphia Marriott possible. FIDE rated. Under 2200/Unr: $12000-6000-3000-1500-1000- Regional Downtown, 1201 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19107 (see World Open 800-600-500-400-400, top U2100 (no unr) $2000-1000, unrated limit for rates & parking info). $$G 10,000: $3000-1500-1000-700-600-500- $2000. Under 2000/Unr: $12000-6000-3000-1500-1000-800-600-500- ALABAMA 400-300-200, top FIDE under 2300 or unrated $1200-600. Minimum 400-400, top U1900 (no unr) $2000-1000, unrated limit $1000. Under $700 to foreign GMs with FIDE ratings 2500/over, FEB. 11-12, Queen of Hearts - 45th Annual prize guarantees: 1800: $12000-6000-3000-1500-1000-800-600-500-400-400, top U1700 See Grand Prix. $500 to foreign GMs with with FIDE ratings under 2500, $300 to foreign $2000-1000. Under 1600: $10000-5000-2500-1300-900-700-600-500- IMs/WGMs (all must complete all 9 games with no byes; limited to first 400-400, top U1500 $2000-1000. Under 1400: $8000-4000-2000-1300- FEB. 16-20, 17-20, 18-20 OR 19-20, 8th annual Southwest 5 foreign GMs & first 5 foreign IMs/WGMs to enter by 5/22 at chess- 900-700-600-500-400-400, top U1300 $1600-800. Under 1200: $4000- Class Championships (TX) action.com). Minimum prize $300 to other GMs (including US) who enter 2000-1000-800-600-500-400-400-300-300, top U1000 $1000-500. Under See Grand Prix. at chessaction.com by 5/22 and complete all 9 games with no byes. 900: $600-400-300-200-100, plaques to top 10. Unrated: $600-400- Players who have forfeited without notice in past CCA Internationals FEB. 25, Tom Nard Memorial III 300-200-100, plaques to top 10. Prize limits: 1) If any post-event rating 4SS, Game/45 + 10 second increment per move. Round times: 9:30, are not eligible for minimum prizes. EF: GMs, IMs, WGMs $50 online at posted 6/26/16-6/26/17 was more than 30 points over section maximum, 11:30, 2:30, 4:30. Location: Evangel Church, 3975 Vaughn Rd., Mont- chessaction.com by 5/22, $75 online at chessaction.com by 6/22, $100 prize limit $2000. 2) Players with under 26 lifetime games rated as of gomery, AL. Three sections: OPEN (prizes b/20): 1st $250 (70% GTD), at site; $100 deducted from prize (no deduction from minimum prize). 7/17 official list cannot win over $1000 in U1200, $2000 U1400, $3000 2nd $150, U2000/unrated $100; (prizes b/20): 1st $225 (70% $100 online at chessaction.com by 5/22, U1800 Foreign FIDE rated players: U1600 through U2000. Games rated too late for 7/17 official list not GTD), 2nd $125, U1500/unrated $100, U1200 (prizes b/20): 1st $200 $125 online by 6/22, $150 at site. USA players FIDE rated 2200/up: counted toward 26 game total. 3) Balance of any limited prize goes to (70% GTD), 2nd $125, U1000/unrated $100. EF: $30 by February 19, $200 online by 5/22, $225 online by 6/22, $250 at site. Others: $300 next player(s) in line. Mixed Doubles Bonus Prizes: best male/female $35 thereafter. Registration: Send name, USCF ID, section, and EF online by 5/22, $325 online by 6/22, $350 at site. All: Phoned entry combined 2-player “team” score: $3000-1500-700-500-300. Team (payable to “Evangel Church”) to Doug Strout, 6000 Camelot Ct., Mont- (406-896-2038) all $10 more; no phoned entry after 6/19. Mailed entry average must be under 2200; teammates may play in different sections; gomery, AL 36117, email: [email protected]. all $10 more; do not mail entry after 6/14. No checks at site, credit teams must register (no extra fee) before both players begin round 2; cards OK. Special 1 year USCF dues with magazine: see World Open. teams including an unrated limited to $500. Entry fee for Open through MAR. 24-26 OR 25-26, 15th annual Southern Class Schedule: Late reg. ends Sat 10 am, rds. Sat & Sun 11 am & 6 pm, Mon U1400 sections: Online at chessaction.com: $308 by 4/15, $318 by Championships (FL) & Tue 6 pm, Wed 11 am & 6 pm, Thu 11 am. Two half point byes available 5/15, $328 by 6/26, $350 until 2 hours before round 1. Phoned to 406- See Grand Prix. (must commit before rd 2); norm not possible if taking bye. HR: see 896-2038:$325 by 5/15, $335 by 6/22. Mailed by 5/15: 6-day $326, World Open. Bring sets, boards, clocks if possible- none supplied. 5-day $325, 4-day $324, 3-day $323. Mailed by 6/12: all $10 more. All Ent: chessaction.com. $15 service charge for refunds. Questions: $100 more for Open Section if never rated 2200/over by USCF or FIDE. ARIZONA www.chesstour.com, DirectorAtChess.us, 347-201-2269. Online entries Do not mail entry after 6/12. At site until 1.5 hours before first JAN. 20-22 OR 21-22, Tucson Open and Scholastics posted instantly at chessaction.com. Invitations: GoAtChess.us (use @ game: all $350; no checks, credit cards OK. GMs in Open: free; $200 See Grand Prix. symbol instead of “At” in email address). Ent: chessaction.com or Con- deducted from prize. IMs, WGMs in Open: EF $100 less. Open Section tinental Chess, Box 8482, Pelham, NY 10803. if never rated 2200/over by USCF or FIDE. JAN. 21-22, 2017 U.S. Junior Chess Congress (CA-N) EF $100 more Under 1200 See Nationals. JUNE 29, PENNSYLVANIA Section EF: all $100 less than above. Seniors 65/up: all EF $100 less US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:20 (ENHANCED) in U1400 or above sections. U900 Section or Unrated Section EF: JAN. 29, Last of the Booksellers Quads #3 (Sunday) HUGE Book Sale! 3RR, 40/60,40/60,d0. No Sudden Death! Pan Asian WORLD OPEN ACTION CHAMPIONSHIP $68 online at chessaction.com by 6/26, $73 mailed by 6/12 or phoned 5SS, G/25 d5. Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, 1201 Market St., Philadel- by 6/22, $80 at site until 1.5 hours before round 1 or online until 2 Comm. Cntr., 940 S. Craycroft ,Tucson, AZ 85711. Must be 18 or older to play. EF: Only $10. Prizes: 3pts=$20, 2.5pts=$15, 2pts=$10. Reg.: phia 19107 (see World Open for rates & parking info). $2000 guaranteed hours before round 1. No checks at site; credit cards OK. Re-entry: 9AM-9:45. Rds.: 10AM then as available. INFO: Morry Holland (520) prizes. In 2 sections. Open, open to all: $400-200-150, U2200/Unr $160, no re-entry from Open to Open. $20 fee for switching section after 6/28. Special 1 year USCF dues with magazine if paid with entry: 358-5841 or Ed Yetman at [email protected]. Please visit $180-90, U2000/Unr $160-80. Under 1800/Unr: $250-120-60, U1600 our NEW WEBSITE at www.Yetmanbrothers.weebly.com. (no Unr) $140-70, U1400 (no Unr) $100. EF: $53 online at chessaction.com Online at chessaction.com, Adult $35, Young Adult $22, Scholastic $15. by 6/27, $60 online by 11 am 6/29 or at site. GMs $50 from prize. Reg. Mailed, phoned or paid at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $25, Scholastic FEB. 16-20, 17-20, 18-20 OR 19-20, 8th annual Southwest ends 12 noon 6/29, rounds 1:00, 3:00, 5:00, 7:00, 9:00. Half point $17. 6-day schedule: Thu/Fri 7 pm, Sat 6 pm, Sun/Mon 11 am & 6 pm, Class Championships (TX) byes OK all rounds, limit 2 byes (limit 1 bye if U2000 in Open or U1400 Tue 10 am & 4:30 pm. 5-day schedule: Fri 7 pm, Sat/Sun/Mon 11 am See Grand Prix. in U1800), must commit before rd. 2. Special USCF dues: see World & 6 pm, Tue 10 am & 4:30 pm. 4-day schedule: Sat 11, 2:30 & 6, Open. $15 service charge for refunds. Entries posted at chessaction.com Sun/Mon 11 & 6, Tue 10 & 4:30. 3-day schedule: Sun 11, 1:30, 3:30, 6 MAR. 3-5 OR 4-5, 24th annual Western Class Championships (online entries posted instantly). & 8:30, Mon 11 & 6, Tue 10 & 4:30. U900 Section, Unrated Section (CA-S) schedule: Sun 11, 2:30 & 6, Mon 11, 2:30 & 6, Tue 10, 1:30 & 4:30. All See Grand Prix. An American Classic! schedules merge & compete for same prizes. Half point byes OK all, A Heritage Event! JUNE 14-15, 2017 U.S. Women’s Open (NV) limit 4 (limit 2 in last 4 rds), Open must commit before rd. 2, others See Nationals. US Chess Junior Grand Prix! before rd. 5. Entries, re-entries close 90 minutes before your first JUNE 29-JULY 4, JUNE 30-JULY 4, JULY 1-4 OR 2-4, game. HR: $115-115-135, 215-625-2900, reserve early as chess block JUNE 16-18 OR 17-18, 2017 National Open (NV) PENNSYLVANIA may sell out by early June. Parking: Marriott valet parking, about See Nationals. US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS:300 (ENHANCED) $20/day (60% off regular rate) for first 100 valet parking spaces sold. 45TH ANNUAL WORLD OPEN Gateway Garage, 1540 Spring St. (3/5 mile from Marriott, 1 block from ARKANSAS 9SS at luxurious Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, 1201 Market St., Sheraton Hotel), about $7/day Sat & Sun, $20/day other days. Free Philadelphia, PA 19107, directly across the street from the world famous shuttle from Marriott to Gateway Garage each night, 6/30-7/4. Special US Chess Junior Grand Prix! Reading Terminal Market with over 80 food vendors. In 9 sections. car rental rates: Avis, 800-331-1600, AWD #D657633, or reserve car JAN. 21, 2nd Westark Winter Warm-Up $225,000 guaranteed prizes. Unrated may enter only Open, U2200, online through chesstour.com. Foreign player ratings: See www.chess- Community Church, 1900 Church St., Barling, AR 72923. 4 Sec: Open, U2000, or Unrated Sections. Free analysis of your games by GM Sam tour.com/foreignratings.htm. US player ratings: Official July ratings U1600, U1200 (4SS, G/70 d5, USCF req’d/avail.); U900 (6SS, G/45 d5, Palatnik 6/30-7/4, free GM lectures 9 am 7/2 & 7/3. Open Section, used; June FIDE ratings used for Open Section. Unofficial uschess.org Not US Chess Rated). PF: ($500, b/35): OPEN: 1st $120, 2nd $60; June 30-July 4 only: Open to all who are or were rated 2200/over ratings usually used if otherwise unrated. Special rules: Players must U1600: 1st $100, 2nd $50; U1200: 1st $80, 2nd $40; U900: 1st $50. USCF or FIDE or pay $100 more. 40/2, SD/30 d10. Under 2200 to submit to a search for electronic devices if requested by Director. See Add’l PF as $ allow. Reg.: 9-9:45am; Rd. 1: 10AM, then ASAP, w/lunch. Under 1200 Sections, June 29-July 4, June 30-July 4, July 1-4 or also chesstour.com/devices.htm. Ent: Continental Chess, Box 8482, Pel- EF: $30; $25 mail on/before 1/15/17; -$5 if travelling 100+ mi 1-way 2-4: 40/2, SD/30 d10 (4-day option, rds. 1-2 G/60 d10; 3-day option, ham, NY 10803. Questions: chesstour.com, chesstour.info, DirectorAt or 2nd pers/family. Bye: max 1, rds. 1-3. SIDE: Fri. Jan. 20th Warm- rds. 1-5 G/35 d10). Under 900 Section & Unrated Section, July 2-4 Chess.US. $15 service charge for refunds. Advance entries posted at up QUICK Champs. 4SS, G/29 d0 (QR) PF(b/20) 1st $100, 2nd $50; only: G/60 d10, play separate schedule. Open: $20000-10000-5000- chessaction.com (online entries posted instantly). Awards: Open through U1600 1st $50; U900 Not US Chess Rated 1st $30. Reg.: 6:-6:45pm. 2500-1300-1000-800-700-600-500, clear winner bonus $500, top FIDE U1800 prizes awarded 7/4, others mailed by 7/18. Bring set, board, Rds.: 7/8/9/10pm. EF: $10. Entries: Charles Homolka, PO Box 394, Ft. 2300-2449 $5000-2500-1500, top FIDE 2200-2299 $5000-2500-1500. clock if possible- none supplied. Smith, AR 72902.

World Open in Philadelphia! 9 rounds, Philadelphia Marriott Downtown - $225,000 GUARANTEED PRIZES Open Section: June 30-July 4, GM & IM norms possible Under 2200 to Under 1200: 6/29-7/4, 6/30-7/4, 7/1-4 or 2-4 Under 900 Section, Unrated Section: July 2-4 5-DAY OR 6-DAY SCHEDULE: all 40/2, SD/30, d10. 4-DAY SCHEDULE: rounds 1-2 G/60, d10, then merges. 3-DAY SCHEDULE: rounds 1-5 G/35, d10, then merges. U900 SCHEDULE, UNRATED SCHEDULE: all G/60, d10.

All schedules merge and compete for same prizes. Also Philadelphia International June 24-29 and many side events. See Tournament Life or chesstour.com for details.

www.uschess.org 61 Tournament Life / January

FEB. 4, 2017 Little Rock Winter Open FEB. 18-20 OR 19-20 (BLITZ FEB 20), 2017 (33rd) U.S. MAR. 11-12, 50th annual New York State Scholastic 4SS, G/60 d5. Crowne Plaza, 201 S. Shackleford Rd., Little Rock, AR Amateur Team Championship West Championships (out of state welcome) (NY) 72211; 501-223-3000; HR: $79 + tax (ask for chess rate before Jan See Nationals. See New York. 27) WiFi available. Free parking. Airport shuttle available. 3 sections: Open, Reserve (U1600) and Novice (U1200). Novice section: 5SS, G/30, MAR. 3-5 OR 4-5, 24th annual Western Class Championships APR. 28-30 OR 29-30, 26th annual Eastern Class d/5 (Recording encouraged, but not required). EF: Open and Reserve (CA-S) Championships (MA) (U1600): $30 postmarked by January 28 (email message doesn’t count). See Grand Prix. See Grand Prix. $35 at site (no checks). $25 if first tournament. GM and IM free entry. JUNE 14-15, 2017 U.S. Women’s Open (NV) JUNE 23-25, 2nd annual World Open Senior (PA) Entry fee deducted from prize. Novice (U1200): all participants $20. See Nationals. See Grand Prix. Must have USCF membership; available on-site. Prizes (b/30): Open:1st $135, 2nd $100; Reserve:1st $100, 2nd $75; Novice:1st: Trophy, 2nd JUNE 16-18 OR 17-18, 2017 National Open (NV) JUNE 24-29, 11th annual Philadelphia International (PA) Trophy. Medals to other participants. Reg. 8-8:45 AM. Round 1: 9:00. See Nationals. See Grand Prix. Other rounds ASAP with small lunch break. Half point bye available JUNE 28-29, 9th annual World Open Under 13 Championship (PA) before round 3. Entry: Ron Sanders Jr., PO Box 241762, Little Rock, AR See Pennsylvania. 72223, [email protected] CALIFORNIA, SOUTHERN JUNE 29, World Open Action Championship (PA) FEB. 16-20, 17-20, 18-20 OR 19-20, 8th annual Southwest THE LOS ANGELES CHESS CLUB See Grand Prix. Class Championships (TX) The Most Active Club on the West Coast! (310) 795-5710. * See Grand Prix. LACC: www.LAChessClub.com; VCC: www.ValleyChess JUNE 29-JULY 4, JUNE 30-JULY 4, JULY 1-4 OR 2-4, 45th Club.com; Contact: [email protected]; Saturday & Sun- Annual World Open (PA) days: 10 am-9 pm (Beginner/Novice & Intermediate classes + See Grand Prix. CALIFORNIA, NORTHERN 3 Tournaments each day – Details on our web site. Tuesdays: 7:30-9:30 pm (Advance lecture). 11514 Santa Monica Blvd., JAN. 13-16, 14-16 OR 15-16, 8th annual Golden State Open DELAWARE See Grand Prix. Los Angeles, CA 90025. (4 blocks W of 405, SW corner of Santa Monica & Butler * 2nd Floor – above Javan Restaurant) JAN. 13-16, 14-16 OR 15-16, 49th annual Liberty Bell Open (PA) JAN. 15, Bay Area Fremont Quads (PK-12; 3xG/30 d5) Group Classes * Tournaments * Private (1:1) Lessons. See Grand Prix. Courtyard Marriott, Fremont, CA 94538. Trophies: Players w + score. Sched: Reqrd. Check-in 1:30-2p. Games: 2:15-5p. EF: 29, 44 after 1/10. Alec’s Chess Club FEB. 4 www.alecschessclub.com 818-220-0257 Tournaments for KIDS on Sat- , Kasparov Chess Foundation Presents 9th Annual Info: http://BayAreaChess.com/signature. W. Greater Mid-Atlantic Scholastic Chess Championships (MD) urdays or Sundays 12-4pm weekly. Includes free class! YOUR FIRST JAN. 15, Bay Area Fremont Swiss (PK-12; 4SS, G/30 d5) TOURNAMENT IS FREE! (Applies to KIDS Tournaments only) Tournaments See Maryland. Courtyard Marriott, Fremont, CA 94538. Trophies: players w + score. for ADULTS on Saturdays 5-9pm (4 Rounds, G/30 d5). ADULTS: please FEB. 24-26 OR 25-26, 2nd annual George Washington Open (VA) Sched: Reg. 9:30-9:45a. Games: 10a - 1:30p. EF: 34, 49 after 1/10. connect with us on www.meetup.com/alecschessclub/. Private Classes See Grand Prix. Info: http://BayAreaChess.com/signature. W. available by appointment. Located at 4418 Simpson Ave., #5, Valley APR. 12-16, 13-16, 14-16 OR 15-16, 11th annual JAN. 21-22, 2017 U.S. Junior Chess Congress Village, CA 91607. Please contact Alec with any questions at alecn- Philadelphia Open (PA) [email protected] or on our website at www.alecschessclub.com See Nationals. See Grand Prix. JAN. 22, Pleasanton Luper$wiss - G/90 (3SS, G/90 d5) JAN. 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29, Every Saturday and Sun- JUNE 23-25, 2nd annual World Open Senior (PA) Sheraton Pleasanton, 5990 Stoneridge Mall Rd., Pleasanton, CA 94588. day Chess 4 JRS See Grand Prix. Prizes: $1,300 b/50. 60% guar. 1900+: $200-100-100, u2000 50-50. 9 separate events- 5SS, G/30 d0. 11514 Santa Monica Blvd. & Butler 1500-1899: $200-100, u1600 50-50. u1500: $200-100, u1200 50-50. Jan LA, 90025, 2nd fl. 4 blocks West of 405. EF: $30 ($20 LACC memb, No JUNE 29, World Open Action Championship (PA) 17 Supp & TD disc. Sched: Reg 9-9:15. Rds.: 9:30a-12:50p-4:15p. EF: prize 1/2, siblings 1/2, Free new LACC members). Reg.: 12-1 pm. See Grand Prix. 49, Econ 34 w 1/2 prz. after 1/16 +15, playup +25, Rtd 2200+ $0 by Register at LAChessClub.com and receive a free gift. Rds.: 1pm & asap; JUNE 29-JULY 4, JUNE 30-JULY 4, JULY 1-4 OR 2-4, 45th 1/8. Info: http://BayAreaChess.com/grandprix. W. done by 4. Prizes: Trophies & medals; All players receive prizes! Parking: Annual World Open (PA) JAN. 27-29 OR 28-29, Bay Area Chess CM Azhar Championship Free on streets & BoA. Free healthy refreshments. Info: (310) 795- See Grand Prix. See Grand Prix. 5710 or www.LAChessClub.com or [email protected]. JAN. 28, MHS Quads 2017 JAN. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29, LACC - Sat & Sun Nite Blitza- 3 Rd. Quad, Montgomery High School, 1250 Hahman Dr., Santa Rosa, thon (BLZ) DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CA 95405. EF: $15 before Jan 24; $20 late registration after Jan 24. 5 separate events- 7DSS, G/5 d0 (Blitz,14 Games). 11514 Santa Monica FEB. 24-26 OR 25-26, 2nd annual George Washington Open (VA) Prizes: Medal to Quad winner. Reg.: 8:30am - 9:30am. Rds.: 10am; Blvd., LA, 90025, 2nd fl. 4 blks W of 405. EF: $20 ($15 LACC memb). No See Grand Prix. 1:30pm; 5:00pm. ENT: Paul Stagnoli 4233 Kintyre Rd., Santa Rosa, Ca prizes 1/2. Reg.: 6-6:30 pm. Register at LAChessClub.com and receive 95409. INFO: Paul Stagnoli 707-478-4385 [email protected]. http://pstag- a free gift. Rds.: 6:30, 6:55, 7:20, 7:45, 8:10, 8:35, 9 pm. Prizes: 1/2 nol.users.sonic.net. Bring own equipment, none provided. No email collections. Parking: Free on streets & BoA. Info: 310/795-5710 or FLORIDA entries. W. www.LAChessClub.com. Boca Raton Chess Club JAN. 29, Bay Area Cupertino Quads (PK-12; 3xG/30 d5) US Chess Junior Grand Prix! Friday night tournament games, one game a week for 4 weeks. Courtyard Marriott, Cupertino, CA 95014. Trophies: Players w + score. JAN. 7&8, 21&22, 28&29, LACC - Saturday & Sunday G/61 www.bocachess.com, 561-479-0351. Sched: Reqrd. Check-in 1:30-2p. Games: 2:15-5p. EF: 29, 44 after 1/24. 4 separate events- 6SS, G/61 d5. 11514 Santa Monica Blvd., LA 90025, Info: http://BayAreaChess.com/signature. W. 2nd fl. $55/ (35 LACC memb; No prizes 1/2; second child 1/2). JAN. 26, Village Senior Quads EF: Open to all. 3 round Quad G/60 d5. Captiva Rec. Center, 658 Reg.: 11-12 noon. Register at LAChessClub.com and receive a free gift. Place: JAN. 29, Bay Area Cupertino Swiss (PK-12; 4SS, G/30 d5) Pinellas Pl., The Villages, FL 32163. Rounds: 10AM, 1PM, 3:15PM. Entry Courtyard Marriott, Cupertino, CA 95014. Trophies: players w + score. Rds.: 12, 2, 4 pm each day. Prizes: 1/2 collections. Parking: Free at BoA, streets, & basement. Info: 310/795-5710 or www.LAChessClub.com. Fee: Reg. $5, prizes based on entries. Unrateds free. Booster: $12, Sched: Reg 9:30-9:45a. Games: 10a - 1:30p. EF: 34, 49 after 1/24. Prize 1 year membership in USCF, nonrated. Time Registration: 9AM Info: http://BayAreaChess.com/signature. W. JAN. 13-16, 14-16 OR 15-16, 8th annual Golden State Open at site. Advance Registration: send to Monroe Steindorf, 2836 Manor FEB. 5, Bay Area Pleasanton Quads (PK-12; 3xG/30 d5) (CA-N) Downs, The Villages, FL 32162. Pleasanton Courtyard, 5059 Hopyard Rd., Pleasanton, CA 94588. See Grand Prix. Trophies: JAN. 27-29 OR 28-29, Central Florida Class Championships Players w + score. Sched: Reqrd. Check-in 1:30-2p. Games: 2:15-5p. JAN. 14-15, Martin Luther King Memorial See Grand Prix. EF: 29, 44 after 1/31. Info: http://BayAreaChess.com/signature. W. See Grand Prix. FEB. 5, Bay Area Pleasanton Swiss (PK-12; 4SS, G/30 d5) FEB. 17-19 OR 18-19, 2017 U.S. Amateur Team Championship JAN. 14-16 OR 15-16, 3rd Annual Dreaming King Open - South Pleasanton Courtyard, 5059 Hopyard Rd., Pleasanton, CA 94588. Tro- See Grand Prix. phies: players w + score. Sched: Reg 9:30-9:45a. Games: 10a - 1:30p. See Nationals. EF: 34, 49 after 1/31. Info: http://BayAreaChess.com/signature. W. JAN. 21-22, 2017 U.S. Junior Chess Congress (CA-N) MAR. 24-26 OR 25-26, 15th annual Southern Class See Nationals. FEB. 5, Foster City LuperSwiss90 (3SS, G/90 d5) Championships Foster City Courtyard Marriott, 550 Shell Blvd., 94404. Prizes: $1,300 JAN. 28-29, Paul Keres Memorial See Grand Prix. b/50. 60% guar. 1900+: $200-100-100, u2000 50-50. 1500-1899: $200- See Grand Prix. JUNE 23-25, 2nd annual World Open Senior (PA) 100, u1600 50-50. u1500: $200-100, u1200 50-50. Feb 17 Supp & TD FEB. 16-20, 17-20, 18-20 OR 19-20, 8th annual Southwest See Grand Prix. disc. Reg.: 9-9:15. Rds.: 9:30-1-4:30. EF: 49, Econ 34 w 1/2 prz. after Class Championships (TX) 1/28 +15, playup +25, Rtd 2200+ $0 by 1/22. Info: http://BayArea JUNE 24-29, 11th annual Philadelphia International (PA) Chess.com/grandprix. W. See Grand Prix. See Grand Prix. FEB. 11, Bay Area Cupertino Quads (PK-12; 3xG/30 d5) MAR. 3-5 OR 4-5, 24th annual Western Class Championships JUNE 28-29, 9th annual World Open Under 13 Championship (PA) See Grand Prix. Courtyard Marriott, Cupertino, CA 95014. Trophies: Players w + score. See Pennsylvania. Sched: Reqrd. Check-in 1:30-2p. Games: 2:15-5p. EF: 29, 44 after 2/6. JUNE 14-15, 2017 U.S. Women’s Open (NV) JUNE 29, World Open Action Championship (PA) Info: http://BayAreaChess.com/signature. W. See Nationals. See Grand Prix. FEB. 11, Bay Area Cupertino Swiss (PK-12; 4SS, G/30 d5) JUNE 16-18 OR 17-18, 2017 National Open (NV) Courtyard Marriott, Cupertino, CA 95014. Trophies: players w + score. See Nationals. JUNE 29-JULY 4, JUNE 30-JULY 4, JULY 1-4 OR 2-4, 45th Sched: Reg 9:30-9:45a. Games: 10a - 1:30p. EF: 34, 49 after 2/6. Info: Annual World Open (PA) http://BayAreaChess.com/signature. W. See Grand Prix. COLORADO FEB. 12, Bay Area Fremont Quads (PK-12; 3xG/30 d5) Courtyard Marriott, Fremont, CA 94538. Trophies: Players w + score. FEB. 16-20, 17-20, 18-20 OR 19-20, 8th annual Southwest GEORGIA Sched: Reqrd. Check-in 1:30-2p. Games: 2:15-5p. EF: 29, 44 after 2/7. Class Championships (TX) Info: http://BayAreaChess.com/signature. W. See Grand Prix. FEB. 17-19 OR 18-19, 2017 Atlanta Winter Congress See Grand Prix. FEB. 12, Bay Area Fremont Swiss (PK-12; 4SS, G/30 d5) JUNE 14-15, 2017 U.S. Women’s Open (NV) Courtyard Marriott, Fremont, CA 94538. Trophies: players w + score. See Nationals. MAR. 17-19 OR 18-19, 2017 Boris Kogan Memorial Sched: Reg 9:30-9:45a. Games: 10a - 1:30p. EF: 34, 49 after 2/7. Info: See Grand Prix. http://BayAreaChess.com/signature. W. JUNE 16-18 OR 17-18, 2017 National Open (NV) See Nationals. MAR. 19, 2017 ACP March Scholastic Championship FEB. 12, Fremont DuperSwiss75 (3SS, G/75 d5) 4-SS, G/30 d5. Interactive College of Technology, 5227 New Peachtree Courtyard Marriott, Fremont, CA 94538. Prizes: $1,300 b/50. 60% guar. Rd., Chamblee, GA 30341. Entry fee: $29 by 3/18; $33 at site. In three 1900+: $200-100-100, u2000 50-50. 1500-1899: $200-100, u1600 50-50. sections: Middle School (K-8), Elementary (K-6), Primary (K-3). Trophies u1500: $200-100, u1200 50-50. Feb 12 Supp & TD disc. Reg.: 8:30-8:45. to top five, top unrated, top girl each section. Medals to every participant Rds.: 9-11:45-2:40. EF: 49, Econ 34 w 1/2 prz. after 2/7 +15, playup JAN. 13-16, 14-16 OR 15-16, 49th annual Liberty Bell Open (PA) who doesn’t get a trophy. Rounds: 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., then as soon as +15, Rtd 2200+ $0 by 2/1. Info: BayAreaChess.com/grandprix. W. See Grand Prix. possible. Special: A master or expert will be on hand for FREE analysis.

62 January 2017 | Chess Life See previous issue for TLAs appearing January 1-14

Bring , none supplied! Info: (478) 973-9389 or info@amer- JUNE 28-29, 9th annual World Open Under 13 Championship (PA) APR. 28-30 OR 29-30, 26th annual Eastern Class icanchesspromotions.com. Enter: americanchesspromotions See Pennsylvania. Championships (MA) MAR. 24-26 OR 25-26, 15th annual Southern Class JUNE 29, World Open Action Championship (PA) See Grand Prix. Championships (FL) See Grand Prix. See Grand Prix. JUNE 29-JULY 4, JUNE 30-JULY 4, JULY 1-4 OR 2-4, 45th MARYLAND JUNE 23-25, 2nd annual World Open Senior (PA) Annual World Open (PA) See Grand Prix. See Grand Prix. MARYLAND CHESS ASSOCIATION TOURNAMENTS MCA runs scholastic tournaments (almost every other Saturday JUNE 24-29, 11th annual Philadelphia International (PA) from mid-September to late May) & open tournaments (usually See Grand Prix. INDIANA 10+ annually) throughout Maryland. Listings & online regis- JUNE 28-29, 9th annual World Open Under 13 Championship (PA) tration at www.MDChess.org. Maryland scholastic players who JAN. 27-29 OR 28-29, 2017 Cardinal Open (OH) See Pennsylvania. See Grand Prix. compete in the Varsity section (which has a floor of 1600) of a JUNE 29, World Open Action Championship (PA) Maryland-Sweet-16 Qualifier can qualify for the $44,000 schol- See Grand Prix. US Chess Junior Grand Prix! arship to UMBC (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) FEB. 18, 2017 Southern Indiana Open awarded each year. JUNE 29-JULY 4, JUNE 30-JULY 4, JULY 1-4 OR 2-4, 45th 4SS, G/60 d10. Holiday Inn, 1710 N. Kinser Pike, Bloomington, IN 47404. JAN. 13-16, 14-16 OR 15-16, 49th annual Liberty Bell Open (PA) Annual World Open (PA) EF: $40 in Advance if by 2/15, $55 at site. Reg.: 8:15-9:00AM. Rds.: See Grand Prix. See Grand Prix. 9:30, 12:30, 3:00, 6:00. Prizes: $1100, b/40,1st $250, 2nd$170, A,B,C,D/E, each $100, $70. Entries in Advance at Indianachess.org or mail to (must FEB. 4, Kasparov Chess Foundation Presents 9th Annual be rcvd by 2/15). Craig Hines, 613 North Park Dr., Evansville, IN 47710. Greater Mid-Atlantic Scholastic Chess Championships IDAHO Email: [email protected], cell 812-618-8700, ISCA membership Baltimore Polytechnic Institute & Western High School, 1400 W. Cold rqrd/OSA. 1 bye if claimed by RD. 2, NO LAST RD BYES, NO CREDIT VELLOTTI’S CHESS SCHOOL Spring Ln., Baltimore, MD 21209. Open to all K-12 players from anywhere. CARDS AT SITE. W. 7 Sections. 2 sections are 4-SS, G/45 d5: Championship K-12 (1000+, We make chess Fun! Vellotti’s Chess School, established in K-12) & (1000+, K-8). 5 sections are 5-SS, G/30 2004, is a comprehensive children’s coaching company. We MAR. 24-26 OR 25-26, 21st annual Mid-America Open (MO) Championship K-8 See Grand Prix. d5: Championship K-5 (600+, K-5), U1000 K-12 (under 1000 or have developed very fun and original kid-friendly curriculum unrated, K-12), U800 K-8 (under 800 or unrated, K-8), U600 K-5 (under for every age group from preschoolers through teens! Our MAY 5-7 OR 6-7, 14th Annual Great Lakes Open (MI) 600 or unrated, K-5), U400 K-3 (under 400 or unrated, K-3). Trophies popular chess programs are offered in a variety of venues from See Grand Prix. in each section: top ≈ 25% of players, top ≈ 40% of teams. Rounds: preschool elective classes to elementary and after school enrich- MAY 25-29, 26-29, 27-29 OR 28-29, 26th annual Chicago Round 1 for all sections: 9:30 AM; subsequent rounds ASAP. EF: $30, ment programs. Centrally located in Boise, we also offer events Open (IL) by 11:59 PM, 01.31 (online); $45, by 7 PM, 02.02 (online); $60, by 5 AM, in Meridian, Eagle, and Sun Valley, ID with a growing expansion See Grand Prix. 02.04 (online) (half-point bye possible in Round 1); $80, 8 - 9 AM, 02.04 into the Los Angeles area. For more info on all of our fun (if space available; half-point bye likely in Round 1). Entry: Online reg- classes, camps, and tournaments- call (208) 713-2486 or email JUNE 28-29, 9th annual World Open Under 13 Championship (PA) istration at www.mdchess.com. Sets, boards, scoresheets, & pencils See Pennsylvania. us at [email protected]. You may also visit our website provided; bring chess clock. Food available for purchase. Info: at www.SuccessInChess.com. JUNE 29-JULY 4, JUNE 30-JULY 4, JULY 1-4 OR 2-4, 45th www.mdchess.com, [email protected]. Annual World Open (PA) See Grand Prix. FEB. 10-12 OR 11-12, 55th Annual Baltimore Open ILLINOIS See Grand Prix. JAN. 27-29 OR 28-29, 2017 Cardinal Open (OH) FEB. 24-26 OR 25-26, 2nd annual George Washington Open (VA) See Grand Prix. IOWA See Grand Prix. JAN. 28, Bradley Winter Open US Chess Junior Grand Prix! FEB. 25, 2017 Mid-Atlantic Scholastic Team Championships See Grand Prix. JAN. 14, 2017 Drake Chess Club IASCA Mini Qualifier 4SS, Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, 1400 W. Cold Spring Ln., Baltimore, 4-SS. Where: Olmstead Center, Drake University 2875 University Ave., MD 21209. 4-player, fixed-roster teams. 7 Sections: High School Cham- FEB. 4, Greater Chicago K-12 Championships! Presented by Des Moines, IA 50311. Reg.: 8:15 to 9:00 am. USCF membership pionship (9-12) G/45 d5, trophies to top 3. High School Under 1000 Kasparov Chess Foundation & Renaissance Knights - Sponsored required. On-site available. IASCA membership required, $10.00, (9-12, all players rated under 1000) G/30 d5, trophies to top 5. Middle by SBB Global Research Group Out of state memberships OK. Rds.: 9:30-2:30-5:00-7:30. G/75 d5 .Entry School Championship (6-8) G/45 d5, trophies to top 3. Middle School Chicago’s Official Scholastic Championship - Open to all grades 12 & Fee: $25 if postmarked by Jan 8, $30 on site. Prize Info: Class prizes, Under 1000 (6-8, all players rated under 1000) G/30 d5, trophies to top below. McCormick Place - West Building, 2301 S. Dr. Martin Luther King 1st place $100 + trophy, 2nd place $75, 3rd $50, U1600 $50, U1400 7. Elementary School Championship (K-5) G/45 d5, trophies to top 5. Jr. Dr., Chicago, IL. DETAILS: 5-SS, G/30 (G/25 d5). Rounds: 10:00, and U1200 Chess Book. Send Entry Fee to: Checks payable to Eric Elementary School Under 1000 (K-5, all players rated under 1000) G/30 12:00, 1:30, 3:00 & 4:30. 6:00 pm. $40 Awards Ceremony: Entry Fee: Vigil, 445 Galway Dr., Iowa City, IA 52246. Include name, USCF ID, d5, trophies to top 10. Elementary School under 500 (K-5, all players by 1/16; $50 by 1/30; $60 after 1/30. On-site entry receives 1/2 point phone #, email address. Online Entry: www.onlineregistration.cc rated under 500) G/30 d5, trophies to top 10. 1st round bye. $5 off to siblings & team members when registering Sets and board provided. Contact info: [email protected], 319-621-3116. Free Entry to Drake Col- Pairings can be texted to your phone. EF: $80/team by 2/18, $100/team together. Byes: One 1/2-pt bye available, any round except last, if lege Students. by 2/21, $120/team by 1/23, $160/team at the door (1/2 point bye likely requested before Rd. 1. www.rknights.org/tour- Online Entries/info: in rnd 1). $20 off all team entrance fees for Title I schools. More info, naments. SECTIONS/AWARDS: PRIMARY (K-3): Varsity: open to all. JAN. 28-29, 3rd Annual Port of Burlington Open FIDE and USCF Trophies: top 5 players, top rated Under 800, top 2 schools. Rated rules and online registration at http://midatlteam.mdchess.com. Ent: MCA, Junior 1827 Thornton Ridge Rd., Towson, MD 21204. Varsity: open to Under 600. Trophies: top 15 players, top Unrated & See Grand Prix. top kindergartner, top 4 schools. ELEMENTARY (K-6): Varsity: open MAY 25-29, 26-29, 27-29 OR 28-29, 26th annual Chicago MAR. 3-5 OR 4-5, 18th annual Pittsburgh Open (PA) to all. Trophies: top 5 players, top rated Under 1000, top 2 schools. Open (IL) See Grand Prix. Junior Varsity: open to Under 800. Trophies: top 15 players, top See Grand Prix. MAR. 4-5, UMBC Open - Alvin S. Mintzes Chess Tournament Unrated, top 4 schools. JUNIOR HIGH (K-9): Varsity: open to all. See Grand Prix. Trophies: top 4 players, top rated Under 1200, top school. Junior Varsity: open to Under 1000. Trophies: top 8 players, top Unrated, top KANSAS APR. 12-16, 13-16, 14-16 OR 15-16, 11th annual 2 schools. HIGH SCHOOL (K-12): Varsity: open to all. Trophies: top 4 Philadelphia Open (PA) FEB. 16-20, 17-20, 18-20 OR 19-20 players, top rated Under 1400, top school. Junior Varsity: open to , 8th annual Southwest See Grand Prix. Under 1200. Trophies: top 8 players, top Unrated, top 2 schools. Any Class Championships (TX) See Grand Prix. JUNE 23-25, 2nd annual World Open Senior (PA) player who scores 4 or more points and doesn’t win a trophy will receive See Grand Prix. a medal! The City of Chicago will recognize the top individual & MAR. 24-26 OR 25-26, 21st annual Mid-America Open (MO) team from Chicago in each Varsity Section as the City Champion. See Grand Prix. JUNE 24-29, 11th annual Philadelphia International (PA) See Grand Prix. US Chess Junior Grand Prix! MAY 25-29, 26-29, 27-29 OR 28-29, 26th annual Chicago FEB. 11, Howard Cohen Memorial Open Open (IL) JUNE 28-29, 9th annual World Open Under 13 Championship (PA) 4-SS. T/L: G/80 d5. Blakely Senior Center, 1 South Rebecca St., Glenwood, See Grand Prix. See Pennsylvania. IL 60425 (behind/next to Police Dept.). EF: $18 if by 2/03/17, 25 At JUNE 29, World Open Action Championship (PA) site. Prizes ($490, b/30) 90-50, X 80, A 75, B 70, C 65, D/E/U 60. FREE KENTUCKY See Grand Prix. Door Prizes, FREE Food. Entries limited to 50 total Players! Reg.: 8:45- 9:15. Rounds: 9:30-1-3:50-7:30. ENT: Lawrence Cohen, PO Box 6632, MAY 25-29, 26-29, 27-29 OR 28-29, 26th annual Chicago JUNE 29-JULY 4, JUNE 30-JULY 4, JULY 1-4 OR 2-4, 45th Villa Park, IL 60181. Please provide e-mail address to confirm the receipt Open (IL) Annual World Open (PA) of entry. Info:[email protected]. W. See Grand Prix. See Grand Prix. FEB. 17-19 OR 18-19, 2017 U.S. Amateur Team Championship JUNE 28-29, 9th annual World Open Under 13 Championship (PA) - North See Pennsylvania. MASSACHUSETTS See Nationals. JUNE 29-JULY 4, JUNE 30-JULY 4, JULY 1-4 OR 2-4, 45th US Chess Junior Grand Prix! MAR. 18, 15th Annual Mark Oestreich Memorial Tournament Annual World Open (PA) See Grand Prix. JAN. 4, 11, 18, 25, FEB. 1, Reggie Boone Memorial Time control 30/70, then 40/60 d0. No sudden death. Salem Community 5SS, G/100 d5. Wachusett CC, McKay Complex, Room C192, Fitchburg Center, 416 Oglesby St., Salem, IL. EF: $15.00. Prize fund: $360.00, State University, 67 Rindge Rd., Fitchburg, MA 01420. EF: $20 annual based on 30. 1st $80, 2nd $40. A,B,C, D/E/Unr $60.00 each. Reg.: 8:00- LOUISIANA club dues or $1 per game. Reg.: 6:30-7:10 p.m. Rds.: 7:15 p.m. each 9:15. Rounds: 9:30, 1:00, 5:00. Entries: Jim Davies 314-721-4967, 7358 Wed. Byes: 1-4, limit two. Prizes: books to 1st, 2nd, top U1900. U1750, Shaftesbury, St. Louis, MO 63130. [email protected]. JAN. 21, 2nd Westark Winter Warm-Up (AR) U1600, U1450, U1300. Info: George Mirijanian, 176 Oak Hill Rd., Fitchburg, See Arkansas. MAR. 24-26 OR 25-26, 21st annual Mid-America Open (MO) MA 01420, [email protected], 978-345-5011. Website: www.wachusett See Grand Prix. FEB. 16-20, 17-20, 18-20 OR 19-20, 8th annual Southwest chess.org. WEB: 1/4. Free parking. W. MAY 5-7 OR 6-7, 14th Annual Great Lakes Open (MI) Class Championships (TX) See Grand Prix. A Heritage Event! See Grand Prix. JAN. 28, 26th Mid-Winter Classic MAY 25-29, 26-29, 27-29 OR 28-29, 26th annual Chicago MAR. 24-26 OR 25-26, 15th annual Southern Class 3SS, G/90 d5. Florence Congregational Church, 130 Pine St., Florence, Open Championships (FL) MA 01063. EF: $30 on-site; $25 if postmarked by 1/23/2017; WMCA $2 See Grand Prix. See Grand Prix. discount; Unrated FREE. $$500 b/30 paying entries. 1st $150, 2nd $75. U1800 1st $100, 2nd $50; U1400 1st $50, 2nd $25; Top Unrated $50. JUNE 23-25, 2nd annual World Open Senior (PA) MAINE Reg: 8:30-9:15 Saturday 1/ 28/2017. Rds.: 9:30am, 1:30pm, 5:00. Limit See Grand Prix. of one 1/2 point bye, specify round with entry. ENT: WMCA, c/o Ed JUNE 24-29, 11th annual Philadelphia International (PA) MAR. 4, 4th Queen City Tornado (NH) Kostreba, 45 Fairview, Palmer, MA 01069. INFO: Ron Gist (413) 695- See Grand Prix. See Grand Prix. 7689, [email protected]. W.

www.uschess.org 63 Tournament Life / January

JAN. 29, WN 2017 Winter Open JAN. 21, Chess Like It Oughta Be JAN. 15, Westfield Winter Scholastic See Grand Prix. 5SS, G/45 d5. Chess Club & Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, 4657 Mary- Westfield Y, 220 Clark St., Westfield, NJ 07090. K-12. 3 Sections: Open, FEB. 12, WN 2017 Winter Quads land Ave., Saint Louis, MO 63108. Free entries for GMs and IMs. EF: U1250, U750. Open: 3-SS. G/40 d5. Rounds: 2:00, 3:45, 5:30 p.m. U1250 3 Rd. RR, G/75 d5. Town Hall Annex, 381 Main St., West Newbury, MA $10, $5 for annual members of the club if registered by 1/20. One & U750: 4-SS. G/25 d5. Rounds: 2:00, 3:15, 4:30, 5:45 p.m. Prizes: 01985. EF: $25 by 4 February, $30 at site. $$GTD: $50-25. Reg.: 9-9:45. section: $205 Unconditionally Guaranteed! $50-$30. $25 for 1st in each Trophies to Top 5 in each section. Tiebreaks used. See USCF Rule 34E. Rds.: 10-1:30-4. No byes or withdraws available. All players agree to Section: A, B, C, D, U1200/UNR. Reg.: 10-10:45. Rounds: 11, 12:45, EF: $25, $20 members. Register: 1:15-1:50 p.m. Information: email play all rounds. ENT: Alex Relyea, 49 Technology Dr. #89, Bedford, NH 3:00, 4:45, 6:30. Two 1/2 point byes if declared before round 2. Infor- John Moldovan [email protected] or visit www.westfield- 03110. INFO: Alex Relyea [email protected]. www.relyeachess.com. mation: 314-361-CHESS, [email protected]. chessclub.com/Events.html No refreshments available onsite. Maps for dining provided. W. FEB. 4, 9th Annual Metro Saint Louis Class Championship JAN. 19, 3rd Thursday Quads A Heritage Event! See Grand Prix. 3 RR, G/30 d10. Effects Quick/Reg Rating. Quads grouped by Reg Rating. FEB. 16-20, 17-20, 18-20 OR 19-20 All the King’s Men Chess & Games Center (Just 22 mins. from Phila/NJ US Chess Junior Grand Prix! , 8th annual Southwest bridges), 62 S. Broadway, Pitman, NJ. 856-582-8222. $25 1st FEB. 25-26 OR 26 Class Championships (TX) Prizes: , 92nd Western Massachusetts/Connecticut per quad. Unr. cannot win more than $10. EF: $12.50, members $10. See Grand Prix. Valley Chess Championship Reg.: 6 -7:15 pm. Rds.: 7:30-8:30-9:30 pm. All: Visa/MC/Disc/Amex The Alumni House - Amherst College, 75 Churchill St., Amherst, MA MAR. 11, Blitz Bonanza (BLZ) OK w/$1surcharge. Info: Bring a clock! 01002. In 2 Sections. Two-Day Section: 5SS, G/90 d5. One-Day 7/SS G/5 d0. Chess Club & Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, 4657 JAN. 22 Section: 5SS, 1-3 G/45 d5, 4&5 G/90 d5. ALL: Open to USCF Membership. Maryland Ave., Saint Louis, MO 63108. Free entries for GMs and IMs. , Dr. David Ostfeld Memorial ICA Championship in 5 $30; $25 if postmarked by 2/21/2017; $2 discount for WMCA mem- Sections EF: PF: $200 Unconditionally Guaranteed!! $50-$40-$30-$25. Top U1800- bers; $5 for WMCA members under 18; Unrated FREE. USCF Membership $20. Top U1500-$15. Biggest Upset-$20. $10. 6:00-6:45. 1st SITE: BERGEN ACADEMY, 200 HACKENSACK AVE., HACKENSACK, NJ Required. 1st overall: revolving trophy and keeper; trophy to top X, A, EF: Reg.: Round starts at 7:00 with event finishing by 9:00. Blitz ratings will be 07601. 4SS, EVERYONE PLAYS 4 GAMES, ALL PLAYERS WITH 2.5 PTS B, C, D, E, UNR. Limit of two 1/2 point byes specify round(s) with entry. OR MORE WILL RECEIVE A TROPHY! USCF Memb Req’d For Sections 3, WMCA, c/o Ed Kostreba, 45 Fairview St., Palmer, MA 01069. used for Pairing and Prize Purposes. USCF Membership required as ENT: INFO: event is Blitz Rated. One 1/2 point bye if declared before round 1. 4 AND 5. Info: 201 287 0250 or [email protected]. ADV EF (pmk Ron Gist [email protected], (413)695-7689. by JAN 18) $35 At Site $40. Reg ends 1/2 hr before 1st rd. Late entrants MAR. 11 MAR. 4, 4th Queen City Tornado (NH) , Saint Louis Action Championship (QC) will receive a 1/2 pt bye for rd. 1. In 5 Sections, Section 1 Junior See Grand Prix. 5/SS, G/20 d3. (Quick Rated only) Chess Club & Scholastic Center of Novice (not USCF rated): Open to unr players K thru 2nd grade. Rds.: Saint Louis, 4657 Maryland Ave., Saint Louis, MO 63108. Free entries First Round 10:15 AM then ASAP. MAR. 11-12 Section 2 Novice (not USCF rated): , 50th annual New York State Scholastic for GMs and IMs. EF: $10, $5 for annual members of the club if registered Open to unr players K thru 4th grade. Rds.: First Round 10:00 AM then Championships (out of state welcome) (NY) by 3/10. PF: $200 Unconditionally Guaranteed!! $50-$40-$30-$25. Top ASAP. Section 3 G/45 d5 U800: Open to players rated below 800 and See New York. U1800-$20. Top U1500-$15. Biggest Upset-$20. Quick ratings will be unr players K thru 12th grade. Rds.: 9:45 AM, 11:30, 1:15, 3:00 PM. MAR. 18, 9th WMCA Memorial used for Pairing and Prize Purposes. Reg.: 12-12:45. Rds.: 1, 2, 3, 4:30, Section 4 G/45 d5 U1200: Open to players rated below 1200 and unr 3SS, G/90 d5. Holyoke Public Library, 250 Chestnut St., Holyoke, MA 5:30. Two 1/2 point byes if declared before round 2. Ent: 4657 Maryland players K thru 12th grade. Rds.: 9:45 AM, 11:30, 1:15, 3:00 PM. Section 01040. USCF Membership Required. EF: $30 on-site; $25 if postmarked Ave., Saint Louis, MO 63108, or online at saintlouischessclub.org. Info: 5 G/60 d5 U1400: Open to All Ages rated below 1400 or unrated. Rds.: by 3/13/2017; $2 WMCA discount; Unr: FREE. USCF membership required. 314-361-CHESS, [email protected]. 9:30 AM, 11:45, 2:00, 4:30 PM. ENT: Make EF payable To: International $$500b/30 paying entrants. Open: 1st $150, 2nd $75; U1800: 1st $100, MAR. 24-26 OR 25-26, 21st annual Mid-America Open Chess Academy. Mail To: Diana Tulman, 28 Canterbury Ln., New Milford 2nd $50; U1400: 1st $50, $25; Top Unrated $50. Reg.: 8:30-9: 15am See Grand Prix. NJ 07646. INFO: www.icanj.net. W. Saturday 3/18/2017. Rds.: 9: 30am, 1:30pm, 5:00. Limit of one 1/2 JAN. 22 MAY 25-29, 26-29, 27-29 OR 28-29, 26th annual Chicago , Dr. David Ostfeld Memorial ICA Open Championship point bye, specify round with entry. ENT: WMCA, c/o Ed Kostreba, 45 See Grand Prix. Fairview, Palmer, MA 01069. INFO: Ron Gist [email protected], Open (IL) (413) 695-7689. See Grand Prix. JAN. 22, Dr. David Ostfeld Memorial ICA U1600 Championship Site: Bergen Academy, 200 Hackensack Ave., Hackensack, NJ 07601. APR. 28-30 OR 29-30, 26th annual Eastern Class Championships JUNE 24-29, 11th annual Philadelphia International (PA) See Grand Prix. Open To All Ages With Rating below 1600. 4SS, G/60 d5. Prize Fund ($$ See Grand Prix. b/25) 1st - 3rd $200, $150, $100, TU1400 $50, TU1200 $50. INFO 201 JUNE 23-25, 2nd annual World Open Senior (PA) JUNE 29-JULY 4, JUNE 30-JULY 4, JULY 1-4 OR 2-4, 45th 287 0250 or [email protected]. ADV EF (pmk by JAN 18) $40 At See Grand Prix. Annual World Open (PA) Site $45. Reg ends 1/2 hr before 1st rd. Late entrants will receive a 1/2 See Grand Prix. JUNE 24-29, 11th annual Philadelphia International (PA) pt bye for rd. 1. Rds.: 9:30 AM, 11:45 AM, 2:00 PM, 4:30 PM. ENT: Make See Grand Prix. EF payable to: International Chess Academy. Mail To: Diana Tulman, 28 Canterbury Ln., New Milford, NJ 07646. INFO: www.icanj.net. W. JUNE 28-29, 9th annual World Open Under 13 Championship (PA) NEBRASKA JAN. 22, Westfield G/45 Quads See Pennsylvania. MAY 25-29, 26-29, 27-29 OR 28-29, 26th annual Chicago 3-RR. G/40 d5. Westfield Y, 220 Clark St., Westfield, NJ 07090. EF: $25, JUNE 29, World Open Action Championship (PA) Open (IL) $20 members. Prizes: $60 to first in each section. Register: 1:15-2:05 See Grand Prix. See Grand Prix. p.m. Rounds: 2:15, 4:00, 5:45 p.m. Information: email John Moldovan [email protected] or visit www.westfieldchessclub.com/ JUNE 29-JULY 4, JUNE 30-JULY 4, JULY 1-4 OR 2-4, 45th Annual World Open (PA) Events.html See Grand Prix. NEVADA JAN. 28, Hamilton Chess Club Quads Reno Scholastic Chess Quadz 3RR, 40/80 15/30 15/30 d0. Full K. McManimon Hall, 320 Scully Ave., University of Nevada, Reno FH19 PK-College. G/30 d5. Sched: 12:00- Hamilton Twp., NJ 08610. Quads open to all. EF: $10. Prizes: $25 per MICHIGAN 3pm. EF: 10. Weekly event on designated Saturdays. Info: www.chess Quad. Reg.: 9-10:30am. Rds.: 10:30am-1:30pm-4:30pm. OSA. Contact JAN. 14-15, 2017 Michigan Master/Expert & Class Championships kidz.org/quadz.html or [email protected] email: hamiltonchessclub.com. W. See Grand Prix. JAN. 13-16, 14-16 OR 15-16, 8th annual Golden State Open JAN. 28, Central Jersey Chess Tournament JAN. 27-29 OR 28-29, 2017 Cardinal Open (OH) (CA-N) Princeton Academy, 1128 Great Rd., Princeton. 3 rated sections – Open, See Grand Prix. See Grand Prix. U1000, U600 – each K-12, 4 rounds, G/30 d5. 2 unrated sections – Intermediate (K-8), Beginners (K-2): 4 rounds. Trophies to 1st-3rd & MAR. 3-5 OR 4-5, 18th annual Pittsburgh Open (PA) JAN. 21-22, 2017 U.S. Junior Chess Congress (CA-N) top team per section, medals to all! $35 pre-reg online by 1/26. $45 on- See Grand Prix. See Nationals. site 1:15-1:45. Rd. 1 2:00. njchess.com MAY 5-7 OR 6-7, 14th Annual Great Lakes Open MAR. 3-5 OR 4-5, 24th annual Western Class Championships JAN. 29, Westfield G/45 Quads See Grand Prix. (CA-S) 3-RR. G/40 d5. Westfield Y, 220 Clark St., Westfield, NJ 07090. EF: $25, See Grand Prix. MAY 25-29, 26-29, 27-29 OR 28-29, 26th annual Chicago $20 members. Prizes: $60 to first in each section. Register: 1:15-2:05 Open (IL) JUNE 14-15, 2017 U.S. Women’s Open p.m. Rounds: 2:15, 4:00, 5:45 p.m. Information: email John Moldovan See Grand Prix. See Nationals. [email protected] or visit www.westfieldchessclub.com/ Events.html JUNE 28-29 JUNE 16-18 OR 17-18, 2017 National Open , 9th annual World Open Under 13 Championship (PA) FEB. 5 See Pennsylvania. See Nationals. , Children’s Chess - First Sunday Quads 3-RR, G/35 d0. NJ Children’s Chess School, 862 DeGraw Ave., Newark, JUNE 29-JULY 4, JUNE 30-JULY 4, JULY 1-4 OR 2-4, 45th NJ 07104. Rds.: 3-4:15-5:30. EF: $20, free to members. Prizes: Trophies Annual World Open (PA) NEW HAMPSHIRE to ALL. Reg.: 2-2:50. Info: Arkady Geller [email protected], See Grand Prix. Website: kidschesscamp.com, 973-483-7927. MAR. 4, 4th Queen City Tornado See Grand Prix. FEB. 5, Westfield Super Sunday Quads MINNESOTA 3-RR. G/40 d5. Westfield Y, 220 Clark St., Westfield, NJ 07090. EF: $25, APR. 28-30 OR 29-30, 26th annual Eastern Class $20 members. Prizes: $60 to first in each section. Register: 10:00- MAY 25-29, 26-29, 27-29 OR 28-29, 26th annual Chicago Championships (MA) 10:30 a.m. Rounds: 10:35 a.m., 12:20 & 2:05 p.m. Information: email Open (IL) See Grand Prix. John Moldovan [email protected] or visit www.westfield- See Grand Prix. chessclub.com/Events.html JUNE 29-JULY 4, JUNE 30-JULY 4, JULY 1-4 OR 2-4, 45th NEW JERSEY FEB. 12, Thomas Elberling Memorial Quads Annual World Open (PA) 3-RR. G/40 d5. Westfield Y, 220 Clark St., Westfield, NJ 07090. EF: $25, See Grand Prix. JAN. 13-16, 14-16 OR 15-16, 49th annual Liberty Bell Open (PA) $20 members. Prizes: $60 to first in each section. Register: 1:15-2:05 See Grand Prix. p.m. Rounds: 2:15, 4:00, 5:45 p.m. Information: email John Moldovan JAN. 14, Princeton Charter School [email protected] or visit www.westfieldchessclub.com/ MISSISSIPPI TOURNAMENT LOCATION: Princeton Charter School at 100 Bunn Dr., Events.html FEB. 16-20, 17-20, 18-20 OR 19-20, 8th annual Southwest Princeton, NJ 08540. TIME CONTROL: G/30 d0 Swiss to 4 rounds. SEC- FEB. 18-20, World Amateur Team & U.S. Team East Class Championships (TX) TIONS: Open above 1000; U1000; U700; U300/Unrated (sections might See Nationals. be combined when necessary for pairings). See Grand Prix. Parental Supervision FEB. 24-26 OR 25-26, 2nd annual George Washington Open (VA) The parents or another adult must be designated to supervise MAR. 24-26 OR 25-26 Required: See Grand Prix. , 15th annual Southern Class the student player between rounds. Schedule (will lbe acceleerated if Championships (FL) possible): First Round: 12:01 PM; Second thru Fourth Rounds ASAP. A State Championship Event! See Grand Prix. Award Ceremony: ASAP (4:05 latest). (*) Online Registration $30 Only FEB. 26, New Jersey Junior High School Championship if register one week before: www.ChessKidsNY.com/PCSChessPro- 5SS, G/30 d5. Brookdale College, 765 Newman Springs Rd., Lincroft, MISSOURI gram.htm (*) Fee will increase automatically to $35 if register later. NJ 07738. Student Life Center, use Parking Lot #7 or #6; 5 minutes On site registration the date of the event: $40 from 11:45 am to 12:00 from Garden State Parkway exit 109. Section: JHS (K-9). ALL: Trophies JAN. 21, 2nd Westark Winter Warm-Up (AR) noon. Information: email to Miguel Iniguez at: [email protected]. Results to top 15 individuals, top 5 teams. Rds.: 10am then ASAP. Top 4 scores See Arkansas. will be posted online the same day of the event! constitute team score. EF: $30 before 2/19, $45 at site. USCF memb.

64 January 2017 | Chess Life See previous issue for TLAs appearing January 1-14 req’d. Reg.: 8-9:00 am. After 9:00 am, half-point bye for round one. Note: 1 game rated per night, G/80 d5. Rochester Chess Center, 221 FEB. 1, 8, 15, 22, Community Chess Club of Rochester Wed INFO: 732-259-3881, [email protected]. ENT: Hal Sprechman, Norris Dr., Rochester, NY 14610. 585-442-2430. EF: $5, CCCR members Night Chess! 66 Cromwell Ln., Jackson, NJ 08527 or online by Feb 25 at $3. Reg.: 6:30-7:20 pm. Rd.: 7:30pm. www.rochesterchessclub.org. Note: 1 game rated per night, G/80 d5. Rochester Chess Center, 221 www.NJSCF.org. Entries must include name, grade, school, date of US Chess Junior Grand Prix! Norris Dr., Rochester, NY 14610. 585-442-2430. EF: $5, CCCR members birth, USCF ID #, & expiration date, mailing address, phone number & JAN. 5, 12, 19, 26, FEB. 2 $3. Reg.: 6:30-7:20 pm. Rd.: 7:30pm. www.rochesterchessclub.org. entry fee. Checks made out to NJSCF. , 3rd Long Island CC January Open 5SS, G/90 d5. United Methodist Church, 470 East Meadow Ave., East US Chess Junior Grand Prix! A State Championship Event! Meadow, NY 11554. Open to all. $(b/20 pd. ent.): $110-90. Top U- FEB. 1, 8, 15, 22, MAR. 1, 8, Marshall Weekly Wednesdays FEB. 26, New Jersey State Elementary Championships 2000, U-1500/unr. $60 ea. EF(cash only): $35. Non-LICC members 6-SS, G/90 +30. Two sections. U2000: ($600 b/25) $250-150-100. 5SS, G/30 d5. Brookdale College, 765 Newman Springs Rd., Lincroft, +$10. UNRATED FREE! Reg.: 6:45 -7:15 PM, no adv. ent., Rds.: 7:30 U1700: $100. U1400: ($600 b/25) $250-150-100. U1100: $100. EF: $60, NJ 07738. Student Life Center, use Parking Lot #7 or #6; 5 minutes PM ea. Thursday. 2 byes 1-5. Info: www.lichessclub.com. MCC Mbrs $40. Reg.: 6:15-6:45pm. Rds.: 7pm each Wed. Limit two from Garden State Parkway exit 109. 2 Sections: Elementary (K-6) & JAN. 7, 14, 21, 28 byes; request by rd. 4. www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., Primary (K3). Trophies to top 15 individuals, top 5 teams. Elementary , Rochester Chess Center Saturday Tourna- All: ments! NYC. 212-477-3716. & Primary: Top 5 in each grade. Rds.: 10am then ASAP. Top 4 scores FEB. 2 constitute the team score for Elementary; top 3 for Primary. $30 3-SS, G/60 d5. Rochester CC, 221 Norris Dr., Rochester, NY 14610. 585- , Marshall $15 Special Action! EF: 4-SS, G/25 d5. $125-75, U2200: $75, U1900: $75. $40, before 2/19, $45 at site. USCF memb. req’d. 8-9:00am After 442-2430. Prizes based on entries. EF: $15, RCC members $13. $2 less $350 GTD: EF: Reg.: GMs Free. 6:15-6:45pm. 7-8:15- 9:00am 1/2 point bye for round 1. 732 259-3881. Hal Sprech- for HS and Pre-HS. Reg.: 1-1:45 pm. Rds.: 2-4-6. One bye available, MCC Mbrs: Only $15!!! Reg.: Rds.: Info: Ent: 9:30-10:45pm. Max one bye, for round 1 or 4 only. Request at entry. man, 66 Cromwell Ln., Jackson, NJ 08527 or online by Feb 25 at request at entry. www.nychess.org. Also, Youth tournament, G/30 d5, www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. www.NJSCF.org. Entries must include name, grade, school, date of every Saturday morning 10am-1pm, trophies and prizes. EF: $5. birth, USCF ID and expiration date, mailing address, email address, JAN. 13-16, 14-16 OR 15-16, 49th annual Liberty Bell Open (PA) US Chess Junior Grand Prix! phone number and entry fee. Checks made out to NJSCF. See Grand Prix. FEB. 2, 9, 16, 23, MAR. 2, 9, Marshall Thursday Open FEB. 26, Westfield $-Per-Point Octos JAN. 15 6-SS, G/90 +30. ($600 b/25): $250-150, U2100: $100. U1800: $100. , Marshall Sunday G/45 (Open & U1600) EF: $60, MCC Mbrs $40. Reg.: 6:15-6:45pm. Rds.: 7pm each Thurs. 3-SS. G/55 d5. Westfield Y, 220 Clark St., Westfield, NJ 07090. Prizes 4-SS, G/40 d5. Two sections: Open: ($450 b/35): $175-125, U2200: per 8-player section: 1st $40, 2nd $20, $5 per point scored to all. EF: Limit two byes; request by rd. 4. www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. $75, U1900: $75. U1600: ($325 b/25): $150-100, U1300: $75. EF: $40, 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. $25, $20 Members. Register: 1:15 -1:50 p.m. Rounds: 2:00, 3:45, 5:30 MCC Mbrs $20. GMs Free. Reg.: 11:15-11:45am. Rds.: 12-1:45-4:00- p.m. Information: email John Moldovan: [email protected] 5:45pm. One bye available, request at entry. www.marshallchessclub.org. FEB. 3, 2nd Annual Greater NY Scholastics Friday Night Blitz or visit www.westfieldchessclub.com/Events.html 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. Booster! (BLZ) 4SS, G/5 d0, double-round, 8 games, NY Marriott At Brooklyn Bridge US Chess Junior Grand Prix! JAN. 16, Marshall MLK Day Action! , A State Championship Event! 6-SS, G/25 d5. ($525 b/25) $200-100. U2300: $75, U2000: $75, U1700: 333 Adams St., Brooklyn (see Greater NY Scholastics: 2/4-5). EF: $30, parents, alumni & those with Greater NY Scholastics $20. Trophies: top MAR. 4-5, New Jersey High School Chess Championship $75. EF: $50, MCC Mbrs $30. GMs Free. Reg.: 10:15-10:45am. Rds.: 5SS, G/90 d5. Union County Vocational-Technical School, 1776 Raritan 11am-12:15-1:30-3:00-4:15-5:30pm. 2 byes available, request at entry. 3, Top U1800, U1500/Unr. Reg. on-site 6-6:45 pm. Rds.: 7-7:30-8-8:30 Rd., Scotch Plains, NJ 07076. 3 sections: Varsity Championship (9- www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. pm. Bye OK rd. 1. Blitz-rated, but higher of regular or blitz used for pairings, prizes. W. 12): 5 player teams with one alternate allowed. Coaches set order by JAN. 17 player strength. Order must not be changed. Team avg. based on top 5 , Marshall Masters FEB. 3 See Grand Prix. , Marshall U2200 Friday Night Action! highest ratings. Trophies to top 10 NJ teams. Trophies for top three 4-SS, G/25 d5. ($300 b/25): $150-75, U1900: $75. EF: $40, MCC Mbrs players, boards 1-5. Rds.: Sat. 10-2-6, Sun. 10-2. EF: $150-/team before JAN. 19, Marshall Thursday Action! $20. Reg.: 6:15-6:45pm. Rds.: 7-8:15-9:30-10:45pm. Max one bye, for 3/2. $185/team at site. $5 per change on site. Junior Varsity (9-12): 4-SS, G/25 d5. ($375 b/25): $150-100, U2200: $75, U1900: $50. EF: round 1 or 4 only. Request at entry. www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 4 player teams with one alternate allowed. Team avg. based on top 4 $40, MCC Mbrs $25. GMs Free. Reg.: 6:15-6:45pm. Rds.: 7-8:15-9:30- 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. highest ratings. Trophies to top 10 NJ teams. Trophies for top 3 players, 10:45pm. Max one bye, for round 1 or 4 only. Request at entry. 23 W. boards 1-4. Rds.: Sat. 10-2-6, Sun. 10-2. EF: $120/team before 2/25, 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. www.marshallchessclub.org. US Chess Junior Grand Prix! FEB. 3-5 $150/team on site. $5 per change on site. Booster (K-12): Trophies to , Marshall Weekend FIDE US Chess Junior Grand Prix! 5-SS, 40/90 SD/30 +30. FIDE Rated. ($600 b/25): $250-125. U2200: top 15 individuals. Rds.: Sat. 10-2-6, Sun 10-2. Top 4 scores constitute JAN. 20-22, 21-22 OR 22, Marshall Monthly U2300 team score. EF: $30 before 2/25, $40 at site. USCF memb. required. $125; U1900 $100. EF: $60, MCC Mbrs $40. GMs Free. Reg.: Ends 15 All: 5-SS, 40/90 SD30 +30. Open to players rated below 2300 USCF. $800 Sat. 8-9:00am. After 9:00am, 1/2 Point bye for round one. min before round start. Rds.: Fri. 6pm, Sat. & Sun. 12 & 5:30pm. Max 2 Reg.: Ent: Gtd: $300-150-100. U2100: $125; U1800 $125. EF: $60, MCC Mbrs $40. Noreen Davisson, c/o Dean of Chess Academy, 3322 Route 22 West, byes, request at entry. www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., Reg.: Ends 15 min before round start. Rds.: 3-day: Fri. 6pm, Sat. & Suite 1501, Branchburg, NJ 08876. Entries must include name, grade, NYC. 212-477-3716. Sun. 12:30 & 5:30pm. 2-day: Sat. 11:00am (G/25 d5) then merge with FEB. 4 school, date of birth, USCF ID and expiration date, mailing address, 3-day in round 2. 1-day: Sun. 9-10:10-11:20am (G/25 d5) then merge in , Marshall Morning U1700 Action email address, phone number and entry fee. Checks made out to NJSCF. 4-SS, G/25 d5. ($325 b/25): $150-100, U1400: $75. $40, MCC Mbrs round 4. Max two byes, request at entry. SIDE EVENT: January 20, EF: Email inquiries: [email protected]. $20. 8:15-8:45am. 9am-10:15-11:30-12:45pm. One bye avail- Marshall Bughouse Tournament! 5-SS, G/5 d0. Bughouse. Not rated. Reg.: Rds.: MAR. 5, Westfield G/45 Quads Players register in teams of two. Each round is a 2 game match. ($450 able, request at entry. www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., 3-RR. G/40 d5. Westfield Y, 220 Clark St., Westfield, NJ 07090. EF: $25, b/35 players): $200-100, top U2200/unr & U1900 team average: $75. NYC. 212-477-3716. $20 members. Prizes: $60 to first in each section. Register: 1:15-2:05 USCF regular rating used for pairings & prizes. EF: $30, MCC Mbrs & FEB. 4, TRM 113 p.m. Rounds: 2:15, 4:00, 5:45 p.m. Information: email John Moldovan GMs $20. Reg.: 6:15-6:45pm. Rds.: 7-7:40-8:10-8:40-9:10pm. Max one Wood Rd ES, 100 Wood Rd., Ballston Spa 12020. 4SS, G30 d5. EF: Free. [email protected] or visit www.westfieldchessclub.com/ bye, Request at entry. www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. Pre-register required by 8:00 PM Thurs. Details www.chesstrm.org. Events.html 212-477-3716. An American Classic! MAR. 11-12, 50th annual New York State Scholastic JAN. 21, Marshall Saturday U1800 A Heritage Event! Championships (out of state welcome) (NY) 4-SS, G/40 d5. ($325 b/25): $150-100, U1500: $75. EF: $40, MCC Mbrs US Chess Junior Grand Prix! See New York. $20. Reg.: 11:15-11:45am. Rds.: 12-1:45-4:00-5:45pm. One bye available, FEB. 4 OR 5 OR 4-5, Kasparov Chess Foundation presents the request at entry. www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212- MAR. 12, Westfield G/45 Quads 51st Annual Greater NY Scholastic Championships - Since 1966, 477-3716. 3-RR. G/40 d5. Westfield Y, 220 Clark St., Westfield, NJ 07090. EF: $25, US Chess Longest-Running Scholastic! $20 members. Prizes: $60 to first in each section. Register: 1:15-2:05 JAN. 23, 30, FEB. 6, 13, 28th Nassau G/60 Championship NOTE IMPORTANT CHANGES FROM PREVIOUS YEARS! Beautiful p.m. Rounds: 2:15, 4:00, 5:45 p.m. Information: email John Moldovan See Grand Prix. hotel site: NY Marriott Hotel At Brooklyn Bridge, 333 Adams Street (near Borough Hall), Brooklyn, NY. Nearby subway stations: Jay Street [email protected] or visit www.westfieldchessclub.com/ JAN. 26, Marshall Thursday Action! Events.html Metrotech (A, C, F & R trains), Borough Hall (2, 3, 4 & 5 trains). Online 4-SS, G/25 d5. ($375 b/25): $150-100, U2200: $75, U1900: $50. EF: entries at www.gnyscc.com: $60 thru 1/20/17, $70 1/21-1/30, $80 APR. 12-16, 13-16, 14-16 OR 15-16, 11th annual $40, MCC Mbrs $25. GMs Free. Reg.: 6:15-6:45pm. Rds.: 7-8:15-9:30- 1/31-2/2. For details on mail or phone entries see www.gnyscc.com Philadelphia Open (PA) 10:45pm. Max one bye, for round 1 or 4 only. Request at entry. 23 W. or www.chesscenter.cc. On-site entry fee: $100 the day before your See Grand Prix. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. www.marshallchessclub.org. game (starting 7 pm 2/3), $120 on day of event until 90 minutes before APR. 28-30 OR 29-30 JAN. 27, Marshall $500 FIDE Blitz (BLZ) 1st game. In 14 sections! Each section has its own age, grade and rating , 26th annual Eastern Class requirements (Championship sections open to all who are under grade Championships (MA) See Grand Prix. and age limits; unrated allowed all sections). The 5 Championship sec- See Grand Prix. JAN. 28 , Marshall Saturday G/60 (Open & U1700) tions are each 2 days (High School Championship, Junior High JUNE 23-25, 2nd annual World Open Senior (PA) 4-SS, G/55 d5. Two sections: Open: ($450 b/35): $175-125, U2300: Championship, Elementary Championship, Primary Championship and K1 See Grand Prix. $75, U2000: $75. U1700 ($325 b/25): $150-100, U1400: $75. EF: $40, Championship): 6-SS, G/60, d/10. Rounds: 10 am-1-4 pm Sat; 9 am-12- MCC Mbrs $20. GMs Free. Reg.: 11:15-11:45am. Rds.: 12-2:30-4:45- 2:45 pm Sun. Awards ceremonies about 5:30 pm Sun. The 9 JUNE 24-29, 11th annual Philadelphia International (PA) 7pm. One bye available, request at entry. www.marshallchessclub.org. See Grand Prix. non-Championship sections are each 1-day, 5-SS, G/30, d5. Important 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. Note: Playing on Saturday this year are: High School Under 1900, High JUNE 28-29 , 9th annual World Open Under 13 Championship (PA) US Chess Junior Grand Prix! School Under 1200, Elementary Under 1500, Elementary Under 1100, Ele- See Pennsylvania. JAN. 28-29, 8th Annual Broome County Chess Championshp - mentary Under 700: 10 am-12-1:30-3-4:30 pm, Awards about 6 pm. Now JUNE 29, World Open Action Championship (PA) Francis Cordisco Memorial playing on Sunday with earlier starting times are: Junior High Under See Grand Prix. 6 Round Swiss, G/75 d5. Cordisco’s Chess Center, 308 Chenango St., 1300, Primary Under 1000, Primary Under 600 and K1 Under 400: 9-11 JUNE 29-JULY 4, JUNE 30-JULY 4, JULY 1-4 OR 2-4 Binghamton, NY 13901, (607) 772-8782. $500 Prize Money b/20. Two am-12:30-2-3:30 pm Sun. Awards about 5 pm. Both K-1 sections , 45th open to grade 1/below born after 2/5/09. open Annual World Open (PA) sections: Open Section: $150 - $75 - $50 trophies 1st – 3rd; Reserve All 3 Primary sections to grades 3/below born after 2/5/07. All 4 Elementary sections open See Grand Prix. Section: $125-$60-$40 (under 1700) trophies 1st – 3rd. US Chess Fed- eration Membership required. Entry Fee: Open- $40, Reserve- $35 (cash to grades 6/below born after 2/5/04. Both Junior High sections open only). Non Broome County residents welcome. Schedule: Registration to grades 9/below born after 2/5/01. All 3 High School sections open NEW MEXICO on site: 9:00-9:45AM Sat. 1/28/16. Rounds: 10AM – 1PM – 4PM both to grades 12/below born after 2/5/97. Trophies to top 15 in all Champi- days. Non Broome County residents welcome- 1st place trophy Broome onship plus Elementary, Primary and K1 sections; top 10 in each High FEB. 16-20, 17-20, 18-20 OR 19-20, 8th annual Southwest residents only. School and Junior High 1-day section, top 3 U1500 in High School U1900, Class Cham.04pionships (TX) JAN. 29 Top 3 U900/Unr in High School U1200 and Junior High U1300; Top 3 See Grand Prix. , Marshall Scholastic Action! (3 Rounds) U1300 in Elementary U1500; top 3 U900 in Elementary U1100; top 3 U800 3-SS, G/25 d5. Open to youth K-12. ($225 b/25): $100-50, U1000: $75. MAR. 3-5 OR 4-5 in Primary U1000; top 3 Unr. in Elementary U700, Primary U600 and K1 , 24th annual Western Class Championships EF: $30, MCC Mbrs: $15. Reg.: 8:15-8:45am. Rds.: 9-10:10-11:20am. No U400. Trophies also to top 6 teams each section (top 4 scores from (CA-S) byes. www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. same school = team, all on team must attend same school: no combined See Grand Prix. JAN. 29, Marshall Sunday G/45 (Open & U1500) teams, even if one school “feeds” another). Grade plaques: top 3 Kinder- 4-SS, G/40 d5. Two sections: Open: ($450 b/35): $175-125, U2100: gartners in each K1 section, top 3 scorers below 7th Grade in Junior High NEW YORK $75, U1800: $75. U1500: ($325 b/25): $150-100, U1200: $75. EF: $40, U1300, Top 3 below 9th grade in High School U1200 (you can win both MCC Mbrs $20. GMs Free. Reg.: 12:15-12:45pm. Rds.: 1-2:45-5:00- plaque + trophy). All players scoring 4 or more (5 or more in Championship) JAN. 4, 11, 18, 25, Community Chess Club of Rochester Wed 6:45pm. One bye available, request at entry. www.marshallchessclub.org. who don’t win a trophy receive a medal! Speed playoff for 5-0 or 6-0. Night Chess! 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. Individual free entry prizes (each Championship section): Free entry

www.uschess.org 65 Tournament Life / January to specified Continental Chess tournaments thru 1/20/18 to 1st, thru day: $30, parents, alumni & those with Greater NY Scholastics $20. FEB. 11, Marshall Morning U1800 Action 10/10/17 to 2nd, thru 8/20 to 3rd, thru 6/15 to 4th. Individual free Trophies: top 3 each day. Reg. on-site until 20 min before game. Rds.: 4-SS, G/25 d5. Open to youth K-12. ($325 b/25): $150-100, U1500: $75. entry prizes (each non-Championship section): Free entry to specified 12-1:15-2:30-3:45 pm. Limit 2 byes, commit by 1:30. W. EF: $40, MCC Mbrs $20. Reg.: 8:15-8:45am. Rds.: 9-10:15-11:30am- Continental Chess tmts. thru 11/15/17 to 1st, thru 8/20 to 2nd, thru 6/15 FEB. 4, 11, 18, 25 12:45pm. One bye available, request at entry. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. to 3rd, thru 4/25 to 4th. free entry to specified , Rochester Chess Center Saturday Tourna- 212-477-3716. www.marshallchessclub.org. Team free entry prizes: ments! CCA tmts. thru 8/20/17 to 1st team, thru 6/15 to 2nd team each section! FEB. 11, Marshall Saturday G/60 Open Free entries courtesy of Continental Chess and are valid for CCA tmts. 3-SS, G/60 d5. Rochester CC, 221 Norris Dr., Rochester, NY 14610. 585- 442-2430. Prizes based on entries. EF: $15, RCC members $13. $2 less 4-SS, G/55 d5. Open: ($450 b/35): $175-125, U2400: $75, U2100: $75. with 100% unconditionally guaranteed prize funds. Free entries do not EF: $40, MCC Mbrs $20. GMs Free. Reg.: 11:15-11:45am. Rds.: 12- include NYS Scholastics in Saratoga. See www.chesscenter.cc or for HS and Pre-HS. Reg.: 1-1:45 pm. Rds.: 2-4-6. One bye available, request at entry. www.nychess.org. Also, Youth tournament, G/30 d5, 2:30-4:45-7pm. One bye available, request at entry. 23 W. 10th St., www.gnyscc.com or www.chesstour.com for complete details and restric- NYC. 212-477-3716. www.marshallchessclub.org. tions. High School Mixed Doubles Bonus Prizes (best male/female every Saturday morning 10am-1pm, trophies and prizes. EF: $5. FEB. 12 2-player “team” combined score among all 3 High School sections after FEB. 5, Marshall Morning Action! (4 Rounds) , Marshall Sunday G/45 (Open & U1600) 5 rounds): free entry to specified CCA tmts. thru 8/20/17 to 1st team, 4-SS, G/25 d5. ($325 b/25): $150-100, U1800: $75. EF: $40, MCC Mbrs 4-SS, G/40 d5. Two sections: Open: ($450 b/35): $175-125, U2200: thru 6/15 to 2nd, thru 4/15 to 3rd. Team average must be U2200; Mixed $20. Reg.: 8:15-8:45am. Rds.: 9-10:15-11:30am-12:45pm. One bye avail- $75, U1900: $75. U1600: ($325 b/25): $150-100, U1300: $75. EF: $40, Doubles teammates may play in different sections and may attend different able, request at entry. www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., MCC Mbrs $20. GMs Free. Reg.: 11:15-11:45am. Rds.: 12-1:45-4:00- schools; teams must register on-site (no extra charge!) before rd. 3; NYC. 212-477-3716. 5:45pm. One bye available, request at entry. www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. teammate pairings avoided but possible. All: February 2017 official ratings FEB. 9 , Marshall U2400 Action FEB. 12 used, except unofficial ratings at uschess.org usually used if otherwise 4-SS, G/25 d5. Open to players rated below 2400 USCF. ($375 b/25): , TRM 221 unrated. TD reserves right to assign estimated ratings to players with at Riverbank State Park, 145 St. & Riverside Dr., NYC, 10025. 4SS, G/30 $150-100, U2100: $75 U1800: $50. $40, MCC Mbrs $25. 6:15- non-USCF ratings. All substitutions from advance entry list charged late EF: Reg.: d5. FREE Scholastic, free parking. Pre-Register required by 8:00 PM 6:45pm. 7-8:15-9:30-10:45pm. Max one bye, for round 1 or 4 only. EF: fee. Section switches subject to $10 extra charge per player after 1/30, Rds.: Fri. Check-in at site by 9:15 required. Details www.chesstrm.org/NYC/. $20 extra 2/2-2/3. $15 service charge for each player refund. TD reserves Request at entry. www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. FEB. 16, Marshall Thursday Action! right to reassign sections for advance entries with incorrect or unclear 4-SS, G/25 d5. ($375 b/25): $150-100, U2200: $75, U1900: $50. EF: registrations. Limit 2 byes (limit 3 in Championship), commit before rd. 3. US Chess Junior Grand Prix! $40, MCC Mbrs $25. GMs Free. Reg.: 6:15-6:45pm. Rds.: 7-8:15-9:30- HR $169, call 877-513-6305 or 718-246-7000 by 1/13 (rooms may sell FEB. 9, 16, 23, MAR. 2, 9, 6th Long Island CC Late Winter Open 10:45pm. Max one bye, for round 1 or 4 only. Request at entry. Website: out early), mention chess. Help with entries, parking, etc: www.gnyscc.com 5SS, G/90 d5. United Methodist Church, 470 East Meadow Ave., East www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. Questions: director@ gnyscc.com or 347-201-2269, 917-691-1729 Meadow, NY 11554. Open to all. $(b/20 pd. ent.): $110-90. Top U- (leave message but email is better; on Feb 4-5 only call 718-246-7000.). US Chess Junior Grand Prix! 2000, U-1500/unr. $60 ea. EF (cash only): $35. Non-LICC members FEB. 17-19, 18-19 OR 19 Team rooms: [email protected]. Sets provided by Little House +$10. UNRATED FREE! Reg.: 6:45 - 7:15 PM, no adv. ent., Rds.: 7:30 , Marshall Monthly U2300 5-SS, 40/90 SD30 +30. Open to players rated below 2300 USCF. of Chess— bring clocks! W. Info: www.gnyscc.com. To contact us by PM ea. Thursday. 2 byes 1-5. Info: www.lichessclub.com. $800 Gtd: $300-150-100. U2100: $125; U1800 $125. EF: $60, MCC Mbrs $40. mail: Chess Center of NY, PO Box 4615, New Windsor, NY 12553. FEB. 10 Note: US Chess Junior Grand Prix (Championship sections only). , Marshall Friday Night Blitz (BLZ) Reg.: Ends 15 min before round start. Rds.: 3-day: Fri. 6pm, Sat. & 9-SS, G/3 +2. ($500 b/35): $200-100, top U2400/unr, U2200, U2000, Sun. 12:30 & 5:30pm. 2-day: Sat. 11:00am (G/25 d5) then merge with FEB. 4 AND/OR 5, Greater NY Scholastic - Parents & Friends U1800: $50. USCF regular rating used for pairings & prizes. EF: $30, 3-day in round 2. 1-day: Sun. 9-10:10-11:20am (G/25 d5) then merge in Tournament! MCC Mbrs $20. GMs Free. Reg.: 6:15-6:45. Rds.: 7-7:30-7:50-8:10- round 4. Max two byes, request at entry. SIDE EVENT: February 17, 2 separate tmts, each 4SS, G/30 d5. NY Marriott At Brooklyn Bridge, 8:40-9-9:20-9:40-10pm. Max three byes. Request at entry. Blitz rated. Marshall Bughouse Tournament! 5-SS, G/5 d0. Bughouse. Not rated. 333 Adams St., Brooklyn (see Greater NY Scholastics: 2/4-5). EF each 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. www.marshallchessclub.org. Players register in teams of two. Each round is a 2 game match. ($450

Membership Appreciation Program (MAP) The MAP program continues in 2016. See details at main.uschess.org/go/MAP. Top standings will appear every two months in Chess Life.

Overall Affiliate Standings Adult Membership Standings Name State Count Name State Count CONTINENTAL CHESS ASSN NY 1142 CONTINENTAL CHESS ASSN NY 922 PAPERCLIP PAIRINGS TX 903 MARSHALL CHESS CLUB NY 172 BAY AREA CHESS CA 604 CHESS CLUB AND SCHOLASTIC CTR MO 143 THE BERKELEY CHESS SCHOOL CA 331 SAN DIEGO CHESS CLUB CA 105 ROCKS & ROOKS CHESS CLUB TX 253 ROCHESTER CHESS CENTER NY 78 WESTERN PA YOUTH CHESS CLUB PA 250 LOS ANGELES CHESS CLUB CA 77 BOCA RATON CHESS CLUB FL 239 BAY AREA CHESS CA 77 CHESS CLUB AND SCHOLASTIC CTR MO 233 DALLAS CHESS CLUB TX 74 CHESS CLUB TX 220 CHESS CASTLE OF MINNESOTA MN 65 FOOTHILL HS CHESS CLUB CA 210 PAPERCLIP PAIRINGS TX 61 Scholastic and Youth Membership Standings Small State Affiliate Standings Name State Count Name State Count PAPERCLIP PAIRINGS TX 842 MAINE ASSOC OF CHESS COACHES ME 73 BAY AREA CHESS CA 527 ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC SCHOOL CC ME 56 THE BERKELEY CHESS SCHOOL CA 295 NEW MEXICO SCHOL CHESS ORG NM 43 WESTERN PA YOUTH CHESS CLUB PA 238 WVSCA WV 40 ROCKS & ROOKS CHESS CLUB TX 223 RELYEA CHESS NH 20 CONTINENTAL CHESS ASSN NY 220 TOURNAMENT IN A BOX NH 16 EN PASSANT CHESS CLUB TX 215 OMAHA CHESS COMMUNITY NE 15 SACRAMENTO VALLEY SCH CL CA 197 AIRLINE COMMUNITY SCHOOL ME 14 FOOTHILL HS CHESS CLUB CA 193 DELAWARE YOUTH CHESS ORG DE 10 BOCA RATON CHESS CLUB FL 179 MESA CHESS CLUB NM 10 Member Standings KNIGHTS CHESS CLUB NH 10 Name State Count NAVARRO, DANIEL A TX 19 State Chapter Affiliate Standings SOSO, VAUGHN JONATIN NY 17 Name State Count CLARK, MIKE MO 15 MARYLAND CHESS ASSOCIATION MD 416 KRANICH RITTER, TANIA FL 13 MICHIGAN CHESS ASSOCIATION MI 220 TUSING, TIMOTHY A FL 12 WASHINGTON CHESS FEDERATION WA 152 WAGUESPACK, GARY PHILLIP MD 9 PENNSYLVANIA ST CHESS FED PA 146 SPENCER, ALEC CA 5 MASSACHUSETTS CHESS ASSOC MA 77 BRACKENRIDGE, KEITH W OH 5 MINNESOTA ST CHESS ASSN MN 43 STALLINGS, JAY CA 4 TENNESSEE CHESS ASSOCIATION TN 41 SHAEFFER, JAY CO 4 IOWA STATE CHESS ASSOCIATION IA 35 MOY, BOBBY NY 4 NEVADA CHESS INC NV 28 SETSER, BRADY SC 4 NEW HAMPSHIRE CHESS ASSN NH 27 ALVAREZ, WAYLON TX 4 NEW JERSEY ST CHESS FED NJ 23 PCT Gain Standings State Dec15 Nov16 PCT State Dec15 Nov16 PCT State Dec15 Nov16 PCT State Dec15 Nov16 PCT TERR 50 76 52.0 MO 1441 1641 13.9 KY 1524 1685 10.6 SD 230 246 7.0 UT 634 748 18.0 NV 897 994 10.8 CT 1306 1432 9.6 GA 2284 2622 14.8 TX 10782 11940 10.7 ND 135 146 8.1

66 January 2017 | Chess Life See previous issue for TLAs appearing January 1-14

b/35 players): $200-100, top U2200/unr & U1900 team average: $75. 2:30-4:45-7pm. One bye available, request at entry. 23 W. 10th St., JUNE 24-29, 11th annual Philadelphia International (PA) USCF regular rating used for pairings & prizes. EF: $30, MCC Mbrs & NYC. 212-477-3716, www.marshallchessclub.org. See Grand Prix. GMs $20. Reg.: 6:15-6:45pm. Rds.: 7-7:40-8:10-8:40-9:10pm. Max one JUNE 28-29 bye, Request at entry. www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. An American Classic! , 9th annual World Open Under 13 Championship (PA) 212-477-3716. A Heritage Event! See Pennsylvania. US Chess Junior Grand Prix! FEB. 18 JUNE 29, World Open Action Championship (PA) , Marshall Saturday U1500 A State Championship Event! See Grand Prix. 4-SS, G/40 d5. ($325 b/25): $150-100, U1200: $75. EF: $40, MCC Mbrs MAR. 11-12 , 50th annual New York State Scholastic JUNE 29-JULY 4, JUNE 30-JULY 4, JULY 1-4 OR 2-4 $20. Reg.: 11:15-11:45am. Rds.: 12-1:45-4:00-5:45pm. One bye available, Championships (out of state welcome) , 45th request at entry. www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212- 6SS, G/60 d10, open to grades K-12; top NYS player & team in each Annual World Open (PA) 477-3716. section are NY champions. In 11 sections. HS Championship and HS See Grand Prix. US Chess Junior Grand Prix! Reserve at Courtyard by Marriott, 11 Excelsior Ave., Saratoga Springs FEB. 20, 27, MAR. 6, 13, 20, 27, Marshall FIDE NY 12866. Other 9 sections 2/5 mile away at Saratoga Hilton and NORTH CAROLINA Mondays/U1800 adjacent Saratoga City Center (connected by indoor walkway), 534 6-SS, G/90 +30. Two sections. Open: Open to all players 1600+. FIDE Broadway (I-87 Exit 13-N, 4 miles north on US 9), Saratoga Springs, NY JAN. 27-29, Land of the Sky XXX Rated. ($600 b/25) $200-150-100. U2000: $100-50. U1800: ($600 b/25) 12866. Team prizes based on top 4 scores from same school; no com- See Grand Prix. $200-150-100. U1500: $100-50. EF: $60, MCC Mbrs $40. Reg.: 6:15- bined school teams allowed even if one school “feeds” another. Teams FEB. 24-26 OR 25-26 of 2 or 3 players allowed, but are at a disadvantage. Online entry fee , 2nd annual George Washington Open (VA) 6:45pm. Rd: 7pm each Mon. Limit two byes; request by rd. 4. 23 W. See Grand Prix. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. www.marshallchessclub.org. at chessaction.com, all sections: $45 by 2/18, $55 2/19-3/4, $70 3/5 to 3/10. Entry fee at site, all sections: $70. High School, open to MAR. 24-26 OR 25-26, 15th annual Southern Class FEB. 21, Marshall Masters grades K-12 born after 9/1/97. EF $48.20 mailed by 2/18. Top NYS Championships (FL) See Grand Prix. grade 9-12 qualifies for Denker Tournament of HS Champions, top NYS See Grand Prix. FEB. 23, Marshall Thursday Action! grade K-12 girl qualifies for National Girls Tournament of Champions. JUNE 23-25 open to K-12 under 1200 or unrated. EF $48 , 2nd annual World Open Senior (PA) 4-SS, G/25 d5. ($375 b/25): $150-100, U2200: $75, U1900: $50. EF: High School Reserve, See Grand Prix. $40, MCC Mbrs $25. GMs Free. Reg.: 6:15-6:45pm. Rds.: 7-8:15-9:30- mailed by 2/18.Junior High, open to all in grades K-9. EF $47.90 mailed 10:45pm. Max one bye, for round 1 or 4 only. Request at entry. Website: by 2/18. Top NYS grade K-8 born after 9/1/01 qualifies for Barber tour- JUNE 24-29, 11th annual Philadelphia International (PA) www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. nament of K-8 Champions. Middle School Reserve, open to K-8 under See Grand Prix. 1000 or unrated. EF $47.80 mailed by 2/18. Elementary, open to all in JUNE 28-29 FEB. 24, Marshall $500 FIDE Blitz (BLZ) , 9th annual World Open Under 13 Championship (PA) grades K-6. EF $47.60 mailed by 2/18. Elementary Intermediate, open See Pennsylvania. See Grand Prix. to grades K-6 under 1200 or unrated. EF $47.50 mailed by 2/18. Ele- JUNE 29 FEB. 24-26 OR 25-26, 2nd annual George Washington Open (VA) mentary Reserve, open to grades K-5 under 800 or unrated. EF $47.40 , World Open Action Championship (PA) See Grand Prix. mailed by 2/18. Primary, open to grades K-3. EF $47.30 mailed by 2/18. See Grand Prix. FEB. 25 Primary Reserve, open to grades K-3 under 600 or unrated. EF: $47.20 JUNE 29-JULY 4, JUNE 30-JULY 4, JULY 1-4 OR 2-4, 45th , Marshall Saturday G/60 (Open & U1700) mailed by 2/18. K-1, open to grades K-1. EF $47.10 mailed by 2/18. K- 4-SS, G/55 d5. Two sections: Open: ($450 b/35): $175-125, U2300: Annual World Open (PA) 1 Reserve, open to grades K-1 under 400 or unrated. EF $47 mailed by See Grand Prix. $75, U2000: $75. U1700 ($325 b/25): $150-100, U1400: $75. EF: $40, 2/18. Postmarked 2/19-3/1: All EF $10 more. Do not mail entry after MCC Mbrs $20. GMs Free. Reg.: 11:15-11:45am. Rds.: 12-2:30-4:45- 3/1. Special 1 year USCF dues with magazine if paid with entry. Online 7pm. One bye available, request at entry. www.marshallchessclub.org. at chessaction.com, Young Adult $22, Scholastic $15. Mailed, phoned NORTH DAKOTA 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. or paid at site, Young Adult $25, Scholastic $17. Trophies to top 10 FEB. 26, Marshall Scholastic Action! (3 Rounds) players and top 7 teams each section, top 2 unrated in each reserve MAY 25-29, 26-29, 27-29 OR 28-29, 26th annual Chicago 3-SS, G/25 d5. Open to youth K-12. ($225 b/25): $100-50, U1000: $75. section, and top 2 each U1900, U1700, U1500, U1300 (HS), U1000, U800, Open (IL) EF: $30, MCC Mbrs: $15. Reg.: 8:15-8:45am. Rds.: 9-10:10-11:20am. No U600 (HS Reserve), U1800, U1600, U1400 (JHS), U900, U800, U600, See Grand Prix. byes. www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. U400 (MS Reserve), U1700, U1500, U1300 (Elem), U1100, U1000, U900, FEB. 26 U800 (Elem Intermediate), U700, U600, U500, U400, U300 (Elem Reserve), , Marshall Sunday G/45 (Open & U1500) U1400, U1200, U1000 (Primary), U500, U400, U300, U200 (Primary OHIO 4-SS, G/40 d5. Two sections: Open: ($450 b/35): $175-125, U2100: Reserve), U800, U600, U400 (K-1), U300, U200 (K-1 Reserve). Speed $75, U1800: $75. U1500: ($325 b/25): $150-100, U1200: $75. EF: $40, JAN. 13, DCC Friday Nite Quick (QC) playoff if perfect score tie. Free entry to NY State Championship, Labor 4SS, G/24 d5. Dayton Chess Club, 18 W. 5th St., Dayton, OH. Rds.: MCC Mbrs $20. GMs Free. Reg.: 12:15-12:45pm. Rds.: 1-2:45-5:00- Day weekend 2017 (Albany), to top player each section, if not already 6:45pm. One bye available, request at entry. www.marshallchessclub.org. 7:30/8:30/9:30/10:30. One bye. Prizes: based on entries. EF: $14 ($10 qualified for free entry from another event. Mixed doubles prizes for DCC mbr). Info: [email protected], 937-461-6283. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. HS Championship/Reserve combined. Schedule: Reg. ends Sat 10 am, JAN. 20 MAR. 2, Marshall $15 Special Action! rds. Sat 11, 2, 5, Sun 9, 12, 3. Awards 5:30 pm. Half point byes OK all, , DCC Friday Nite Quick (QC) 4-SS, G/25 d5. $350 GTD: $125-75, U2200: $75, U1900: $75. EF: $40, limit 2, must commit before rd. 2. HR: Hilton $129-129, 888-999-4711, 4SS, G/24 d5. Dayton Chess Club, 18 W. 5th St., Dayton, OH. Rds.: MCC Mbrs: Only $15!!! GMs Free. Reg.: 6:15-6:45pm. Rds.: 7-8:15- 518-584-4000, or use link at chesstour.com. Courtyard $132-132, 866- 7:30/8:30/9:30/10:30. One bye. Prizes: based on entries. EF: $14 ($10 9:30-10:45pm. Max one bye, for round 1 or 4 only. Request at entry. 210-9325, or use link at chesstour.com. Two nights minimum at both DCC mbr). Info: [email protected], 937-461-6283. www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. hotels. 7 days notice required for room cancellations. Both hotels will JAN. 27, DCC Friday Nite Quick (QC) sell out a few months before the tournament, but may again have avail- MAR. 3, Marshall U2200 Friday Night Action! 4SS, G/24 d5. Dayton Chess Club, 18 W. 5th St., Dayton, OH. Rds.: ability in the final week before the event due to late cancellations. For 7:30/8:30/9:30/10:30. One bye. Prizes: based on entries. EF: $14 ($10 4-SS, G/25 d5. ($300 b/25): $150-75, U1900: $75. EF: $40, MCC Mbrs other backup hotels see chesstour.com. Free parking at Courtyard; free $20. Reg.: 6:15-6:45pm. Rds.: 7-8:15-9:30-10:45pm. Max one bye, for DCC mbr). Info: [email protected], 937-461-6283. parking for overnight guests at Hilton. 7 days notice required for room JAN. 27-29 OR 28-29 round 1 or 4 only. Request at entry. www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. cancellation at both. Special car rentals: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD , 2017 Cardinal Open 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. #657633. Online entry:www.chessaction.com. Mail entry: Continental See Grand Prix. MAR. 3-5 OR 4-5, 18th annual Pittsburgh Open (PA) Chess, PO Box 249, Salisbury Mills, NY 12577. Include name, rating, FEB. 3, DCC Friday Nite Quick (QC) See Grand Prix. USCF ID, USCF expiration (non-members include dues), section, school, 4SS, G/24 d5. Dayton Chess Club, 18 W. 5th St., Dayton, OH. Rds.: grade, birth date, address of each player. Checks payable to Continental 7:30/8:30/9:30/10:30. One bye. Prizes: based on entries. EF: $14 ($10 US Chess Junior Grand Prix! Chess. $15 per player service charge for refunds. $10 extra to switch DCC mbr). Info: [email protected], 937-461-6283. MAR. 3-5, Marshall Weekend FIDE sections, all substitutions from advance list charged $60. Questions: FEB. 10 5-SS, 40/90 SD/30 +30. FIDE Rated. ($600 b/25): $250-125. U2200: DirectorAtChess.US (At = @)), 347-201-2269. if possi- , DCC Friday Nite Quick (QC) Bring clock 4SS, G/24 d5. Dayton Chess Club, 18 W. 5th St., Dayton, OH. Rds.: $125; U1900 $100. EF: $60, MCC Mbrs $40. GMs Free. Reg.: Ends 15 ble- none supplied. Bring set & board for HS Championship, HS Reserve 7:30/8:30/9:30/10:30. One bye. Prizes: based on entries. EF: $14 ($10 min before round start. Rds.: Fri. 6pm, Sat. & Sun. 12 & 5:30pm. Max 2 & JHS Championship; set & board supplied for other sections. March DCC mbr). Info: [email protected], 937-461-6283. byes, request at entry. www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., official ratings used (except unofficial web ratings usually used if oth- NYC. 212-477-3716. erwise unrated). TD reserves right to assign estimated rating to players FEB. 11, Freezing Weather Pawn Storm XXXIV MAR. 4, Marshall Morning U1700 Action with non-USCF ratings. See Grand Prix. 4-SS, G/25 d5. ($325 b/25): $150-100, U1400: $75. EF: $40, MCC Mbrs MAR. 12, Marshall Sunday G/45 (Open & U1600) US Chess Junior Grand Prix! $20. Reg.: 8:15-8:45am. Rds.: 9am-10:15-11:30-12:45pm. One bye avail- 4-SS, G/40 d5. Two sections: Open: ($450 b/35): $175-125, U2200: FEB. 11, Toledo February Swiss able, request at entry. www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., $75, U1900: $75. U1600: ($325 b/25): $150-100, U1300: $75. EF: $40, Open, 4SS, Rnd. 1 G/75 d5, Rnds. 2-4 G/85 d5. The University of Toledo NYC. 212-477-3716. MCC Mbrs $20. GMs Free. Reg.: 11:15-11:45am. Rds.: 12-1:45-4:00- Health Science Campus, Mulford Library Basement Cafe, 3000 Arlington MAR. 5, Marshall Morning Action! (4 Rounds) 5:45pm. One bye available, request at entry. www.marshallchessclub.org. Ave., Toledo, OH 43614. Can split into 2 or 3 sections if enough players. 4-SS, G/25 d5. ($325 b/25): $150-100, U1800: $75. EF: $40, MCC Mbrs 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. EF: $20 by 2/9, $25 at site. Reg.: 9-10 a.m., Rds.: 10, 1, 4, & 7. Prizes: $20. Reg.: 8:15-8:45am. Rds.: 9-10:15-11:30am-12:45pm. One bye avail- US Chess Junior Grand Prix! $450 b/25, $100-50, Class prizes TBD based on split. Ent: James.Jagodzin- [email protected]. 419-367-9450. able, request at entry. www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., MAR. 15, 22, 29, APR. 5, 12, 19, Marshall Weekly Wednesdays NYC. 212-477-3716. 6-SS, G/90 +30. Two sections. U2000: ($600 b/25) $250-150-100. MAR. 3-5 OR 4-5, 18th annual Pittsburgh Open (PA) MAR. 9, Marshall Thursday Action! U1700: $100. U1400: ($600 b/25) $250-150-100. U1100: $100. EF: $60, See Grand Prix. 4-SS, G/25 d5. ($375 b/25): $150-100, U2200: $75, U1900: $50. EF: MCC Mbrs $40. Reg.: 6:15-6:45pm. Rds.: 7pm each Wed. Limit two MAR. 3-5 OR 4-5, 2017 Arnold Schwarzenegger Open (Open $40, MCC Mbrs $25. GMs Free. Reg.: 6:15-6:45pm. Rds.: 7-8:15-9:30- byes; request by rd. 4. www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., Section FIDE Rated) 10:45pm. Max one bye, for round 1 or 4 only. Request at entry. Website: NYC. 212-477-3716. See Grand Prix. www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. APR. 12-16, 13-16, 14-16 OR 15-16, 11th annual US Chess Junior Grand Prix! MAR. 10, Marshall Friday Night Blitz (BLZ) Philadelphia Open (PA) MAR. 11 See Grand Prix. , Toledo March Swiss 9-SS, G/3 +2. ($500 b/35): $200-100, top U2400/unr, U2200, U2000, Open, 4SS, Rnd. 1 G/75 d5, Rnds. 2-4 G/85 d5. The University of Toledo U1800: $50. USCF regular rating used for pairings & prizes. EF: $30, APR. 20, 27, MAY 4, 11, 18, 25, Long Island CC Ilan Kreitner Health Science Campus, Mulford Library Basement Cafe, 3000 Arlington MCC Mbrs $20. GMs Free. Reg.: 6:15-6:45. Rds.: 7-7:30-7:50-8:10-8:40- Memorial Tournament Ave., Toledo, OH 43614. Can split into 2 or 3 sections if enough players. 9-9:20-9:40-10pm. Max three byes. Request at entry. Blitz rated. Website: See Grand Prix. EF: $20 by 3/9, $25 at site. Reg.: 9-10 a.m., Rds.: 10, 1, 4, & 7. Prizes: www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. APR. 28-30 OR 29-30 $450 b/25, $100-50, Class prizes TBD based on split. Ent: James.Jagodzin- MAR. 11 , 26th annual Eastern Class [email protected]. 419-367-9450. , Marshall Morning U1800 Action Championships (MA) 4-SS, G/25 d5. Open to youth K-12. ($325 b/25): $150-100, U1500: $75. See Grand Prix. US Chess Junior Grand Prix! EF: $40, MCC Mbrs $20. Reg.: 8:15-8:45am. Rds.: 9-10:15-11:30am- MAR. 11-12 (NOT MAR. 18-19) 12:45pm. One bye available, request at entry. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. MAY 25-29, 26-29, 27-29 OR 28-29 , MOTCF: Midwest Open Team , 26th annual Chicago Chess Festival 212-477-3716, www.marshallchessclub.org. Open (IL) 5SS, Rd.1 G/90 d5, Rds. 2-5 40/90, SD/60 d5. Four players/team plus MAR. 11, Marshall Saturday G/60 Open See Grand Prix. one alternate. LIMIT 40 teams. Location: Dayton Chess Club, 18 West 4-SS, G/55 d5. Open: ($450 b/35): $175-125, U2400: $75, U2100: $75. JUNE 23-25, 2nd annual World Open Senior (PA) Fifth St., Dayton, OH 45402. Team (March) ratings for pairings determined EF: $40, MCC Mbrs $20. GMs Free. Reg.: 11:15-11:45am. Rds.: 12- See Grand Prix. by average of highest four ratings with imputed ratings for players

www.uschess.org 67 Tournament Life / January

rated more than 400 points below team avg. Reg.: Fri Mar 10, 8pm- P.M. Rounds: 12:30, 2:45, 5:00 P.M. Info: Bring a chess clock. main- MAY 25-29, 26-29, 27-29 OR 28-29, 26th annual Chicago 11pm & Sat Mar 11, 9-10am. Rds.: Sat 10:30, 2:00, 7:30, Sun 10 & 3:30. [email protected], mainlinechessandgames.net, Tom Open (IL) EF: $200/team if mailed or online prior to Mar 05, then $260/team Bartell 610-240-8900. See Grand Prix. including Fri/Sat at site. Prizes (GTD): 1st $1,600, 2nd $1,200, U2000: JAN. 13-16, 14-16 OR 15-16, 49th annual Liberty Bell Open JUNE 23-25, 2nd annual World Open Senior $1100, U1800: $1000, U1600 $900. Top boards (1-4) $100. Hotel: TBD See Grand Prix. Registration Form: Include all team members, ratings, ID numbers, See Grand Prix. and board order (switches limited to 50 rating points), please use online JAN. 15, Main Line Chess & Games Sunday Quads JUNE 24-29, 11th annual Philadelphia International entry form at DaytonChessClub.com if mailing entry. If registering at 3 RR, Game/60 d5. Main Line Chess & Games, 7 South Valley Rd., Paoli, See Grand Prix. www.DaytonChessClub.com use online entry form provided. MC/V at PA 19301. EF: $20. $40 to first, $50 for 3-0 result. Reg.: 11:45-12:15 P.M. 12:30, 2:45, 5:00 P.M. Bring a chess clock. main- US Chess Junior Grand Prix! site, no cks. Individuals may sign up for “ad hoc” teams. Information Rounds: Info: JUNE 28-29 email [email protected] or call 937.461.6283, or check www.Day- [email protected], mainlinechessandgames.net, Tom , 9th annual World Open Under 13 Championship tonChessClub.com. Bartell 610-240-8900. 6SS, G/60 d10. Philadelphia Marriott Downtown (see World Open for location, rates). Open to all born after 6/29/04. In 4 sections. Open JAN. 22 MAR. 24-26 OR 25-26, 21st annual Mid-America Open (MO) , Main Line Chess & Games Winter Scholastic Section: Trophies to top 7, top 2 Under 1600/Unr; free entry in all CCA See Grand Prix. Main Line Chess & Games, 7 South Valley Rd., Paoli, PA 19301. K-12, 3 tournaments 7/14/17-12/31/17 to 1st. Under 1400 Section: Trophies Open, U1250, U750. 3 SS, G/40 d5. Rounds 12:45, 2:30, APR. 7-9 OR 8-9, 53rd Cincinnati Open Sections: Open to top 7, top 2 Under 1200, free entry in all CCA tournaments 7/14/17- See Grand Prix. 4:15 p.m. U1250 & U750: 4 SS, G/25 d5. Rounds 12:45, 2:00, 3:15, 9/30/17 to 1st. Under 1000 Section: Trophies to top 7, top 2 Under 4:30 P.M. Prizes: Trophies to Top 5 in each section. Tiebreakers used 800, free entry in all CCA tournaments 7/14/17-9/30/17 to 1st. Under MAY 5-7 OR 6-7, 14th Annual Great Lakes Open (MI) See USCF Rule 34 E. EF: $20. Register: 11:45- 12:15 P.M. Info: Bring a See Grand Prix. 600 Section: Trophies to top 7, top 2 Under 400, top Unrated; free chess clock, [email protected], mainlineches- entry in all CCA tournaments 7/14/17-9/30/17 to 1st. EF: $43 online at MAY 25-29, 26-29, 27-29 OR 28-29, 26th annual Chicago sandgames.net, Tom Bartell 610-240-8900. chessaction.com by 6/26, $48 mailed by 6/12, $60 at site. Late reg. Open (IL) JAN. 27-29 OR 28-29, 2017 Cardinal Open (OH) 6/28 to 10 am, rds. Wed 11-2-5, Thu 10-1-4. Up to 2 half point byes See Grand Prix. See Grand Prix. allowed, must commit before rd. 3. Ent: chessaction.com or Continental JUNE 23-25, 2nd annual World Open Senior (PA) JAN. 29, Main Line Chess & Games Sunday Quads Chess, PO Box 8482, Pelham, NY 10803. Questions: chesstour.com, See Grand Prix. 3 RR, Game/60 d5. Main Line Chess & Games, 7 South Valley Rd., Paoli, chesstour.info, DirectorAtChess.US, 347-201-2269. $15 service charge for refunds. JUNE 24-29, 11th annual Philadelphia International (PA) PA 19301. EF: $20. $40 to first, $50 for 3-0 result. Reg.: 11:45-12:15 See Grand Prix. P.M. Rounds: 12:30, 2:45, 5:00 P.M. Info: Bring a chess clock. main- JUNE 29, World Open Action Championship [email protected], mainlinechessandgames.net, Tom JUNE 28-29 See Grand Prix. , 9th annual World Open Under 13 Championship (PA) Bartell 610-240-8900. See Pennsylvania. JUNE 29-JULY 4, JUNE 30-JULY 4, JULY 1-4 OR 2-4, 45th JAN. 29, PCL January Quick Quads (QC) Annual World Open JUNE 29, World Open Action Championship (PA) 3RR, G/15 d3. Wm. Pitt Union, Univ. of Pittsburgh, 5th Ave. & Bigelow See Grand Prix. See Grand Prix. Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15213. EF: $10, $7 Jrs. $20 to 1st/quad. Reg.: 11- JUNE 29-JULY 4, JUNE 30-JULY 4, JULY 1-4 OR 2-4, 45th 11:15am. Info: [email protected], 412-908-0286. W. Annual World Open (PA) FEB. 4, 2017 PA State Game/75 Championship RHODE ISLAND See Grand Prix. See Grand Prix. APR. 28-30 OR 29-30, 26th annual Eastern Class FEB. 4, Kasparov Chess Foundation Presents 9th Annual Championships (MA) OKLAHOMA Greater Mid-Atlantic Scholastic Chess Championships (MD) See Grand Prix. JAN. 21, 2nd Westark Winter Warm-Up (AR) See Maryland. See Arkansas. FEB. 4, W.Chester 1st Sat. Quads SOUTH CAROLINA FEB. 16-20, 17-20, 18-20 OR 19-20, 8th annual Southwest Our 28th year! 3RR, Game/80 d5. 2nd Presbyterian Church, 114 S. Class Championships (TX) Walnut St., West Chester, PA. EF: $20; $40, $50 for 3-0. Reg.: 9am. MAR. 24-26 OR 25-26, 15th annual Southern Class See Grand Prix. Rds.: 9:40, 1:00, 4:00. Info: [email protected]. Championships (FL) FEB. 11, MasterMinds CC Swiss/Quads See Grand Prix. OREGON Lenfest Center, 3890 N. 10th St., Philadelphia, PA 19140. Quads: 3RR, G/85 d5. EF: $30 cash; winner $100. Reg. ends 9AM Rd. 9:30, 1, 4. SOUTH DAKOTA JAN. 21-22, 2017 U.S. Junior Chess Congress (CA-N) Scholastic 4SS, K-12 Open, K-8 U1200, K-6 U800, K-3 U500 G/40 d5, See Nationals. EF $10 rec’d by Thurs. before, $25 on site. Reg. ends 9AM. Rd. 1 10AM MAY 25-29, 26-29, 27-29 OR 28-29, 26th annual Chicago MAR. 3-5 OR 4-5 then asap. Mail Ent: payable to MasterMinds CC, 36 E. Hortter St., Open (IL) , 24th annual Western Class Championships Philadelphia, PA 19119. mastermindschess.org or brad@master- (CA-S) Info: See Grand Prix. mindschess.org. See Grand Prix. FEB. 24-26 OR 25-26 JUNE 14-15 , 2nd annual George Washington Open (VA) , 2017 U.S. Women’s Open (NV) See Grand Prix. TENNESSEE See Nationals. FEB. 26 JUNE 16-18 OR 17-18 , PCL February Quick Quads (QC) US Chess Junior Grand Prix! , 2017 National Open (NV) 3RR, G/15 d3. Wm. Pitt Union, Univ. of Pittsburgh, 5th Ave. & Bigelow JAN. 14-15 See Nationals. , Memphis Candidates 2017 Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15213. EF: $10, $7 Jrs. $20 to 1st/quad. Reg.: 11- 5SS, G/120 d5. 2 Sections: Open and Under 1500. Entry Fee: $10 and 11:15am. Info: [email protected], 412-908-0286. W. MCC dues (Adults $30, Juniors Under 19 $20, Family membership $50). PENNSYLVANIA MAR. 3-5 OR 4-5, 18th annual Pittsburgh Open On site registration 01/14: 7:30am-8:45am CST. Rounds: 9-2-7; 9-2. Site: IBEW, 1870 Madison Ave., Memphis, TN 38104. Top 4 Open players Every Friday - LVCA 7 & 9pm Blitz Events Open/U1200 (BLZ) See Grand Prix. MAR. 10 qualify for City Championship with Graham Horobetz and Jonathan 8SS, G/5 d2. St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church, 140 So. Ott St., Allentown, , 2017 PA Quick Chess Championship (QC) Beatty. Top 6 U1500 qualify for Memphis Amateur Championship. PA 18104. EF: $5, Prizes: Open and U1200, Minimum 50% Returned. Contact: See Grand Prix. [email protected]. All players who play in this event get free entry 1st-70%, 2nd-30% AND will ADD PRIZES if 12 or more players per MAR. 11-12 section, FREE Coffee For All Entrants. REG.: Ends 6:55pm, Cash on site , 50th annual New York State Scholastic into the Memphis Reserve 2017 in February. Find more info at www.mem- only. RDS.:7 pm, then ASAP. On Site: 484-866-3045 or bdavis@lehigh- Championships (out of state welcome) (NY) phischess.com. valleychessclub.org,www.lehighvalleychessclub.org/ See New York. MAR. 24-26 OR 25-26, 15th annual Southern Class North Penn Chess Club MAR. 11-12, 2017 Ira Lee Riddle Memorial PA State Championships (FL) Main & Richardson, Lansdale, PA. See www.northpennchessclub.org Championship & PA Collegiate Championship See Grand Prix. for schedules & info or 215-699-8418. See Grand Prix. MAR. 24-26 OR 25-26, 21st annual Mid-America Open (MO) JAN. 8, Main Line Chess & Games Sunday Quads US Chess Junior Grand Prix! See Grand Prix. 3 RR, Game/60 d5. Main Line Chess & Games, 7 South Valley Rd., Paoli, A State Championship Event! MAY 12-14, SUPERNATIONALS VI PA 19301. EF: $20. $40 to first, $50 for 3-0 result. Reg.: 11:45-12:15 MAR. 11-12, 2017 PA State Scholastic Championship See Nationals. 5SS. 226 Trophies!! (163 Individual & 63 Team). Lancaster Host Resort MAY 25-29, 26-29, 27-29 OR 28-29 and Conference Center, 2300 Lincoln Hwy East (Rt 30), Lancaster, PA , 26th annual Chicago 17602. 10 sections (Sat & Sun 3/11 & 12 unless indicated): EF: K-3 Open (IL) Open: (Sat 3/11 only) $30. K-6 U500: (Sat 3/11 only) $26. K-6 U800: See Grand Prix. FOREIGN RATING? (Sat 3/11 only) $27. K-9 U1000: (Sun 3/12 only) $27.50. K-6 Open: $31. JUNE 28-29, 9th annual World Open Under 13 Championship (PA) K-8 Open: $32. 7-12 U1000 & 7-12 Unrated: $28. 7-12 U1300: $29. K-12 See Pennsylvania. NOT UNRATED! Open: $33. All: EFs if rec’d by 2/25, $10 more rec’d 2/26-3/4, $20 more JUNE 29-JULY 4, JUNE 30-JULY 4, JULY 1-4 OR 2-4, 45th after 3/4. Feb 2017 ratings used. Bye: limit 1, ask by rd. 2. Reg.: Fri Annual World Open (PA) 3/10 6-10 pm, Sat 3/11 10-11 am, Saturday entries get 1/2-bye. $5 See Grand Prix. If you have no US CHESS rating, charge for changes/refunds after 2/25. Rds.: (Sat 3/11 1-day sections): G/40 d5; 10-Noon-2-4-6; (Sun 3/11 K-9 U1000): G/40 d5; 9-10:45- but do have a rating or category 12:30-2:15-4; (2-day sections): G/90 d5; 10-2-5:30, 9-1. Bughouse: TEXAS Reg on-site only until Sat 3/11 8:30pm. Rds begin Sat 3/11 8:45pm. EF: from any other country, no matter $20/team. HR: Mention “chess tourney”: 800-233-0121 $82-$82-$87- JAN. 21, 2nd Westark Winter Warm-Up (AR) how many years ago, you are not $92. Info: 412-908-0286, [email protected], pscfchess.org/ See Arkansas. pascholasticchamp/. Ent: PSCF, c/o Tom Martinak, 25 Freeport St., FEB. 16-20, 17-20, 18-20 OR 19-20, 8th annual Southwest unrated. If you have a FIDE rating, Pittsburgh, PA 15223. Class Championships you are also not unrated. Tell the APR. 12-16, 13-16, 14-16 OR 15-16, 11th annual See Grand Prix. Philadelphia Open MAR. 24-26 OR 25-26, 21st annual Mid-America Open (MO) Director of any event you enter See Grand Prix. See Grand Prix. about your foreign rating or cate- APR. 28-30 OR 29-30, 26th annual Eastern Class MAY 25-29, 26-29, 27-29 OR 28-29, 26th annual Chicago gory or your FIDE rating, so that Championships (MA) Open (IL) See Grand Prix. See Grand Prix. you can be paired appropriately. MAY 5-7 OR 6-7, 14th Annual Great Lakes Open (MI) JUNE 14-15, 2017 U.S. Women’s Open (NV) See Grand Prix. See Nationals.

68 January 2017 | Chess Life See previous issue for TLAs appearing January 1-14

JUNE 16-18 OR 17-18, 2017 National Open (NV) FEB. 24-26 OR 25-26, 2nd annual George Washington Open 4SS, G/60 d5. WVU Mountainlair Rhododendron Room, 1550 University See Nationals. See Grand Prix. Ave., Morgantown, WV 26505. Four Sections: Open, Scholastic, Open $125-75, JUNE 23-25, 2nd annual World Open Senior (PA) MAR. 3-5 OR 4-5, 18th annual Pittsburgh Open (PA) Collegiate Unrated, Scholastic Unrated. Prizes: See Grand Prix. See Grand Prix. U1900 $50, U1500/Unr $50. Trophies to top 3 in other sections. EF: Open $25 by 1/4, $30 at site. Collegiate/Scholastic $10, $5 discount JUNE 24-29, 11th annual Philadelphia International (PA) US Chess Junior Grand Prix! for non-perishable canned good. Entries: Harrison County Chess Club, See Grand Prix. A State Championship Event! c/o Robert Greer, PO Box 4338, Clarksburg, WV 26302. Make checks MAR. 11-12 JUNE 28-29, 9th annual World Open Under 13 Championship (PA) , Virginia Scholastic & College Championships payable to Harrison County Chess Club. Info: 304-641-9241. Other: See Pennsylvania. 6SS, Rds. 1-3 G/60 d5; Rds. 4-6 G/90 d5. Organized by the VA Scholastic No smoking. ADA facitility. USCF membership required for rated sec- Chess Assn at the Holiday Inn Virginia Beach-Norfolk. Blitz and Bughouse JUNE 29 tions. Boards and pieces provided; bring clocks. Sponsored and , World Open Action Championship (PA) Championships Friday March 10 at 6PM. Main tournament Saturday organized by WVU Chess Club and Robert Greer. Proceeds after prizes See Grand Prix. and Sunday, March 11-12. Players must be K-12 or College players and expenses will be donated to Empty Bowls of Monongalia County, JUNE 29-JULY 4, JUNE 30-JULY 4, JULY 1-4 OR 2-4, 45th attending school or college full time in Virginia as of Jan. 2017, or must c/o YCF, Morgantown, WV. be Virginia residents. Virginia residency NOT REQUIRED for Blitz or Annual World Open (PA) JAN. 27-29 OR 28-29, 2017 Cardinal Open (OH) See Grand Prix. Bughouse on Friday night. Tournament schedule, Online registration, player eligibility, hotel info and other details at: www.vachess.org. See Grand Prix. Questions to: Mike Hoffpauir, [email protected], or 757-846-4805. FEB. 24-26 OR 25-26, 2nd annual George Washington Open (VA) UTAH APR. 12-16, 13-16, 14-16 OR 15-16, 11th annual See Grand Prix. JAN. 21-22, 2017 U.S. Junior Chess Congress (CA-N) Philadelphia Open (PA) MAR. 3-5 OR 4-5, 18th annual Pittsburgh Open (PA) See Nationals. See Grand Prix. See Grand Prix. JUNE 23-25 MAR. 3-5 OR 4-5 , 2nd annual World Open Senior (PA) JUNE 29-JULY 4, JUNE 30-JULY 4, JULY 1-4 OR 2-4, 45th , 24th annual Western Class Championships See Grand Prix. (CA-S) Annual World Open (PA) See Grand Prix. JUNE 24-29, 11th annual Philadelphia International (PA) See Grand Prix. See Grand Prix. JUNE 14-15, 2017 U.S. Women’s Open (NV) See Nationals. JUNE 28-29, 9th annual World Open Under 13 Championship (PA) See Pennsylvania. WISCONSIN JUNE 16-18 OR 17-18, 2017 National Open (NV) See Nationals. JUNE 29, World Open Action Championship (PA) A Heritage Event! See Grand Prix. US Chess Junior Grand Prix! JAN. 14-15 JUNE 29-JULY 4, JUNE 30-JULY 4, JULY 1-4 OR 2-4 , 52nd Northeastern Open VERMONT , 45th Riverwalk Hotel Downtown Neenah, 123 E. Wisconsin Ave., Neenah, Annual World Open (PA) WI 54956. HR: $83 (1-bed king or 2-bed double) 920-725-8441 (Mention See Grand Prix. MAR. 4, 4th Queen City Tornado (NH) Chess-Reserve Early). In 3 Sections, Open: 5SS, 35/90, SD/60 d5, EF: See Grand Prix. $40 by 1/10; $47 at site. $$b/30: $200-125. 1900-$110, 1800-$100, MAR. 11-12, 50th annual New York State Scholastic WASHINGTON 1700-$100, 1600-$90, U1600-$75. Rds.: 10-2:30-7:30;10-3. Reserve: Championships (out of state welcome) (NY) 5SS, 35/90, SD/60 d5, Open to U1500. EF: $25 by 1/10; $32 on site. JAN. 21-22, 2017 U.S. Junior Chess Congress (CA-N) See New York. $$b/20: $70-50. 1200-$40 U1200-$40. Rds.: 10-2:30-7:30;10-3. Novice: See Nationals. 6SS, G/60 d5, Open to U1000. EF: $15 by 1/10; $22 at site. Prizes: Tro- APR. 28-30 OR 29-30 , 26th annual Eastern Class MAR. 3-5 OR 4-5, 24th annual Western Class Championships phies to 1st-5th. Rds.: 10-1-3:30-6:30;10-1. ALL: Reg: 1/14 - 8:45-9:30 Championships (MA) (CA-S) am. One 1/2-point any Rd. Full-pt bye to 2100+ in Rd.1 if requested See Grand Prix. See Grand Prix. before Late Reg ends. Checks payable to Mike Nietman. ENT: Mike Niet- man-Organizer, 2 Boca Grande Way, Madison, WI 53719, 608-467-8510 JUNE 14-15, 2017 U.S. Women’s Open (NV) See Nationals. (before 1/13). INFO: [email protected]. NEWCA Procedural VIRGINIA Rules. W. JUNE 16-18 OR 17-18 JAN. 13-16, 14-16 OR 15-16 , 2017 National Open (NV) MAY 5-7 OR 6-7 , 49th annual Liberty Bell Open (PA) See Nationals. , 14th Annual Great Lakes Open (MI) See Grand Prix. See Grand Prix. FEB. 4, Kasparov Chess Foundation Presents 9th Annual MAY 25-29, 26-29, 27-29 OR 28-29, 26th annual Chicago Greater Mid-Atlantic Scholastic Chess Championships (MD) WEST VIRGINIA Open (IL) See Maryland. JAN. 14, 17th Mountaineer Open See Grand Prix. 8th annual Southwest Class Championships Feb 16-20, 17-20, 18-20 or 19-20 (Presidents weekend), Fort Worth, Texas $30,000 guaranteed prizes, GM & IM norms possible! Master Section: 9 rounds, Feb 16- Unrated prize limit: E $150, D 3-day schedule: Reg. ends Sat 20. Expert, Class A: 7 rds, Feb 17-20 $300, C $450, B $600, A $750 . 10 am, rds Sat 11, 2:30 & 6, Sun 11 or 18-20. Class B, C, D or E: 7 rds, Mixed doubles bonus prizes (see & 6, Mon 10 & 4. Feb 17-20, 18-20 or 19-20. Schedules Tournament Life): $1000-600-400. 2-day schedule: Reg. ends Sun merge & play for same prizes. Time Master Section, only rounds 1-7 count. 9 am, rds. Sun 10, 12, 2, 3:45 & 6, control 40/2, SD/30, d10 (3-day rds 1- Mon 10 & 4. 2 G/60, d10, 2-day rds 1-4 G/30, d10). Top 5 sections entry fee: $158 at Half point byes OK all, limit 2; DFW Airport Marriott South, 4151 chessaction. com by 2/15, $180 at site, Master must commit before rd 2, Centreport Blvd, Fort Worth TX 76155, or online until 2 hours before round 1. others before rd 4. Free parking, free airport shuttle. Mail or phone entry, Master Section titled or foreign FIDE rated entry: see All: Bring clock, set, board if In 7 sections; rated players may TLA or chesstour.com. possible- none supplied. Unofficial play up one section. Class D or E sections: All fees rating usually used if otherwise unr. Master (2200/up): $3000-1500- $80 less than top 5 sections. Hotel rates: $100-100, 817-358- 1000-600-400, clear win or 1st on Re-entry (except Master): $50. 1700 or use link at chesstour.com, tiebreak $200 bonus, top FIDE U2300 No checks at site, credit cards OK. reserve by 2/3 or rate may increase. $1400-700. Minimum prize $300 to Special USCF dues with magazine foreign GMs who play all 9 games. if paid with entry: see chesstour.com or Entry: chessaction.com or FIDE rated, 150 GPP. TLA. US Chess membership required. Continental Chess, Box 249, Expert (2000-2199), Class A Salisbury Mills NY 12577. $15 (1800-1999), Class B (1600-1799): 5-day schedule: Reg. ends Thu 6 service charge for refunds. each $2000-1000-500-300-200. pm, Thu 7, Fri 12 & 7, Sat 11 & 6, Sun Questions: [email protected], Class C (1400-1599), $1700-900- 11 & 6, Mon 10 & 4. www.chesstour.com, 347-201-2269. 500-300-200. 4-day schedule: Reg. ends Fri 6 Entries posted at chessaction. Class D (1200-1399), Class E pm, Rds Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 11 com (online entries posted instantly). (Under 1200):$800-400-300-200-100. & 6, Mon 10 & 4. Blitz tournament Sun. 10:30 pm.

www.uschess.org 69

Classifieds / Solutions / January

Classifieds Solutions        Chess Life accepts classified advertising in these categories: PAGE 14 / LOOKS AT BOOKS      Activities, For Rent, For Sale, Games, Instruction, Miscel- laneous, Services, Tournaments, Wanted. Only typed or GM Teimour Radjabov (FIDE 2726, AZE) Total Score Approx. Rating e-mailed copy is accepted. Absolutely no telephone orders. GM Sergey Karjakin (FIDE 2767, RUS) Rates (per word, per insertion): 1-2 insertions $1.50, 3-6 95+ 2400+ insertions $1.25, 7 + insertions $1.00. Affiliates pay $1.00 FIDE Grand Prix Tashkent 2014 (1), Tashkent, per word regardless of insertion frequency. No other dis- , 10.21.2014 81-94 2200-2399 counts available. Advertisements with less than 15 words 66-80 2000-2199 will cost a minimum of $15 per issue. Post office boxes Problem #17 in Edouard. Your task is to "find the count as two words, telephone numbers as one, ZIP code winning move." 17. Kf2! (17. Be3 Qf6 18. Bd4 Qg6+ 51-65 1800-1999 is free. Full payment must accompany all advertising. All 19. Qxg6 fxg6 20. Nxd6 cxd6 21. Rbe1 1/2–1/2 [45]) 36-50 1600-1799 advertising published in Chess Life is subject to the appli- cable rate card, available from the Advertising Department. 17. ... Bd7 (17. ... Bc5+ 18. d4!; 17. ... Qf6 18. Rg1 Bc5+ 21-35 1400-1599 Chess Life reserves the right not to accept an advertiser’s [18. ... Kh8 19. Be3!? {19. Rxg7 Rg8 20. Rxf7 Qg6 21. 06-20 1200-1399 order. Only publication of an advertisement constitutes Qxg6 Rxg6} 19. ... Qxc3? 20. Rbd1 Qxc2+ 21. Rd2 final acceptance. For a copy of these complete set of reg- Qc3 22. Nxh6] 19. d4; 17. ... Kh8 18. Nxh6 g6 19. Nxf7+ 0-05 under 1200 ulations & a schedule of deadlines, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Chess Life Classifieds, PO Box Kg7 20. Nxd8 gxh5 21. Ne6++–) 18. Nxh6+ gxh6 19. 3967, Crossville, TN 38557. Ads are due two months prior Qxh6. PAGE 49 / BRILLIANT MAGNUS (by the 10th) of the issue cover date you want your ad to TACTICS appear in. (For example: October CL ads MUST be sub- mitted no later than August 10th). You can e-mail your PAGE 19 / CHESS TO ENJOY PROBLEM I. Carlsen finds a very pretty tactical classified ad to Joan DuBois, [email protected]. PROBLEM I. Paris blitz: Yes, 38. a8=Q wins eventually shot to transform the game into a winning but 38. Bc8! is much faster. White lost after 38. endgame: 26. Nxd5!! Qxd5 Or 26. ... cxd5 27. For Sale Rc8?? Rxc8 39. Bxc8 Nc7. PROBLEM II. Paris Rxe4! 27. Qxe4 Rad8 28. e6. White is completely * WORLD’S FINEST CHESS SETS * rapid: 54. ... f4! 55. Kh3 Bf3! and … Rh1 mate. winning and Jakovenko laid down his sword in *The House of Staunton, produces unquestionably PROBLEM III. Leuven rapid: 63. ... Rb3+ 64. Kc2 another 10 moves. PROBLEM II. Kramnik—and I the finest Staunton Chess sets. *Pay-Pal and all Major speak from experience—has a rather annoying Credit Cards accepted. The House of Staunton, Inc.; Rxd5!, threatening 65. ... Nb4+, wins a piece. PROB- 1021 Production Court; Suite 100; Madison, AL 35758. LEM IV. Leuven rapid: Don’t take credit for 38. ability to pull off miracle comebacks. Here, he is *Website: www.houseofstaunton.com; phone: (256) Bxc5+ Bxc5 39. Qxc5+ Qe7 or 39. ... Re7 unless two pawns down, but White must be very careful 858-8070; email: [email protected] you saw 40. Nf5! threatening Rh8 mate. PROBLEM in order not to lose his entire kingside. Magnus ONLY $5.00 for 5 issues of “Chess Secrets.” V. Leuven rapid: 29. ... Rxf3+! 30. Qxf3 Bxd4+ 31. finds a brilliant tactic to finish off the beast sitting Books. Need e-mail address. 1524 Leclaire St., Dav- Kxd4 Qxf3. PROBLEM VI. Paris blitz: 28. ... Qxd1+! across from him: 47. h5! Stage one: deprive the enport, Iowa 52803. 29. Bxd1 Re1+ 30. Kg2 Bf1+ 31. Kf3 Ne5+ and … knight of the g6-square, threatening h7. 47. ...

EVERYTHING CHESS: Nxd7. Or 31. Kg1 Bh3 mate. Kxe5 Now 48. h7 wins, of course, but Magnus Books, CDs, Grand Turk, Magazines, Purdy, Coins, has something far more convincing in store: 48. Stamps, Thinkers’ Press. Listings/Samples $2.00. PAGE 47 / ABCs OF CHESS Nd7+!! Nxd7 49. h7 Nc5+ 50. Ke2, Black re - Chess Butler, 1524 LeClaire Street, Davenport, Iowa signed. The h-pawn is unstoppable! 52803. PROBLEM I. Mating net: There’s mate in one: 1. ... Qd2 mate. PROBLEM II. Mating net: The mate is Wanted brought about by 1. ... Qe4+ 2. Rf3 Qxf3+ 3. Kh2 * CHESS-PLAYER SCHOLARS * Qg2 mate (for instance). PROBLEM III. Mating net: in top 10% of high school class with USCF > 2000 Black delivers mate by 1. ... Qxh3+, when 2. gxh3 is US CHESS SPECIAL and SAT (math + critical reading + writing) > 2150 met by 2. ... Be4 mate. PROBLEM IV. Mating net: for possible college scholarships to UMBC. Prof. Alan REFEREE PROGRAM It’s mate after 1. ... Re6+ 2. Kd2 Qf2+ 3. Kd1 Qe2 Sherman, Dept. of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, Univ. of Maryland, Baltimore County, mate. PROBLEM V. Mating net: Mate is fashioned Are you a TD in need of help 21250. [email protected] by 1. ... Qd3+ 2. Kc1 Re1 mate. PROBLEM VI. Mating at a tournament with a rules, net: White is mated by 1. ... Qh4+ 2. Rh3 Qf4+ 3. prize or other problem? Kh1 Qe4+ 4. Rf3 Qxf3+ and mate next. Instruction Our Special Referees are experi- TOP-QUALITY BARGAIN CHESS LESSONS BY PHONE enced NTDs who can function With more than 40 years of experience teaching CHESSMATE® POCKET & TRAVEL SETS as an Appeals Committee or chess, the Mid-Atlantic Chess Instruction Center is Perfect chess gifts for the the best in the business. We specialize in adult stu- chess lover in your life: answer rule issues. dents. We offer 35 different courses as well as The finest magnetic chess sets available. individual game analysis. Center Director: Life Master HANDMADE IN THE USA Please log into TD/A Russell Potter. Tel.: (540) 344-4446. If we are out 30-DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE! for contact information. when you call, please leave your name & tel. #. Our WWW.CHESSMATE.COM Phone: 425.697.4513 Webpage is at: chessinstructor.org. NEW: FREE pow- erful analysis engines + FREE screen-sharing! CHESS LIFE USPS # 102-840 (ISSN 0197-260X). Volume 72 No. 1. PRINTED IN THE USA. Chess Life, formerly Chess Life & Review, is published LEARN CHESS BY MAIL: monthly by the United States Chess Federation, 137 Obrien Dr., Crossville, TN 38557-3967. Chess Life & Review and Chess Life remain the property of USCF. Annual subscription (without membership): $50. Periodical postage paid at Crossville, TN 38557-3967 and additional mailing offices. Any Strength: Inquire about individual programs. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Chess Life (USCF), PO Box 3967, Crossville, Tennessee 38557-3967. Entire contents ©2017 by the United Alex Dunne, 324 West Lockhart Street, Sayre, PA States Chess Federation. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form 18840. [email protected]. or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise without the prior written permission of USCF. Note: Unsolicited materials are submitted at the sender's risk and Chess Life accepts no responsibility for them. Materials will not be returned unless accompanied by appropriate YOU’LL SEE REAL PROGRESS by Studying with postage and packaging. Address all submissions to Chess Life, PO Box 3967, Crossville, TN 38557-3967. The opinions expressed are strictly those 3- Time U.S. Champ GM Lev Alburt! of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Chess Federation. Send all address changes to: U.S. Chess, Membership Services, PO Box 3967, Crossville, Tennessee 38557-3967. Include your USCF I.D. number and a recent mailing label if possible. This Private lessons (incl. by mail and phone) from $80/hr. information may be e-mailed to [email protected]. Please give us eight weeks advance notice. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. Autographed seven-volume, self-study Comprehen- 41473530 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO EXPRESS MESSENGER INTERNATIONAL P.O. BOX 25058 LONDON BRC, ONTARIO, sive Chess Course-only $134 postpaid! P.O. Box 534, CANADA N6C 6A8 Gracie Station, NY, NY 10028. (212) 794-8706.

www.uschess.org 71 Tag / Other text here  

GM KENNETH ROGOFF Economics Professor, 1975 U.S. Championship Runner-Up

erhaps the most difficult move of my chess career was giving it up to devote more P attention to becoming an academic economist. To this day I still think I would have been perfectly happy as a chess professional, but something had to give. Anyway, I have been I would have been perfectly fortunate to have an extremely interesting career as a professor at Wisconsin, Berkeley, Princeton, and now Harvard University. I also did a public happy as a chess professional. service stint as the chief economist at the Interna- tional Monetary Fund. My best-selling 2009 book This Time is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial “ Crises (joint with Carmen Reinhart) is a quantitative from privacy to monetary policy that I don’t WINNING THE EXCHANGE exploration of crises. Despite being replete with really have time to explain here, but most Kenneth S. Rogoff charts, tables, footnotes and appendices, TTID people should find the book accessible and I GM Vladimir Borisovich Tukmakov 1972 World Student Championship” (7), reached fourth on Amazon at one point. Perhaps hope interesting. Important ly, I do not Graz, , 07.15.1972 our most influential thesis, salient to this day, is advocate a cashless society and argue that that deep systemic financial crises lead to exception - we will need a physical currency indefinitely. ally severe and long-lasting recessions. That led The book has created a huge amount of me to make the case for debt write-downs in contro versy, albeit largely from people and troubled Eurozone countries such as and “reviewers” who have not read the book at , and for subprime homeowners in the all and so don’t realize it is about the case United States. I believe that if this had happened for a less-cash society, not a cashless one. it would likely have cost taxpayers and the world But I am used to people having strong far less than what actually transpired. (By the way, opinions on my work without knowing it. debt forgiveness is hardly a form of austerity as some seem to claim.) For my best chess move, here is a position from first board in the USA-USSR match AFTER 32. ... Qe5 My new book The Curse of Cash is on a much at the 1972 World Student (aka U-26) quirkier topic, but I believe an important one. I Championship from Graz, Austria. My op - 33. Qh5! explore the case for phasing out the very large po nent was the strong Soviet grandmaster    wins the Exchange because bills (for example US $100 and 500s) that Vladimir Tukmakov who had twice been if 33. ... g6, then 34. Qxh6! leads to mate 34. constitute the vast bulk of the world’s currency runner-up in the USSR Championship. ... Kxh6 35. Rh4+ or 34. ... Kg8 35. Rd8+. supply (there are 34 $100s for every man, woman Actually, I was due to play future World and child in the U.S.) and yet are of little signif- Champion , but he was icance for ordinary individuals. They do how - given a rest after an exhausting marathon ever, greatly facilitate tax evasion and crime. win over Germany’s Robert Hübner. Black’s Whose Best Move would you like to see? Write There are a lot of subtleties around the issue to us at [email protected].

last move was 32. ... Qe5. PHOTO CREDIT: COURTESY OF SUBJECT

72 January 2017 | Chess Life

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