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2 Chess Life — December 2011 uschess.org CL_12-2011_CLO_AKF_r6_chess life 11/10/11 2:27 PM Page 3
December on uschess.org
A Maximal Christmas with Minimal Problems National Youth Action Holiday Chess Times This problem, from Jean Heads West Maurice Paradis, La Presse See CLO for stories from the 1938, shows what Steven Kids and quick chess—a major events over the holiday. Dowd intends to cover in perfect match! This year the Events span from the North CLO with his article “Mini- National Youth Action (NYA) Greg on Norms Part II American Open in Las Vegas mals,” all of which feature will be split into two sunny (December 26-29), which only a king and one other parts: the NYA East in Miami, IM Greg Shahade follows will be covered by Kostya piece, often against an Florida and the NYA West in up his CLO editorial on Kavutskiy. Also see updates opponent’s entire army! Irvine, California. Both events why our most talented on the premier college event, Can you see, in this minimal, will take place from December youngsters should focus the Pan-American Intercolle- how White’s bishop and 9-11. Look for coverage on less on norms. This giate Chess Tournament in king will checkmate Black, CLO of both, including installment features Fort Worth, Texas (December despite Black being up the thoughts from Randy Hough Greg’s personal feelings 27-30), which will include Exchange and three pawns? of the Chess Journalists of on norms as he re-enters updates by Dr. Alexey Root. See CLO for the solution! America on the West. the chess world.
Contributors Revolutionalize your game!
Jamaal Abdul-Alim (“First Moves,” p. 8) is a freelance writer in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Alexey Root, WIM (“First Moves,” p. 10) teaches “chess online” courses, available worldwide, for The University of Texas at Dallas. Her first book, Children and Chess: A Guide for Edu- cators (Teacher Ideas Press, 2006) addressed chess with special-needs individuals.
GM Joel Benjamin (“Looks at Books,” p. 12) is the youngest inductee in the World Chess Hall of Fame and was IBM’s GM consultant on the Deep Blue team that defeated Garry Kasparov. Read your favorite chess books IM Irina Krush (“Cover Story,” p. 18) is a three-time U.S. women’s champion and frequent contributor to Chess Life. interactively on your iPhone, GM Ian Rogers (“Grand Slam Chess,” p. 30) is a frequent contributor of international event reports to Chess Life. iPad or
Nelly Rosario (“Fashion,” p. 38) was born in the Domini- iPod touch. can Republic and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She received a bachelor of arts in engineering from Massachusetts Insti- tute of Technology and a master of fine arts from Columbia University, where she currently is an adjunct professor. She is the author of Song of the Water Saints: A Novel.
ICCM Bart Gibbons (“Instruction,” p. 42) lives in Joplin, Missouri. He is an over-the-board master (since 1979), and an international correspondence chess master since 1993. Visit www.playsmartchess.com to see moRe scReen shots.
uschess.org Chess Life — December 2011 3 CL_12-2011_TOC_AKF_r6_chess life 11/10/11 2:20 PM Page 4
December Chess Life
Columns
12 LOOKS AT BOOKS New York 1927 By GM Joel Benjamin 14 CHESS TO ENJOY Of Oscars and Auctions By GM Andy Soltis 16 SOLITAIRE CHESS Castling on Opposite Sides By Bruce Pandolfini 46 BACK TO BASICS Four (Pawns) Against Alekhine By GM Lev Alburt 48 ENDGAME LAB Progress with the Seven- Piece Database By GM Pal Benko
Departments
3 PREVIEW 6 COUNTERPLAY 8 FIRST MOVES 18 COVER STORY 44 USCF AFFAIRS Kings vs. Queens: 52 TOURNAMENT LIFE Innovation, Interest, & Intrigue in St. Louis 68 CLASSIFIEDS By IM Irina Krush and GM Ben Finegold 69 SOLUTIONS The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis 70 ANNUAL INDEX brings together some of our top players to play a battle of the sexes in classical chess and Chess960.
30 GRAND SLAM CHESS Carlsen Wins 2011 Grand Slam Title By GM Ian Rogers Nakamura’s chances killed by OJ. On The Cover 38 FASHION The Saint Louis Chess Center Dress Like a Grandmaster continues to lead the way not By Nelly Rosario just in the U.S. but in the world with innovative chess ideas. Revenge of the Nerds, meet The Devil Wears Prada— This month we report on their now mate and be fruitful. Kings versus Queens battle of the sexes involving both classical 42 INSTRUCTION chess and Chess960. See page 18 for IM Irina Krush and GM Retreat To The First Rank ... And Win! Ben Finegold’s article, including By ICCM Bart Gibbons some diagrams that have never Despite the ubiquity of analysis engines, imagination before been seen on the pages and creativity still plays a role in chess. of Chess Life. Cover design by Shirley Szymanek
4 Chess Life — December 2011 uschess.org CL_11-2011_membership_ad_Layout 1 9/28/11 10:25 AM Page 1
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Counterplay
Norman Peacor Lou Friscoe late on how people might feel upon buy- I was very pelased to read the tribute I was rereading the February 2011 ing our apps. It was also difficult to to Norman Peacor by Stephen Dann Chess Life and noted the article about Lou compare apps in any way as there didn't (October Chess Life, “USCF Affairs”). My Friscoe being named Volunteer of the seem to be any methodology in how apps first term on the Policy Board (1976-78) Month. The article noted that one of the were tested. The use of a star rating sys- coincided with Peacor’s service as treas- projects into which Lou was putting his tem for example, evaluating apps in urer. Norman was respected by all who efforts was convincing the city to build a different core competencies, would have kenw him and he did a great deal to put chess pavilion along the river. Nine been useful. USCF finances on an improved basis. months later that pavilion is complete— Given how little was actually mentioned Afrter his service as treasurer, he was and Lou has already held three chess in terms of features, could you please chairman of the life membership com- tournaments there. note that all our Internet Chess Club mittee, chairman of the finance Martin Hughes (ICC) apps have engines to play offline; our committee, and finally a trustee of the via e-mail Android has an excellent offline database U.S. Chess Trust. He was active on the of chess problems; our iPad app allows finance committee throughout the 1980s viewing of ChessFM videos; and both of and 1990s. Chess apps our iOSapps give you the ability to buy One disagreement with the tribute: I’m writing in response to your cover membership months at reduced prices, Norm did have serious opposition for story on chess apps (October Chess Life), directly from within the app. In short treasurer in 1976—his opponent was for- and wanted to clarify and add to the they aren't just interfaces for online club mer USCF President Fred Cramer “Chess at ICC” review. Printed space we access, and weren’t conceived only for know is premium, but it was surprising ICC members. Harold J. Winston just how little coverage was devoted to our Brian Pollock Chairman, U.S. Chess Trust three mobile apps, and how the precious ICC Office Manager via e-mail space was used in part simply to specu- via e-mail
FM Mike Klein responds: I was reviewing the apps based on how I perceived their uses (since they don't come with instructions), and after years of using ICC, I just didn't see much addi- tional utility, especially since they are charging for the app, even ifyou pay the $69.99 yearly ICC membership. I stand by the fact that they are show- ing some bravado in charging extra, and iftheir extras are that great, I would have found them on my own. I also don't under- stand their statement that the app was not conceived just for members, because if you are not a member, you would not be able to sign in and play, which is the largest function of the app. Maybe I am missing something. I also tried to play a U.S. Chess League game a few months ago using the app, and it failed to work properly. But the respon- dent had it right—it was not possible to quantify every single feature.
Send your letters to [email protected]. If Chess Life publishes your letter, you will be sent a copy of Test, Evaluate and Improve Your Chess by IM Danny Kopec and Hal Terrie. Letters are subject to editing for content and length.
6 Chess Life — December 2011 uschess.org 12-2011_USCFSales_inside1:Layout 1 11/9/2011 5:35 PM Page 1
From Convekta! CL_12-2011_First_Movest_AKF_r8_chess life 11/9/11 1:55 PM Page 8
First Moves
OMG: Pairings by Text The jostling that occurs as the pairings are posted has long been a fact of tournament life. Getting you pairing via text message is the latest way technology is improving our ancient game.
By Jamaal Abdul-Alim When I regIstered onlIne for the n’t everybody use this?’” regan said. 51st Maryland open in rockville, Mary- Martin hughes, an organizer of the land, earlier this year, a prompt appeared Mulligan Chess Club’s Masters & experts on my computer screen and asked if I tournaments in Worthington, ohio, wanted to get my pairings sent via text tapped regan to use the system recently message to my cell phone. after reading a brief mention I made this was, of course, a no-brainer. about the program in an article I wrote Any player who’s ever had to jostle with recently for Chess Life Online (May 2, a crowd of competitors all eagerly awaiting 2011). he said as soon as he ran the the tournament director to post pairings on pairings on swisssys chess tournament a small sheet of paper in a single spot software, with just one click he was able knows that the scene can get a little chaotic to send the pairings to the players within rather quickly. this is especially true in a matter of seconds. large tournaments where many of the play- “the program came with a users guide ers are school-age and have all the and worked without a hitch,” hughes decorum that one would expect to find said. “It could not have been easier.” on, well, a school playground. hughes further praised the pairings- given the ubiquitousness of modern- by-text system for its “cool factor” and day technology, it’s somewhat curious other benefits. as to why the option of getting pairings via “It is a new experience that adds to text message—or some similar tech-savvy the image of the tournament as well run,” the origin of regan’s system actually fashion—isn’t standard fare at today’s hughes said. goes to the Maryland state scholastic chess tournaments. he also said it gives tournament play- Championships in 2008. But the reality is that while other ers time to prepare for their next opponent, “We had a large turnout and one prob- aspects of the immortal game—from game particularly if the pairings get sent the lem with getting the rounds started was notation to game analysis—have gone night before. that players didn’t know that the pairings digital, the pairing-by-text system devel- “the players who had not signed up for had been posted,” regan said. “so, in oped by astronomer and computer the text service all called me for their 2009 I used an online service where I scientist Michael regan, treasurer of the pairings when they found out that other could send out a text message for each Maryland Chess Association, is still in players were preparing for their oppo- section saying that the pairings for that its infancy. nents,” hughes said. section had been posted. Indications are it’s a relative novelty at And, finally, hughes noted how the “that improved things but I thought tournaments and doesn’t appear to be system tended to reduce all the “scrum” that the best way to get the information likely to become available on the market around the pairings board. to the players would be if each person like other pairings software anytime soon. “this could be particularly useful at the received a custom text with their pairing this makes its virtual absence from large scholastic tournaments where not information.” the chess scene all the more curious, only are hundreds of anxious kids press- so for the 2010 state scholastic Cham- especially given the fact that regan and ing up against the wall, but a like number pionships, regan used a prototype for others who’ve used the system report of restless parents and coaches are also the customized texts of pairings—and he that it makes tournaments—particularly in the stampede,” hughes said. “Michael’s says the tournament ran much more scholastic tournaments—run a whole lot program handles multiple phone num- smoothly as a result. smoother than they would otherwise. bers per player, so both the player and a for those concerned with the techno- “feedback has been mostly, ‘Why does- coach or parent can receive a text.” logical evolution of the program, initially
8 Chess Life — December 2011 uschess.org CL_12-2011_First_Movest_AKF_r8_chess life 11/10/11 4:33 PM Page 9
A relic of the past?
pairings were exported into an html file day earlier, which the parents appreciate,” system to market. which Regan’s program then read. Regan said. “I don't plan to patent it,” Regan said. But over the last year, Regan rewrote the I still have the text messages I got dur- “The cost would be too high.” program to directly read SwissSys files. ing the Maryland Open. The text messages Ironically, text messaging isn’t the only “This allows me to directly read the let me know what board I’m playing on, way—and perhaps not the most feasible phone number for each player that is in whether black or white, the name and rat- way—to use technology to deliver pairings. the SwissSys tournament file,” Regan ing of my opponent. “I don’t know if texting the pairings is said. “That means that all you have to do For instance, here’s the first text-mes- the answer anymore,” said Alan Losoff, a is select the section once and then each sage pairing I got at the Maryland Open: retired bank technology manager and time you want to send a text, you just hit (Round 1) Abdul-Alim, Jamaal is playing organizer of the Las Vegas International the ‘send text’ button for that section.” black on board 36 against Barnakov, Chess Festival, who says he has looked When Regan used the system at this Vadim Y (1330). into texting pairings in the past. “My feel- year’s Maryland Open, it enabled him to For what it’s worth, this text message ing right now is people are going so much finish the six one-day sections in record enabled me to learn that my opponent to the Smartphones, the iPhones.” time despite having over 530 players. was the son of the highly-rated Yuri Consequently, he said, it probably This is because of an accompanying Barnakov, who also played in the Mary- makes more sense to post the pairings message that notified players that they land Open. online, which he said he planned to do at can start their game early if they both Regan has started to let other people the International Chess Festival. agree, which several did. use the pairing-by-text as part of a beta “We post them and a lot of people get their “By allowing us to start the round up test. He said the cost of texting pairings pairings right from websites, using Smart- to 15 minutes sooner, we can reduce the is less than $1 per player. But despite the phones or iPads,” Losoff said. “So the time that the players are sitting around relative low cost and positive feedback, demand for us having us text them kind of waiting for the next round and end the Regan said he doesn’t plan to take his went away before it got implemented.” PHOTO BY BETSY DYNAKO BETSY BY PHOTO .
uschess.org Chess Life — December 2011 9 CL_12-2011_First_Movest_AKF_r8_chess life 11/10/11 4:34 PM Page 10
First Moves
Chess with Special-Needs Adults Expanding the boundaries for teaching chess students
By Dr. Alexey Root, WIM
When I volunteered to teach similarly introduced. next. toby counted, “1, 2, 3, 4” while children’s chess classes at the denton I asked each man to pick up the white pointing to white pawns, so four white Public library, librarian carmen Grant king. Since the king had been the first pawns went into our bags. Juan didn’t say asked if I would also teach chess occasion- chessman taught, not everyone remem- anything, but pointed to a black bishop. ally to her weekly group of special-needs bered what it looked like. carmen and I We all put a black bishop into our bags. adults. She said, “Some have mental abil- hinted that it was tall with a cross on top. Most of the time, the announced chess- ities ranging from kindergarten to fourth each of us put a white king into our indi- man or chessmen were correctly put in grade.” to give carmen each bag. I cleared away an idea of how I teach all but two bags and got chess, I described two out two chessboards. challenges (classify and the four men sat across lines) from my forth- from each other, with coming book Thinking one board in between with Chess: Teaching each pair and one rook Children Ages 5-14 for each man. I showed (Mongoose Press, 2012). how the rook moved on carmen thought those the board, supplemented challenges would help by moving my arms ver- the adults practice tically and horizontally. I fine motor skills, mem- asked the men to copy orizing, strategy, and those arm movements, pattern recognition. I felt but they did not respond encouraged, though I much. Within each pair, had no experience the men took turns mov- teaching special-needs ing rooks. one moved a adults. white rook, the other a September 8 was my black one. Sometimes first adult class, attended the rooks were moved by four men. My clas- incorrectly. one check- sify challenge was for ers-like capture was each man to sort his pile made, but without the of 32 chessmen and captured rook being then explain his sorting removed. system. everyone sorted. I asked the caregiver But not everyone talked whether the men played when explaining. For bingo. they had, he example, Juan pointed replied. I thought about to the two groups he cre- Seated: Edith (left) and Matthew (right, S.W.A.T. hat). calling out random ated. I verbalized, “oh, Standing (l-r): Toby, Chinn, Alexey Root, Josh (tall man behind Root). chessmen and squares, you put the white chess- such as, “Put a black men there and the black pawn on a5.” But, just ones over here.” vidual chess bag. then carmen had before I began, Josh said he knew how to then I taught the names of the chess- everyone pick up the white queen and bag set up the chessmen. he demonstrated by men. I held up a king and said, “the king it. She suggested that Josh select the putting a black king on h8 and black is tall with a cross on top of its head.” I next chessman to put in the bag. Josh queen on g8. his mistake prompted me to drew a cross on the dry-erase board. I said the black king. We went around the change my “bingo” plans. two men were asked everyone to hold up a white king, table having each man decide which equipped with white chessmen, and the
and they did. the other chessmen were chessman or chessmen to put in the bags other two got black chessmen. I said, OF ALEXEY ROOT COURTESY PHOTO
10 Chess Life — December 2011 uschess.org CL_12-2011_First_Movest_AKF_r8_chess life 11/9/11 1:56 PM Page 11
“Toby and Chinn, each of you put a white resent a person, but neither looks like a Edith and Matthew, helped by caregivers, pawn on a2.” On side by side boards, real-life person. I said that the same is executed both moves and captures. with my help and Carmen’s help, the true for chess. There are pictures of chess- The third activity was the Lines chal- task was accomplished. “Josh and Juan, men and names for chessmen, but they lenge from Thinking with Chess. One each of you put a black pawn on a7.” will not look like real chessmen. adult had the 16 white chessmen, and the After we placed the b-, c-, d-, and e- Then I passed out cards with 12 figures other had the 16 black chessmen. In this pawns, Juan placed the rest of his black and words representing the six types and challenge, the chessmen are used like pawns on the seventh rank. He Xs and Os in tic-tac-toe. Taking recognized the pattern. turns, with White going first, When just f1, g1, and h1 were each adult placed one chess- left to fill in for White and f8, g8, man on a square. The first to and h8 for Black, we counted “When they learn place four of the same color in how many squares remained a line won the challenge. until the two chess boards were In Lines, one usually set up. Juan pointed to count, parts of chess, attempts different types of lines but the others counted out loud. (vertical, horizontal, or diago- After the men finished setting up nal). Also, one should block the the starting positions, class such as recognizing opponent from completing his ended with putting the chess- or her line. The adults rarely men back in the bags. blocked without being advised To prepare for my next adult the chessmen, to do so. Lines were usually class, I reviewed what I had writ- horizontal or vertical rather ten about chess and special there is joy.” than diagonal. education in Children and Chess: I concluded the second class A Guide for Educators. Part of as I had done the first class, that section (pages 25-26) read: calling out squares bingo-style “Michael David Wojcio (1990) has two colors of chessmen. For example, a for the adults to set up starting posi- taught special education students to student’s card might show “♘ white tions. Josh and Chinn (who had also remember (a) the set up of the board; (b) knight.” The student then opened his or attended on September 8) seemed some- piece names; (c) piece movement; (d) rules; her chess bag and located the three- what more comfortable this time with and (e) the concept of checkmate. Woj- dimensional white knight chessman setting up the chessboard. Though, on the cio has also taught them to sequence, corresponding to the figure (♘) and the first commands (“Put a white pawn on a2; that is, to put the pawns and pieces cor- words (white knight). Next, each student Put a black pawn on a7”), Josh put the rectly on the board at the start of the drew his or her own representation of white pawn on a1 and Chinn put the game. Fine motor skills have also been the chessman or copied the words for it. black pawn on a8. After the ranks’ num- demonstrated by his students as they I thought the adults might want to do bers were pointed out, and the pawns move the chess pieces and pawns. They only one or two of the cards. But Edith, adjusted to the second and seventh rank. have additionally mastered some basic Josh, Chinn, and Matthew went through respectively, the rest of the pawn place- chess strategies, such as center control, 12 cards each, locating an appropriate ments went smoothly. developing one’s pieces, and thinking chessman and then coloring or writing on My next class is scheduled for October before moving. Some of his students also each card. Edith printed carefully but 13. During it, I will teach the bishop. mastered the en passant rule.” did not draw. Chinn scribbled a single- Diagonal moves might be difficult to con- Like Wojcio, I had taught the chess- color blotch on each card. Josh finished vey, as shown by this incident during men’s names, a piece’s movement, and his cards first. So I held up a card and, the Lines challenge. Though Toby could setting up the starting position. after looking at the figure and words, have completed a diagonal line by plac- I also asked for advice from Carmen. Josh found the corresponding chessman. ing a chessman on b4 (since he already Carmen always keeps in mind that the Then Josh held up a card and I found a had chessmen on e1, d2, and c3), he did men are adults. A week before my chess chessman, and so forth. Toby’s coloring not. Even when the library practicum instruction, Carmen showed a video clip had slowed him down, as he had carefully student showed the e1-d2-c3 diagonal, about 9/11 (something she would not do filled in the white spaces. He finished Toby tried placing his next chessman at with children). I asked if the men could three cards by the time the others had fin- a4, then c2, and then d1. Finally, I read and write. Carmen said that the ished 12. pointed to b4. Toby put the chessman men would more likely recognize a word To prepare for a second activity, I there and clapped when I said he had if it were paired with a picture or photo reviewed how the rooks move and taught made four in a row. of what the word represents. Further- how they capture. White got rooks on a1 After my two September classes, I asked more, all of them could write their names. and h1 and Black got rooks on b8 and g8. Carmen what she thought the adults had Some preferred drawing to writing. I men- The photo, taken by Carmen Grant, gained so far from chess. Carmen said, “I tioned their reluctance to make vertical shows us gathered around the board think chess is improving the group’s and horizontal arm movements. Their where I demonstrated this activity. motor, recall, and thinking skills. The hesitancy was not a surprise to Carmen. After passing out additional boards, I Lines challenge was challenging and fun, She works on their large motor skills dur- had Toby partner with a library practicum and allowed the group to learn b asic ing some classes, for example having student. The other four adults paired up. strategy. I also think the group is learn- relays where they kick or throw balls. The goal for each pair was to move and ing that chess can be fun.” On September 22, my next class with capture correctly with the rooks. Josh My chess teaching feels like a success, the adults, four men and one woman and Chinn moved rooks correctly, but did despite my belief that these adults will attended. I drew a stick figure on the not capture even after I pointed out cap- never play full games of chess. When dry-erase board and labeled it “person.” tures as options. Toby moved the same they learn parts of chess, such as recog- I said that the drawing and the word rep- rook back and forth to the same squares. nizing the chessmen, there is joy. .
uschess.org Chess Life — December 2011 11 CL_12-2011_Books_AKF_r6.qxp_chess life 11/9/11 1:32 PM Page 12
Looks at Books
New York 1927 A deserving book finally gets an English translation
By GM Joel Benjamin
been no full-length translation, but that to the World Championship.” Alekhine omission has finally been corrected in an examined Capablanca’s mini-matches with edition translated by Mary Lawrence, and his five competitors and concluded that edited by Al Lawrence. they played well below their usual stan- Old games may seem quaint by modern dard, in awe of the Cuban’s reputation, standards, but they can reveal history in particularly as an endgame genius the making. As GM Andy Soltis points out (Alekhine was not so impressed with Capa- in his spot-on foreword (see sidebar, next blanca’s prowess in the ending). It seems page), the first two games in the tourna- petty to make such an assertion about a ment introduce the Manhattan Variation, player who so thoroughly dominated. Note an opening that is still shown to be rele- that Alekhine was not expressing his frus- vant by the world’s top grandmasters. The trations from the time of the event; the lure of the book is of course the commen- book was published after he had van- tary from Alekhine, not so much for the quished Capablanca for the title. Maybe quality of his analysis (chess engines can Alekhine felt he could express his thesis humble any annotator) but for the joyful, only after achieving his goal. He certainly unmitigated frankness by which Alekhine wanted the world to know he could see the attacks the subject matter. Today’s play- vulnerabilities in the play of Capablanca ers don’t claim they understand chess that were hidden, to most people, in this better than their rivals; they just try to obviously successful result. come to the game armed with useful spe- The man has a point when you consider cific ideas. They can tell the world their the following example: thoughts on the games immediately after the tournament, if not the very same day. And despite a few oil and water relation- Inexplicable draw ships (Kramnik and Topalov comes to Rudolf Spielmann he old tournaments conjure up mind) today’s players don’t express a lot of José Raúl Capablanca images in a way that today’s events animus towards each other. Round 7 Tdo not. Hastings 1895 evokes Pills- In the pre-computer unconnected world bury’s surprise emergence, or von of 1927, players were still battling to put Bardeleben walking away from a ruined their philosophical stamp on the game. -+-+-+k+ position against Steinitz. New York 1924 Participants relished writing tournament zp-vl-+pzpp is a similarly iconic tournament, but the books because it was a rare opportunity to 1927 New York event has never achieved present their theories and versions of events -zppsn-+-+ the same kind of cult status. Perhaps it is to the public. And the elite players often did +-+-+-+- because the great Emmanuel Lasker did not get along. Much of the tension was not play, perhaps because Capablanca caused by the personal domination of the -+P+-+L+ triumphed easily over his five rivals, two match process that the world champion vLP+-+-zPP and a half points ahead of Alexander often enjoyed in the days before FIDE. Alekhine. In any case, New York 1927 Capablanca ducked Alekhine for years P+-+KzP-+ might have a different legacy if Alekhine’s much to the latter’s consternation. +-+-+-+- tournament book, published in German in The tournament victor’s result is put Whitetoplay 1938, had come out in the English lan- under the microscope in the eleven-page guage. For more than 60 years there has introduction “New York 1927 as Prologue Here Spielmann inexplicably accepted a
12 Chess Life — December 2011 uschess.org CL_12-2011_Books_AKF_r6_chess life 11/10/11 4:35 PM Page 13
draw. Alekhine was relatively gentle, Alekhine being philosophical only serve to mar a classic text, and as remarking that the position was “without a Frank Marshall Lawrence points out, readers are free to doubt, worth playing out.” Spielmann clearly Aron Nimzowitsch check on their own to look for mistakes. lacked confidence in his own endgame abil- Round one I have just a couple of minor quibbles. ities, but any grandmaster of today would The form of the games index does not recognize White’s sizable advantage without allow you to pinpoint particular matchups the slightest chance of losing. Spielmann -+ktr-+-tr right away. The crosstable on page 12 was renowned as an attacker but similarly zppzpqsn-+p lists an incorrect total for Capablanca. styled players nowadays would possess -+n+lzp-+ For chess history buffs this is an obvi- much greater versatility! ous addition to their collection, but I would I enjoyed Alekhine’s harsh but witty +-+p+-zp- argue it’s a worthy buy for everyone. It may criticism of Nimzovich’s opening play in his -+-zP-+-+ not win a game for you in your next tour- second round meeting with Capablanca: nament, but it’s a breezy, enjoyable read. +-zPL+NvLP New York 1927 offers an interesting look 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 d5 4. e3 P+P+-zPP+ into the insights of one of the games most “As is well known, the moves 4. Bg5 +R+Q+RmK- important figures and a slice of a very and 4. Nc3 are more vigorous here, and different time in chess history. . at the same time quite credible develop- After12....O-O-O mental moves. But that it is the way it Nimzowitsch’s 12. ... 0-0-0 prompted The following is an excerpt from GM is—in New York one played against Capa- Alekhine to wax philosophical: “The king Andy Soltis’ introduction: blanca usually in such a way, as if there takes on the defense of b7 and c7. The was a mot d’ordre to play only the second- king’s role in defense has been strongly or third-best moves against him.” It’s about time this book was underestimated (after the desperate published. For decades, Alexander attempt by the aging Steinitz to use this Alekhine’s account of New York 1927 Of course Alekhine had to produce piece to attack on a full board was a mis- moves and not just words on occasion. was at the top of the list of works erable fiasco)—and only the years after the that should have been rendered into war seemed to bring a gradual about- English but unaccountably were not. face in this respect. One can examine Capa’s opposition There is no shortage of reasons for the games from the Buenos Aires match, José Raúl Capablanca why this book was recognized as a for example, where the kings, already in Milan Vidmar classic when it first appeared. First, the middlegame, were used now and then Round 12 the tournament was one of the to defend key squares—that is, function- strongest ever held. The only previous ing as active pieces even before the events that came close to it in aver- r+lsn-trk+ endgame.” age strength were St. Petersburg +-wq-vlpzpp Good stuff! And Alekhine actually con- 1895-96 and the finals of St. Peters- cluded that Nimzowitsch would have been burg 1914. The New York organizers -+-zp-sn-+ better off castling kingside if Marshall further ensured their place in his- zp-zpPzp-+- had continued more accurately in the tory by luring José Capablanca back next few moves. into action. PzpN+P+-+ I was intrigued by Alekhine’s comments The tournament also captured a +-zP-+N+P on the openings. Obviously this part of the pivotal moment in the evolution of game has changed the most since chess thinking. New ideas normally -zPL+-zPP+ Alekhine’s time. Though his comments gain acceptance slowly, almost tR-vLQtR-mK- may seem curious by today’s standards, glacially. But the games played at the Manhattan Square Hotel in the After15....a5 I admire the conviction you see in them. In round 15 Spielmann-Alekhine began final days of the winter of 1927 About Capablanca’s 16. Nfxe5 Alekhine 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2. Here Alekhine showed how chess thinking had been comments, “This much admired exchange comments: “Apparently Spielmann wants transformed by the Hypermodern revolution. Even lapsed gambiteers combination leads to a certainly some- to avoid the dull line 4. Nc3 Bb4! proven like Frank Marshall and Rudolf Spiel- what favorable endgame, which Black successful in this tournament. But as is mann were experimenting with Indian finally loses with imprecise play.” (Alekhine generally known, Black can also easily openings at New York 1927. New the- preferred 16. Be3). The game continued: obtain equality with the text move (3. ... ory was being written as early as c5), with some caution.” Alekhine could games 1 and 2, which gave us the 16. ... Ba6 17. Bb3 dxe5 18. d6 Bxd6 19. Qxd6 label the Winawer “dull” because every- Qxd6 20. Nxd6 “Manhattan Variation” of the Queens one answered with the toothless 4. exd5 Gambit Declined. Put that into per- ... and now Alekhine queried 20. ... Nb7, instead of the now almost automatic 4. e5. spective: Can you recall a modern recommending 20. ... Rb8 21. Bc4 Bxc4 Reading between the lines, we can tournament that provided the name 22. Nxc4 Nc6 “with a definitely defensible assume that the French was the favored for an opening? game.” Nevertheless, after 23. Bd2 Black’s defense to 1. e4 on the grandmaster level, position still looks pretty depressing. with White lacking an effective weapon The book is not all about the softness against it. New York 1927 by Alexander Alekhine. of Capablanca’s opposition. We can expect Though Al Lawrence used a chess Edited by Al Lawrence, translation by engine to check Alekhine’s analysis (and Mary Lawrence. Russell Enterprises, that an all-time great would produce gen- 168 pages, $19.95 from uscfsales.com eral chess wisdom. I was particularly for that matter the quality of Capablanca’s (catalog number B0050RE). See Al struck by Alekhine’s comments on the fol- moves), he wisely left Alekhine’s prose Lawrence discuss the book on YouTube; search “Lawrence New York 1927.” lowing position: unmarked by computer analysis. It would
uschess.org Chess Life — December 2011 13 CL_12-2011_soltis_JP_r8:chess life 11/10/2011 2:05 PM Page 14
Chess to Enjoy
Of Oscars and Auctions
The calendar tells us it’s time to get trivial. By GM Andy Soltis
Like Christmas, our Trivia Quiz comes champion of Moscow and the overall devoted to it was published in but once a year and the once comes in champion of Paris. 2011. December: It’s time to see how much (a) Savielly Tartakower (c) It was the subject of the last thoroughly useless information about (b) Nicolas Rossolimo published analysis of Vassily chess you’ve amassed when you should (c) Ossip Bernstein Smyslov. have been studying rook endings. (d) Aron Nimzowitsch (d) The Houdini program recently Answers on page 69. found a forced win for White. 6. A chess set was auctioned for a In April, Vishy Anand celebrated 1. The Elo chess rating system was record price of $76,275 in New York 9. featured in the plot of which movie in April. Its distinction was: something that has happened to only five reigning world champions. that was nominated for the Best (a) It was the only set designed by He: Picture Oscar this year? Andy Warhol. (a) Won the “Chess Oscar.” (a) Inception (b) It was used by Garry Kasparov (b) Amassed a plus score against (b) The Social Network in his first match with Deep each of his previous match (c) The King’s Speech Blue. opponents. (d) Black Swan (c) It was made of platinum. (d) It was used only once, in the (c) Became a father. 2. Last March archaeologists third game of the 1972 World (d) Was named “Athlete of the Year” uncovered what they said was: Championship match. by his country. (a) The oldest known board with 7. Whose website has translations in 10. The game between WGM Jolanta dark and light colored squares English, Russian, Dutch, Spanish, Zawadzka and WFM Aleksandra (b) Pieces from President James Japanese and Nepalese? Lach from this year’s Polish Madison’s chess set Women’s Championship was (a) Viswanathan Anand (c) An 11th-century book in Arabic distinctive because: (b) Yasser Seirawan on Chaturanga, the forerunner (a) It was drawn in 213 moves, the of modern chess (c) Jan Timman (d) Anish Giri fifth-longest game on record. (d) Several previously unknown (b) The players are mother and scoresheets of Andre Philidor 8. What is the significance of the posi- daughter. tions that occurs after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 3. Lajos Portisch holds the record for (c) They agreed to play the game most career victories (121) in the exf4 3. Nf3 Be7 4. Nc3 Bh4+ 5. Ke2 blindfolded. Olympiad team tournaments. Who d5 6. Nxd5 Nf6 7. Nxf6+ Qxf6 8. d4 (d) It ended in a very rare double is number two in the record book? Bg4 9. Qd2 Nc6 ? forfeit. (a) Miguel Najdorf r+ +k+ r 11. Whose picture has appeared on the (b) Viktor Korchnoi postage stamps of Armenia, (c) Anatoly Karpov ppp +ppp Cambodia, Chad, Congo, Djibouti, (d) Eugenio Torre +n+ q + Mali, Niger, North Korea, St. (e) Bill Hook Vincent, Surinam and Vietnam, ++++ among others? Under the old (pre-1500) rules of 4. (a) Wilhelm Steinitz chess, a bishop could only move two + PPpll (b) José Capablanca squares diagonally at a time. How + + +N+ (c) Max Euwe many different squares could a (d) Bobby Fischer bishop land on in the course of a PPPQK+PP (e) Anatoly Karpov game? (Try to do this without R L +L+R (f) Garry Kasparov looking at a board.) White to play 12. In July this celebrity said, “In my Who am I? My great-grandfather 5. dreams I would start to see chess was Greek but was shipwrecked (a) It occurred in the blindfold games. I said, ‘This is not good for near Odessa and grew up in Russia. game played by the two main me,’” so he switched his hobby to My father met my mother in characters in the move Queen photography. He is: Manchuria where she was a war to Play. correspondent. I was the junior (b) An entire 114-page book 13. There have been all sorts of
14 Chess Life — December 2011 uschess.org CL_12-2011_soltis_JP_r8:chess life 11/10/2011 2:05 PM Page 15
Problem I Problem II Problem III World Open GM Alexander Shabalov WGM Anna Sharevich GM Giorgi Kacheishvili Eric Rosen Luke Harmon-Vellotti FM Dov Gorman This month’s quiz features combi- +l+q+nk + +qr + r+ + +k+ nations played at the most recent + +r+r+p + +lnpkp +l+ + pn World Open, won by Gata Kamsky in p++P+ pl +p+ + + + +qp a tie-breaking Armageddon game with Michael Adams of Great Britain. +p+p+P+ +p+ + +P +P++ Both Kamsky and Adams scored 7- + Lp+ P + +P+ + p+ +P+ P 2 to earn paychecks of more than +++QL PP+ + P +pQL+ + $14,000 in the 94-player Open sec- tion of the annual Philadelphia PPP+ + + +Q+ PL+ L + +P+ tournament. In each of the following +K+R+ R RN+R+ K + + +RK six positions from the Open section you are asked to find the fastest White to play White to play White to play winning line of play. Usually this Problem IV Problem V Problem VI will mean the forced win of a decisive IM Salvijus Bercys Parker Zhao Liam Henry amount of material, such as a rook GM Ilya Smirin GM Mark Bluvshtein IM Darwin Yang or minor piece. For solutions, see Page 69. r+ + rk+ r+l+ nk+ + rr+k+ pp+ + lp p + qpl +p+ + l +p+ + + +pr +p+ p+pql+Qp + Pln + + + p Pp ++p+ Q + +q+ + +P+ + +Pp+ + + +N+ +L+ Q +P P P + RP P LL+PP P+ NNPK+ + + +P+ + + RRK + R +R+ +L+ R K
Black to play Black to play Black to play
international championships, 18. In July, one of Anatoly Karpov’s world including those limited to women, rn qklnr records was nearly broken. Which the vision impaired and players in ppp +p+p one? various age groups. Which of these (a) Most consecutive tournament have not had their own + p +p+ games played without a loss championship? ++p+ (b) Most books autographed at a (a) Esperanto speakers book launch (b) Players representing NATO +L+P+l+ (c) Largest personal collection of member nations + N +N+ postage stamps (c) European railroad workers (d) Most international tournaments (d) Left-handed people PPPP PPP won 14. “What started, in 1999, as an R LQK +R 19. There were cheating scandals at all attempt to change my luck is now but one of these recent tournaments. After 4. ... g6 an essential part of how I see Which one? myself,” Peter Svidler said in an (c) Légal was 85 years old in 1787. (a) The 2011 German interview this year. He was (d) It was the shortest record game Championship speaking of: until the 20th century. (b) The 2011 French (a) His trademark tee-shirt Championship 16. Next year 42-year-old Vishy Anand (b) His adoption of 1. e4 will meet 43-year-old Boris Gelfand (c) The 2011 Botvinnik Memorial (c) His habit of studying at night in a world championship match. Has in Moscow (d) His earring there ever been a championship (d) The 2010 Olympiad in Khanty Manisysk 15. There are different versions of a match featuring two players who famous game that introduced were closer in age? 20. Which fictional detective was “Légal’s Trap.” One version is given 17. There were three ways that “our named after a chess patron? as Légal-St. Brie, Paris 1787: 1. e4 ideology glorified the advantage of (a) Philip Marlowe e5 2. Bc4 d6 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. Nc3 g6? the Soviet way of life,” Mark (b) Inspector Morse (see diagram top of next column) Taimanov said in an 85th birthday (c) Ellery Queen interview this year. They are: (d) Lord Peter Wimsley . And now 5. Nxe5! Bxd1 6. Bxf7+ (a) Chess, ballet and circus Ke7 7. Nd5 mate. What is (b) Chess, Sputnik and the In addition to the Online Viewer of the cur- interesting about this version? Olympics rent issue, archival Chess Life .pdfs and (a) It is the oldest recorded queen (c) Stalinism, Stalingrad and the .pgn files are available on uschess.org, sacrifice. King’s Indian Defense Chess Life Magazine, Downloadable Files. (b) “Légal” was a pseudonym for (d) Vodka, caviar and Mikhail Issues are archived starting with October Andre Philidor. Botvinnik 2008.
uschess.org Chess Life —December 2011 15 CL_12-2011_pando_JP_r8:chess life 11/10/2011 1:47 PM Page 16
Solitaire Chess Castling on Opposite Sides
By Bruce Pandolfini
An opponent castling on the other wing than you can be like a red flag being waved in front of a bull.
One way to practice developing one’s bonus points—or deductions—for other e5, threatening the skewer, 13. Be5 (1 attacking skills is to castle on opposite moves and variations. Note that ** means bonus point). sides of the board. This action usually that the note to Black’s move is over and 12. … cxd4 enables both players to advance the White’s move is in the next line.** pawns in front of the enemy king with 7. Bg5 Par Score 5 Black momentarily gains a pawn while abandon, leading to all kinds of exciting meeting the threat. If instead 12. ... Qxd4, play. In such instances, victory typically White pins the knight with the intention then 13. Qxd4 cxd4 14. 0-0-0 (or 14. hinges on who gets there first. When one of recovering his pawn by 8. Nxe4 (1 Be5) regains the pawn (1 bonus point).** side doesn’t get much of an attack at all, bonus point). 13. Qe2 Par Score 5 the outcome is likely to favor the oppo- 7. … Nbd7 nent. In this month’s game Black falls White renews the threat of Be5 (1 bonus behind in initiative fairly quickly. Once If 7. ... h6, then 8. Bxf6 is followed by point). White castles queenside, Black’s castled 9. Nxe4 (1 bonus point).** 13. … 0-0 king’s position on the kingside is ripe for 8. Nxe4 Par Score 5 being ripped open, and that’s what hap- Black castles kingside. This unpins the pens. The game began: White gets his pawn back. No credit knight so that Be5 now drops a piece.** for 8. Bxf6? Nxf6, retaining the plus pawn. 14. 0-0-0 Par Score 5 8. … h6 French Defense (C15) White castles queenside and calmly Abramson Moisey Black tries to break the pin. All in all, completes development. Naturally, he Chichman this was stronger on the previous move.** contemplates an attack on the enemy Leningrad, 1951 9. Bh4 Par Score 5 king and for this he needs the participa- tion of both rooks. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Ne2 dxe4 5. This forces Black to weaken his king- 14. … a6 a3 Bxc3+ 6. Nxc3 Nf6 side if he wants to break the pin. 9. … g5 The white bishop must now declare its rnlqk+ r intentions. Black makes the commitment. He 15. Bd3 Par Score 5 ppp +ppp breaks the pin, threatening to win a + +pn + piece.** Accept 3 points part credit for 15. Bxd7 10. Nxf6+ Par Score 4 Bxd7 16. Be5, picking up the gambited ++++ d4-pawn, but also promoting Black’s + Pp+ + Deduct 2 points for 10. Bg3? Nxe4, development. gaining a piece. 15. … Nc5 PN++ 10. … Qxf6 PP+ PPP Black clears a space for the bishop to Also possible is 10. ... Nxf6 11. Bg3 come out. If instead 15. ... b5?, then 16. R LQKL+R Rg8 **. Qe4 (1 bonus point).** Your starting position 11. Bg3 Par Score 5 16. Be5 Par Score 5
Now make sure you have the above White saves the bishop and threatens Now both white bishops are pointing in position set up on your chessboard. As the c7-pawn, gaining time. the direction of the black king. you play through the remaining moves in 11. … c5 16. … Nxd3+ this game, use a piece of paper to cover the article, exposing White’s next move Black saves the pawn and menaces Off goes the light-squared bishop so only after trying to guess it. If you guess White’s center.** the queen can play to g6. If 16. ... Qe7, correctly, give yourself the par score. 12. Bb5! Par Score 6 then 17. Qh5 (1 bonus point). Black’s Sometimes points are also rewarded for kingside is full of holes. He’s moved the second-best moves, and there may be White pins the knight to gain control of pawns on the wrong side.**
16 Chess Life — December 2011 uschess.org CL_12-2011_pando_JP_r8:chess life 11/10/2011 1:47 PM Page 17
Problem I Problem II Problem III ABCs of Chess Pin Removing the guard Unpin ++++ + + +k+ ++++ These problems are all related to ++++ + + +p+ + +lk p key positions in this month’s game. +n+ +k+ +n+ +p+ ++np In each case, Black is to move. The answers can be found in Solutions + + +p+ ++L+ ++++ on page 69. + P +l+ + + +l+ + +L+ L + +L+N+ + + +N+P ++++ December Exercise: It’s easy to + +K+ + PP+ +P+ + + KP+ make mistakes in setting up posi- tions, and easy enough to avoid ++++ +K++ ++++ making them. From a diagram, matching white and black units, separate how many there are on the Problem IV Problem V Problem VI side or in your mind. Then start set- Skewer Mating net Mating net ting up, going from pawns to king, +k+ + + + +R+ + +k++ naming the diagrammed square each unit occupies before finding its coun- +pp q +p +++k ++++ terpart on the actual board or + + +l+ + +Qqp+ ++++ onscreen backdrop. Practice this +++p + + +p+ ++++ procedure often, and you’ll surely l + +P+ + +l+ + ++++ cut down on inaccuracies as you become more familiar with the + + PQ+P +++P + +l+ + board’s coordinates. And don’t be +NP+ +++K +r+ + + surprised if this simple method helps ++K+R ++++ + +RKR+ you to order other parts of your game as well.
17. Rxd3 Par Score 5 23. … Kf7 Apart from 21. Rxg6+, the main threat is 21. Rh8 mate (1 bonus point). Deduct 2 points for 17. Qxd3? Qxe5 24. Rh7+ Par Score 5 and take only 2 points part credit for 17. 20. … Qxg5+ cxd3. The rook capture is the right way. Now White has to figure out how to get This carries more punch than 24. Rxf6+ True, Black has eliminated one of the (accept only 3 points part credit). out of check.** attacking bishops, but at the cost of acti- 24. … Ke8 21. Qd2 Par Score 5 vating the rook along the third rank. Add 1 bonus point if you anticipated this sce- White decides to guard his rook. Full 25. Bd6 Par Score 5 nario when playing 15. Bd3. credit for 21. f4 Qxh6 22. Rg3+ Kh7 (22. 17. … Qg6 ... Qg6 23. Qh5) 23. Qe4+ Qg6 (23. ... f5 The black rook has no safe move. Mean- 24. Qxb7+ leads to mate) 24. Rxg6 fxg6 while the threat is 26. Bxf8 Kxf8 27. He can’t allow Qh5. ** 25. Qxb7+ Kh6 26. Qg7+ Kh5 27. Qh7+ Rh8+, skewering king and the a8-rook (1 18. h4 Par Score 5 Kg4 28. Qh3 mate. In fact add 2 bonus bonus point). points if you worked it all out. 25. … Rd8 White has made sufficient preparations 21. … Qxd2+ for the attack and now it’s time to actu- Black places the rook on a square pro- ally start the attack. The intention is 19. There’s a strong temptation for the tected by the king. If 25. ... Rf7, then 26. hxg5, opening the h-file. defender to get queens off the board. It Rg8+ (1 bonus point).** 18. … Bd7 should weaken the attack. The alternative 26. Re7 mate Par Score 5 was to give up the queen: 21. ... Qxe5 22. Black tries for counterattack since 18. Rg3+ Qxg3 23. fxg3 f6. This may prolong For the record Black gave it up at move ... g4 doesn’t quite work. White answers 22. Let’s give credit where credit’s due. . resistance but all the same we expect 19. Rxd4 h5 20. f3 g3 21. Rh3 and White White to win.** gets a rook to the g-file (1 bonus point).** 22. Kxd2 Par Score 4 19. hxg5 Par Score 6 Total your score to determine Abramson has rightly judged that even your approximate rating Black thinks he has an opportunity. with queens gone he still has a winning below: 19. … Bb5 attack. Add 1 bonus point if you so eval- Total Score Approx. Rating uated. The text threatens 23. Rg3 mate, 95+ 2400+ Black rightly rejects 19. ... Qxg5+ 20. and if 22. ... Bxd3, then 23. Rh8 mate (1 81-94 2200-2399 f4, followed by Rg3 (1 bonus point). The bonus point). 66-80 2000-2199 text skewers rook and queen, or pins the 51-65 1800-1999 22. … f6 rook if you want to look at it that way.** 36-50 1600-1799 20. Rxh6! Par Score 6 21-35 1400-1599 Or Black could play 22. ... f5, when 06-20 1200-1399 White’s reply would be the same.** Add 1 bonus point if you anticipated 0-05 under 1200 Black’s last and prepared this response. 23. Rg3+ Par Score 5
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18 Chess Life — December 2011 uschess.org CL_12-2011_KvQ_AKF_r11_chess life 11/10/11 7:03 PM Page 19
Innovation, Interest, & Intrigue in St. Louis
The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis brings together some of our top players to play a battle of the sexes in classical chess and Chess960.
By IM IRINA KRUSH & GM BEN FINEGOLD Photos courtesy of The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis
ings versus Queens, a battle of the genders in a crossbreed format of regular rapid chess and Fischer Random (FR) (also called Chess960) rapid chess, was staged at everyone’s favorite destination, the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, from Septem- Kber 9-16th, 2011. Each team consisted of five competitors, who faced everyone on the opposing team once in both kinds of chess. The players were selected with an eye towards ultimately creating two teams of level strength, so that the outcome would be maximally contested. That meant inviting the best female players in the world as well as anyone the organizers could pull in from the street. Local stars Hikaru Nakamura and Ben Finegold were natural choices for the men’s side. After that, the men’s roster remained up in the air until the entire women’s half was confirmed— it’s much easier to find suitable men players, after all! Anna Zatonskih and I received invitations as the top American women, and then the organizers scoured the globe for other ladies to strengthen our team. Former Women’s World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk and Ukrainian GM Kateryna Lahno were signed up, and the crown jewel—Judit Polgar. The men eventually added rapidly improving IM Marc Arnold from New York, who’s taking a year off to pursue the grandmaster title before attending Indiana University, and former Uni- versity of Texas at Dallas student, IM Jacek Stopa from Poland, as well as a late, but very welcome, surprise—the twelfth world champion, Anatoly Karpov. Karpov left serious compe- tition about a decade ago, but he occasionally takes part in special events, and his expected participation certainly elevated the prestige of Kings versus Queens. It’s not every day that you get to play such a legend! Alas, man plans, but ... At the last minute, it became clear that neither Karpov nor Judit would make it to St. Louis. Unforeseen political obligations tied Karpov down in Moscow, while Judit was still playing in the World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk, having advanced to the fifth round! Her superb performance in the World Cup put the Saint Louis organizers in a bit of a quandary, as there is simply no one to replace her, and the presence of Hikaru had to be balanced out some- how. The men’s ship would need to throw some rating points overboard. Thus, the organizers
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offered a golden opportunity to local young- lent e4-square for the knight. It’s hard to ster Kevin Cao, a USCF-rated national imagine that one day both the ... Nf6 and -mk-+-tr-+ master. Ecuadorean IM Martha Fierro filled the ... Re8 will be traded, the ... Rg2 sim- +pzpq+-+- the vacant spot on the women’s team. ply trapped (and while Black did lose the The teams balanced out on paper at rook it had nothing useful to contribute to p+-zp-+-+ 2476 FIDE. The men’s team had extremes Black’s efforts) with the Rb3 via the h-file. +-+-snP+Q on either pole, while the women’s team But with some fine play from Black, that’s was more evenly spread. Which arrange- what happened and Black resigned. -+PvL-+p+ ment would prove more effective? zP-+P+-tR- From the point of view of the women, After this bitter loss, I was naturally out one thing was clear: we had to make sure for revenge in the second game, and it -mKP+-+-+ that Hikaru’s heaping of points would be looked like I was going to get it ... +-+-+-+- cancelled out by an appropriately modest collection by Kevin. Then we’d have to Blacktoplay decide the battle on the middle boards. ‘Rina’s revenge? I couldn’t see a way to continue to play for We failed on both counts, and that’s IM Irina Krush (2472) a win, so I “acquiesced” to a draw: why we lost the match. Hikaru lived up to IM Jacek Stopa (2482) (or maybe exceeded, depending on how Kings versus Queens Rapid (1), Saint 3. ...Rxf5?? 1 Louis Chess Club, 09.10.2011 you look at it) expectations, scoring 9⁄2/10, Why did I take like that? In my mind, and Kevin definitely exceeded them. both captures on f5 led to a draw, so, Although he was by far the lowest-rated -+-+-mk-+ without thinking, I picked up the rook. player in the field, he finished in a +-tR-+n+- respectable tie for 8-10th (and as you can 4. Qh8+ Qc8 5. Ba7+ probably guess, he wasn’t tied with his p+-zp-+-zp Tactics 101 ... (I was expecting 5. Qxc8+ own teammates). That alone would have +-+P+Pzp- Kxc8 6. Bxe5 Rxe5 7. Rxg4 which is decided the match in the men’s favor, but equal). Eventually, Black resigned. we ceded the middle boards to them as -+-+-+P+ well: Marc Arnold, Jacek Stopa, and my +-+-+-+q Anyway, this is all for our selection of co-author Ben all achieved plus scores. P+-+Q+-+ “Krush’s Tragicomedies.” I don’t know The course of the match forbids a round- exactly what it looked like from outside, by-round account, which would look +K+-+-+- but to me, it wasn’t exactly “bad form”: I something like: after day one we were After34....Rxc7 played fine, but when I’d get down to 30 down by four, after day two we were still seconds or less, my mind would just down by four, after the disastrous Fischer White resigned on move 54. Random round of day three we were down switch off, and my hands didn’t make as by eight; there was no sudden collapse Once again, I misplayed this utterly good decisions as my mind. I should have by the men, and the ‘suspense’ ended at winning position, and then lost all sense worked more on preparing myself for sit- the conclusion of the fourth day of play. We of objectivity, declining a draw offer from uations with little time, so at the board I 1 1 finally drifted to the score of 31 ⁄2-18 ⁄2. Jacek in a position that was no longer at wouldn’t feel like a panicked rabbit faced The question asks itself: why such a lop- all worse for him. with a python. sided result? The beginning of the match For me personally, these games were Unfortunately, all the ladies suffered to was inauspicious for us, of course, but devastating, and for the team, the result a greater or lesser degree from gross blun- unfortunately, it was also a foreshadowing of this mini-match was costly: if I had con- ders. The men didn’t play perfectly, but of essentially more of the same to come. verted my two winning positions into wins they made far fewer ‘unforced errors’. Here is an example of my ‘contribu- instead of losses, we would have ended Ben selected a few memorable high- tion’ to the team in the first round: day one at 5-5 rather than trailing 7-3. lights from the event: This quality of hapless tragedy accom- A Krush contribution panied me throughout the tournament. IM Jacek Stopa (2482) The apex came when I threw away a half c7, not f6! IM Irina Krush (2472) point to Ben from the following position IM Martha Fierro (2378) Kings versus Queens (1), Saint Louis in the Fischer Random game of round GM Hikaru Nakamura (2753) Chess Club, 09.10.2011 four: Kings versus Queens Rapid (1), Saint Louis Chess Club, 09.10.2011 -+-+r+k+ Notes by Finegold Battle of the authors zp-vl-+-+- GM Ben Finegold (2489) -+-+-+-+ -+p+-snp+ IM Irina Krush (2472) Kings versus Queens Fischer Random (4), +p+r+-vl- zPpzPp+psN- Saint Louis Chess Club, 09.17.2011 pzP-zp-+p+ -zP-zP-zp-zP zP-zpNtr-zPp +R+-+N+- (see diagram top of next column) -+PmkPtR-+ A few moves ago I could have tried to -+-tR-zPr+ extract more, but I let White escape to this tR-+P+K+- +-+K+-+- position. I had several minutes left, and -+-+-zP-+ Whitetoplay kept looking for a way to avoid the liqui- dation that, say, 1. ... Qxf5 led to: (2. Qxf5 +-+-+-+- Black is up a pawn, and has the excel- Rxf5 3. Bxe5 Rxe5 4. Rxg4 is even). Finally, Whitetoplay
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Hikaru, as usual, tries very hard to Heading into the event, the big mystery St. Louis. I played two games against win and now Martha can get a winning was: how would people fare in the Fischer Bulgarian GM Dejan Bojkov, winning position with 83. Nc7! Random? Hikaru, Alexandra, and with white and losing with black (pathet- Kateryna all had relatively extensive expe- ically, in 14 moves.) I didn’t know if I’d like 83. Nf6? rience with it, garnered at the now extinct Fischer Random, but I loved it! (83. Nc7! Rde7 84. Rb3! winning due to Mainz Chess Classic, while the rest of In Fischer Random, the thinking starts the threat of 85. Nxa6!) us were newcomers. When I met Marc on immediately on move one. There are no the plane going to St. Louis, he was still well-worn paths to follow; you’re the first 83. ... Bxf6 unsure about the castling rules! to reach the frontier ... and just as life on Now Black is slightly better and with Here is what Ben, who scored an amaz- the frontier is dangerous and uncertain, the little time remaining, White could not ing 5/5 in the Fischer Random and so is the situation on the 64 squares. defend. finished second in the event overall, had That is maybe the best way to capture to say about his thoughts going in: what Fischer Random is about, how it dif- 84. gxf6 Rf7 85. Ke2 g5 86. Rf3 g4 87. Rf4 “I was quite worried about playing fers from regular chess: uncertainty. One Rg5 88. Ra1 Ke5 89. Ke3 Rxf6 90. Rxf6 Kxf6 Chess960, since I had no experience. To of the most important aspects of chess is 91. d4 cxd4+ 92. Kxd4 h4 93. Rh1 g3 94. fxg3 prepare, I played about eight games on ‘evaluation,’ which tells you how you stand hxg3 95. Rg1 g2 96. Ke3 Ke5 97. Kf3 Rg7 98. the Internet Chess Club in the week lead- and where you need to go. In Fischer Ran- Ke3 Rg3+ 99. Kf2 Rg7 100. Ke3 Rg8 101. Kf3 ing up to the event. I won them all, but dom, until the game crystallizes into a Kd4, White resigned. my opposition was rated about 1500, and normal looking chess position, evaluation the games were not impressive. The best is a much harder task; the difficulty stems advice I got was from World Champion from the fact that there are so many more Walk into my trap.... Vishy Anand. When I asked Anand how variables to keep in mind, and they’re in GM Kateryna Lahno (2554) to prepare for the games, he simply said, a less fixed state. For example, in chess, IM Marc Arnold (2505) “You cannot prepare for Chess960.” This you can predict rather easily where your Kings versus Queens Rapid (2), Saint gave me some confidence that I could do opponent will castle, and it’s likely to hap- Louis Chess Club, 09.11.2011 no wrong in my prep! pen early on, as you’ve brought out your Notes by Finegold I spoke to Hikaru briefly about strategy, forces but haven’t committed them yet; since Hikaru is not only a great chess player, in Fischer Random castling often occurs -+-+-+-+ but possibly an even better Chess960 player! later, and you have to be careful not to have Hikaru said to play in the center and acti- gathered pieces on one side of the board +Q+-+pmk- vate your pieces (just like regular chess!). only to find your opponent escaping the -+-+l+-+ Hikaru also was able to score 5-0 in the other way! (We will see this idea in my Chess960 games. He played extremely game against Marc Arnold). +-+-zp-+- quickly in the Chess960 games and seemed In contrast to Anand’s advice, I did try -+-vl-+-sn to feel at home, somehow. to prepare for the Fischer Random part of My “plan” in all the games was to play the event, and my preparation consisted +-+-+P+p quickly. I did not think I could play great of: practice, followed by analysis. Over -+-+-+-zP chess considering it was Game/25, but I about three weeks preceding the event, I thought if I had a ten minute time advan- played rapid training games with several +-+-+-+K tage, that would work in my favor. I was strong friends of mine, over a dozen of After44....Bd4 able to put my theory into practice (not them, and analyzed them with my coach always easy to do) and was ahead on the Giorgi. I really learned a lot from this 45. f4 clock in almost every game. analysis, because it turned out that I really do not know how I did so well, Giorgi’s biggest chess strength was actu- Black thought everything won here, but this quote from Hikaru when being ally magnified in Fischer Random: in but Lahno has set an amazing trap! Black questioned by the commentators, Yasser Fischer Random, the first priority, of needs to play 45. ... Bc4! with the idea of Seirawan and Jennifer Shahade, says it course, is to figure out how to create har- ... Bf1 and ... Bg2+. all: “Ben is playing better than he is.” mony from disharmony, and for that, you And Ben’s feelings about Fischer Ran- need to have strategic vision, to see the 45. ... Bg4? 46. fxe5 Bf3+ 47. Qxf3 Nxf3 48. e6 dom after the event? big picture ... for most players, that is the “I guess I felt more under pressure and big stumbling block. -+-+-+-+ nervous during the Fischer Random In my first games of Fischer Random, it +-+-+pmk- games. I was worried I would blunder was like walking through a dim forest, on really early. I was more confident during the lookout for all its possible surprises -+-+P+-+ the regular chess, but my results do not (oops, the a2-pawn wasn’t protected!), most +-+-+-+- show any of that! I liked Fischer Ran- of them not too good. In this situation, dom more than I thought I would, and it you’re focused on just not stepping on an -+-vl-+-+ wasn’t as scary as I expected. unfriendly animal; who has time to think +-+-+n+p Which did I enjoy more? In hindsight, about how to get out of the forest? So that’s the Fischer Random ... not what I what I mean ... in Fischer Random, it’s so -+-+-+-zP expected to say.” tempting to just play in moves, of course +-+-+-+K with some ideas, but not necessarily a Up until July 2011, I’d never played a grand construction for the whole position. After48.e6 Fischer Random game, nor did I know the So what did I learn about Fischer Ran- White either queens her pawn or gets rules. I got my first taste of it at the 2011 dom that I would put to use in St. Louis? stalemated. Canadian Open, which had a Fischer In Fischer Random, just like in regular Random side event that I eagerly attended chess, you need to fight for the center. 48. ... Bf6 49. e7 Bxe7, Draw agreed. with the aim of getting some practice for That’s why as White, for example, you’d
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QUEENS.
IM aNNa ZatoNSKIh
IM Martha FIErro
CENTER THE CHESS FROM OUTSIDE THE VIEW
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GM AlexANdrA GM KAteryNA KoSteNIuK lAHNo IM IrINA KruSH KINGS
IM JAceK StopA GM HIKAru NAKAMurA
IM MArc ArNold
KevIN cAo GM BeN FINeGold
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Fischer Random generally allows Black to fight for the initiative. In my training games I tried the copycat strategy a few times, but in St. Louis, not once. I learned that bishops in the center of the board (i.e., d1 or e1) are not actually “undeveloped” pieces and I don’t have to give them first priority in development ... of course, knights in the corners tend to come out early. In my initial training games, I found it hard to find the right balance; I tended to play either too passively or too aggres- sively. As White I’d often be too focused on opening up the center, at the expense of other plans ... The most clear thing I got from my training was a sense of how bad I actu- ally was at Fischer Random. Did this training pay off? It actually did. Quite naturally, many losses in Fischer Random are linked to the opening stage, as people often reach a middle game at a serious disadvantage, but in none of my five games did I expe- rience any problems in the opening. I got fine games as Black, and was able to press with White. The first four games were strategically interesting. The one failure was my final FR game against Hikaru, where as White I walked into a mine on move ... one!—and Black got a comfortable game. So based on my experience, yes, there is a way to improve at Fischer Random, and that’s with the trusty combo of prac- tice and analysis. I already feel nostalgic writing about Fischer Random. I was so eager for the first afternoon game at the Chess Club (we always started with Fischer Random), and playing the rapid game was actually a letdown ... what, standard positions, nothing new to figure out in the first few moves ... argh. Since Fischer Random was really the innovative part of the event, Ben and I decided to focus on it in our games section. It’ll probably be many readers’ first glimpse THERE IS NOTHING RANDOM ABOUT THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND MARKETING into the world of Fischer Random, and I EFFORTS BY THE CLUB’S BRAIN TRUST. hope you guys will give it a try—pick up a chess board and go on the journey. normally examine moves like 1. c4, 1. d4, player to avoid bad pieces (Black’s light But before you start, let me tell you 1. e4, and 1. f4. In FR, I’d say there is an squared bishop being an exception in what you need to know ... in Fischer Ran- even bigger focus on ‘pieces’ than in reg- many openings), in FR it is definitely a dom, the pieces are shuffled on the back ular chess, simply because they usually challenge to avoid poorly placed pieces. row. They still move the same way as in need more attention! In the chess we are So far, it is all pretty obvious ... here’s chess, and the only difference is in the used to, the starting point of the pieces something more surprising I learned from castling rules. No matter where the king seems so harmonious ... the knights can Giorgi: Black should generally avoid sym- and rook start from, kingside castling come out to the center so easily, as well metry in Fischer Random (even from move means that White’s king and rook will as the bishops; the rooks are tucked away one; the equivalent would be like saying land on g1 and f1, just like in regular in the corner since there is little for them that Black should avoid 1. d4 d5 or 1. e4 chess. Queenside castling means that to do in the beginning of the game; the e5 in regular chess!) There will definitely the king and rook land on c1 and d1. most powerful piece (the queen) is central- be cases where symmetry is fine or even The king always has to start out between ized; castling is easily accomplishable. In the best option, but in many positions, the two rooks. I will explain this some Fischer Random, we have to fight for Black can do better by forging his own more in the games themselves. Annota- everything we take for granted! So while path. As Giorgi stressed many times, sym- tions by Ben, with my comments listed in regular chess, it is fairly easy for a metry is basically a passive strategy, and with “IK”:
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Scotch (!?) to worry about Nc5, the ... Bh2 getting putting the pawn on e6 leaves the prob- GM Ben Finegold (2489) trapped and Nxg7. lem of the Be8.) GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (2469) 15. Kh1 Bd6 16. Nxg7 Bd7 17. Rfd1 Bf4 18. 2. f4 Kings versus Queens Fischer Random Qd4 Bc8 19. Nc5 (2), Saint Louis Chess Club, 09.11.2011 The “King’s Gambit.” In my experience, Notes by Ben Finegold gambits rarely work in Fischer Random. rmkl+-+-tr I know that is kind of a big statement to rmkqvllsnntr zppwq-+psNp make, but I think the reason is that there is simply not enough harmony to sustain zppzppzppzpp -+p+-+n+ it. I guess Anna was not familiar with -+-+-+-+ +-sN-+-+- this idea, or she would have taken the pawn. As Hikaru explained in his post- +-+-+-+- -+-wQ-vl-+ game interview, his decision to play 2. f4 -+-+-+-+ +-zP-+L+- was psychological; he thought Anna would not be comfortable in the struc- +-+-+-+- P+P+-zPP+ tures arising from accepting the gambit PzPPzPPzPPzP +R+R+-+K and would decline it, and he guessed right! However, with 2. ... d6, Black hands After19.Nc5 tRKwQLvLNsNR the initiative over to White. Startingposition IK: Black never solved the problem of 2. ... d6 her king in this game. IK: White castles queenside by remov- 2. ... exf4 3. d4 Ng6 (3. ... d5! Black can ing the Qc1 and Bd1, then sending the 19. ... b6 20. Qe4 Qe7 always use this idea from the King’s Gam- king to c1 and Ra1 to d1. For kingside bit. In this position, it gives the queen a castling, almost the entire back row needs Black had less than two minutes here and I think I had at least 15. My “plan” nice square on f5.) 4. h4 h5 5. Nh3 was to clear out. Then the king jumps to g1, a line that Hikaru mentioned in the press and the Rh1 to f1. of not getting into time trouble worked this game. room. If 5. ... Nxh4 then 6. Nxf4 leaves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Ng6 3. d4 White happy, because he will also win 21. Qxc6 Qh4+ 22. Kg1 Bh2+ 23. Kf1 Qc4+ back the pawn on h5, but again 5. ... d5! A Chess960 Scotch! IK: White takes 24. Rd3 Ba6 6. exd5 Qf5 gives Black a good game; 2. the chance to open up the center. It actually took me about a minute to ... d5!? 3. exd5 exf4. 3. ... exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Ng3 d5 6. exd5 see ... 25. Nd7 mate. 3. fxe5 dxe5 4. Nf3 Ng6 5. Bg3 Bc6 6. d3 Nxd5 7. Bf3 Nb6 8. Qe3 6. Nxe5 Nxe5 7. Bxe5 f6 8. Bg3 Bxe4 9. I was already thinking of “long castling” Nakagression Ne3 Ne7 10. d3 Bc6 is probably easier for here, and wanted to stop Alexandra from White to play, but Hikaru naturally didn’t GM Hikaru Nakamura (2753) doing the same. want to go for any simplifying lines like this. IM Anna Zatonskih (2508) 8. ... Bf6 9. Nh5 Be5 10. Bc3 Na4 Kings versus Queens Fischer Random 6. ... f6 7. Ne3 Be7 (2), Saint Louis Chess Club, 09.11.2011 rmkq+l+-tr Notes by Krush rmkq+-+ntr zppzp-+pzpp rmkqvllsnntr zppzp-vl-zpp -+-+-+n+ zppzppzppzpp -+l+-zpn+ +-+-vl-+N -+-+-+-+ +-+-zp-+- n+-sN-+-+ +-+-+-+- -+-+P+-+ +-vL-wQL+- -+-+-+-+ +-+PsNNvL- PzPP+-zPPzP +-+-+-+- PzPP+-+PzP tRK+-+-+R PzPPzPPzPPzP tRKwQL+-+R After10....Na4 tRKwQLvLNsNR After7....Be7 Startingposition 11. 0-0! 8. c3! The longest possible castling in any This is also from round two, same posi- This little plan wins the game for White. Chess960 game. tion as Finegold-Kosteniuk. Hikaru With one strike, it prepares to solve the 11. ... Nxc3 12. bxc3 handles it in a very aggressive way ... problem of the Bd1, facilitates castling, but is it best? and readies an advance in the center. My safer king and the open “b” file fully Black has nothing to counter it with, 1. e4 e5 compensates for the two bishops and because the center is not mobile, and better pawn structure. In this position, symmetry seems like her pieces lack the harmony of their coun- 12. ... c6 13. Rab1 Qc7 14. Nb3 a good idea (it is never a “bad” idea, just terparts (compare White’s beautiful there could be better options around). centralized knights with Black’s). With the idea of Nc5. (1. ... c5 the “Sicilian” has a drawback: 8. ... Qd7 9. Bc2 0-0-0 10. d4! After 2. Ne3, which is a very natural 14. ... Bxh2+ square for that knight, Black would prob- To me, this moment shows an impor- I think this is too slow. Now Black has ably like to control d5/f5 somehow, but tant way in which Fischer Random differs
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from regular chess. In regular chess, come up with this move. Alexandra also play. Now Black is probably better after ... you’re not supposed to open up the board made this strong move, and soon won a 16. ... g5! with your king not having castled yet, pawn against Kevin Cao (after 2. exd5 the with your rooks unconnected. But here a2 or h2 pawn will be lost). 2. Qh5 It feels White can do that thanks to the excellent like Hikaru is playing White but I just did- -+ktr-+r+ positioning of the minor pieces, and the n’t know what to do about the attack on zppsnlvln+p safety of the king on b1, who can wind up the e4-pawn. Turns out the Scandina- on g1 at a moment’s notice! vian is very good when White can’t develop -+-+p+-wq the knight to c3! 2. ... Ng6 3. Qxd5 (3. exd5 10. ... exd4 11. cxd4 Nh6 12. a4! +-+pzPpzp- Nb6 4. c4 e6 and it looked like Black was already on top.) 3. ... Qxd5 4. exd5 Nb6 5. P+-zP-zP-+ -+ktr-+-tr Bb5+ Bd7 6. Bxd7+ Kxd7 is even. Obvi- +-+LvLNzP- zppzpqvl-zpp ously this opening was not a success for White. IM Irina Krush-GM Hikaru Naka- -zP-+-+-zP -+l+-zpnsn mura/Saint Louis Chess Club 0-1 +R+Q+RmKN +-+-+-+- 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc7 5. Ng3 cxd4 6. After16....g5 P+-zPP+-+ cxd4 e6 7. Bd3 +-+-sNNvL- Looks similar to an advance French. 17. fxg5 Nxg5 18. Nxg5 Bxg5 19. Bxg5 Rxg5 White’s position looks quite good, since 20. Rc1 Rg7 21. b3? -zPL+-+PzP there is no pressure on the d4-pawn. Anna was not in her best form, and tRKwQ-+-+R 7. ... Qh4!? simply hangs a center pawn. After12.a4 Did I just say there was no pressure on d4? 21. ... Qe3+ 22. Kg2 Qxd4 23. Qe2 Bc6 24. Nf2 h5 25. Nh3 Qb4 26. Bb5 Bxb5 27. axb5 Preparing to trap the ... Bc6. The cen- 8. Nc2 Be7 Qe4+ 28. Qxe4 dxe4 ter is worth something in chess, after all. Black was forced to shed a pawn with ... Not 8. ... Qxh2? 9. Rh1 Qxg2 10. Bf1 Black should win the ending with his extra f5, after which White was winning. (Also trapping the queen. pawn and White’s numerous weaknesses. strong was 12. d5!? Bb5 13. Nd4), Black 9. 0-0 f5 29. Nf4 resigned on move 21. IK: Marc almost blundered Nxe6 here! -trl+k+r+ I was watching the game, and he started A standard position—almost zppsn-vl-zpp reaching for one of the rooks, and not to IM Anna Zatonskih (2508) defend e6 either ... but he ruefully caught IM Marc Arnold (2505) -+-+p+n+ himself in time. Kings versus Queens Fischer Random +-+pzPp+- 29. ... Kb8 30. b6 axb6 31. Nxh5 Rd2+ 32. (5), Saint Louis Chess Club, 09.15.2011 Notes by Finegold -+-zP-+-wq Kg1 Rh7 33. g4 fxg4 34. Rf8+ Ka7 35. Nf4 b5 36. Rf6 Ra2 37. h3 gxh3 38. Kh1 Nd5 39. Rf8 +-+L+-sN- Nxf4 40. Rxf4 e3 41. Re1 e2 42. Re4 Rd7 43. ntrlwqkvlrsn PzPN+-zPPzP R4xe2 Rxe2 44. Rxe2 Rd3 45. b4 Rd4 46. Rb2 Re4 47. Kh2 Re3 48. Rd2 Rxe5 49. Kxh3 zppzppzppzpp +RvLQ+RmK- Re4 50. Rb2 Kb6 51. Kg3 Kc6 52. Kf3 Kd5 -+-+-+-+ After9....f5 53. Rb1 e5 54. Rb2 Rd4 55. Ke3 Kc4 56. Rb1 Kc3 57. Rh1 Kxb4 58. Rh5 Rd7 59. Rxe5 Ka4 +-+-+-+- 10. Nh1!? 60. Rh5 b4 61. Rh1 b3 62. Ra1+ Kb4 63. Rb1 -+-+-+-+ b5 64. Ke2 Rd5 65. Ke1 Kc3 66. Rc1+ Kb2 Marc was expecting 10. Nh5. Anna 67. Rc7 Kb1, White resigned. +-+-+-+- must like the h1-square for her pieces (see PzPPzPPzPPzP her game with Kevin Cao). 10. ... Nh8!? sNRvLQmKLtRN Excitement Startingposition I cannot remember in all my years of IM Irina Krush (2472) chess seeing Nh1 answered with Nh8! IM Marc Arnold (2505) Chess960 is fun. IK: I think Black wants 1. e4 Kings versus Queens Fischer Random (3), to play ... g5? Saint Louis Chess Club, 09.12.2011 This was the funniest Chess960 posi- 11. g3 Qh3 12. f4 Nf7 13. Ne1 Bd7 14. Nf3 Notes by Krush tion, since the only difference between this Qh6 15. Be3 0-0-0 and regular chess was the knights and (see diagram top of next column) rooks switch. One key difference is that I wonder if the players were ever com- the “h” and “a” pawns are not protected. pletely surprised when their opponent The same starting position as Kateryna- IK: I liked this position the least out of the castled in the 960 games. I must admit I Ben earlier. ones we got. (IK: 1. Ng3!?) was thinking about this all the time dur- 1. e4 c5 ing my games (perhaps I thought about 1. ... Ng6 it too much). Marc’s choice of the Sicilian looked good to me. IK: 1. ... d5! There is a funny back story 16. a4? to this: Later I heard that Hikaru had 2. f3 already played this position at a Mainz This was Anna’s last chance to play 16. event so it was not difficult for him to h4 after which Black has very little counter- I didn’t see any other future for the Bg1,
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qvlntrnmkltr zppzppzppzpp SynergyinSt.Louis -+-+-+-+ You have to hand it to Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield. They sure know how +-+-+-+- to give a party. The invitation-only -+-+-+-+ opening of the newly reincarnated World Chess Hall of Fame on Thursday, +-+-+-+- September 8, attracted more than a PzPPzPPzPPzP hundred special guests. A block of Maryland Avenue in St. Louis’s fashion- wQLsNRsNKvLR able Central West End was cordoned off Startingposition to traffic. Large-screen television mon- itors broadcast the inaugural events and the e4-pawn will need protection soon. with talks by Rex, city officials, and But I was sad to take away the f3-square USCF President Ruth Haring, ably from the knight, especially as Giorgi has presided over by Master of Ceremonies scolded me about doing that before! JEANNE SINQUEFIELD Harold Winston, the chair of the U.S. 2. ... b6 3. d4 Chess Trust, which owns the contents Mehler’s Chess Center in Washington. of the museum. Vera Menchik was With the active involvement of the late This move is fine here, although in FR, inducted into the World Chess Hall of Sidney Samole and his son Shane, and you have to be careful about opening up Fame and Boris Gulko and Andy Soltis the volunteer leadership of Al Lawrence, the center and unwittingly unleashing into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame. we got out of the cellar, so to speak, in your opponent’s pieces. I checked to make Waiters served wine on trays and Florida. The current Museum is a dis- sure that no knight could appear on c6 or more or less potent libations were avail- tinct improvement on its predecessors. e6 when I’d recapture on d4. able at an open bar. After, all were In keeping with the Sinquefield insis- 3. ... cxd4 4. Bxd4 f6 5. 0-0 d5 6. c3 Bc7 7. invited to supper at a nearby Italian tence on excellence and professionalism Ne2 Qb8 8. f4 dxe4 9. Bxe4 Bc4 10. Bd3 restaurant. There were so many chess in all things, the noted art curator, Larry Bxd3 11. Rxd3! celebrities present that it would be List, was brought in to help. Susan Bar- futile to name them all. Suffice it to say rett was tapped to become the director that I was happy to see old friends like of the Museum. The first floor of the -wqntrnmk-tr Yasser and Yvette Seirawan, and Andy museum has a help desk, a gift shop, and Marcy Soltis. The museum is in a and an exhibition devoted currently to zp-vl-zp-zpp beautifully renovated building directly significant works of chess art. I was -zp-+-zp-+ across from the Chess Club and most taken by Liliya Lifanova’s Anatomy Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. The is Destiny, the Wardrobe: Game in Wait- +-+-+-+- event resembled the Oscars for chess, ing (2009) and its accompanying -+-vL-zP-+ as well as a neighborhood block party, performance video, with chess pieces and what we used to call back in the dancing to bells and their own percus- +-zPR+-+- “sixties, ‘a happening.’ ” And that was sive stomping. The second floor displayed PzP-+N+PzP just the opening. the best of Dr. George and Vivian Dean’s Over the course of the weekend and collection of chess sets, including both wQ-+-sNRmK- beyond, we could follow the match of Fabergé sets. The third floor had the After11.Rxd3 “Kings versus Queens: A Battle of the Hall of Fame plaques but also, and I Sexes” at the Center, with ongoing com- thought that this was an excellent idea, A few moves ago, when I realized Black mentary by Yasser and Jennifer Shahade. an exhibit on chess in St. Louis. The would play ... Bc4, I figured out I had this Chess Collectors International had its dynamic idea for the museum—rotating strong recapture with the rook and I was western hemisphere meeting at the head- displays—means that visitors will always happy with my chances in the forthcom- quarters hotel two blocks away, the Boy have new things to visit. ing middlegame. The point of the rook Scouts of America launched its new chess I was pleased to renew my acquain- recapture is that in case Black castles merit badge with a live game, and the tance with Rex Sinquefield, whom I knew kingside, which seems likely at this point, brand new Museum and Hall of Fame from the Chicago chess scene in the White can swing the rook over to h3 and showcased exhibitions on its three floors. ‘70s, and to meet his wife (she and I play Qb1, starting an attack on the king. The U.S. Chess Hall of Fame was each pursued Ph.D.s at the University of the brainchild of Gerry Dullea. I Chicago during that same period). 11. ... Ncd6 12. a4 remember that when I was USCF pres- Jeanne, who was active in scouting in A prophylactic move against Black’s pos- ident in the early ‘80s, Gerry tried to California, was the driving force behind sible castling queenside. I was reluctant to convince me of the merit of establish- the new chess merit badge for boy commit my rook to h3, because Black had- ing it, even taking me to, as I recall, the scouts. Together, the couple makes for n’t actually committed his king anywhere Harness Racing Hall of Fame in upstate the greatest positive force for chess in this yet! (I really wanted to play 12. f5 but was New York. Fortunately, my successor as country since Fischer-Spassky 1972. concerned about 12. ... g6!? 13. Nf4 Ng7! USCF president, Steve Doyle, recog- And although I enjoy Texas, I could- There is an amazing point behind this nized the value of the idea. “Let’s do it,” n’t help thinking throughout a long, move: 14. fxg6 (13. ... Nxf5 also bothered he said, and it happened, first in the chess-filled weekend, that St. Louis me, but White can simply take material: 14. basement of our New Windsor head- would be a very good place to live. Ne6+ Kg8 15. Nxd8 Bxd8 and Black does- quarters, then in the basement of David ~Tim Redman n’t have enough compensation).
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Cover Story
17. ... Rxd3! preparing to castle and consolidate and on 21. Kh1 there is 21. ... Qb6! What an -wq-tr-mk-tr I was only looking at the interesting amazing example of consolidation. Black zp-vl-zp-snp queen sac 17. ... Qxh3 18. gxh3 Rxd3 but gets out of the pin, defends e6, and there decided White can’t be doing badly here. -zp-sn-zpP+ is simply nothing useful White can do +-+-+-+- 18. Rxd3 Qa6 before Black castles on the next move. Once Black takes care of his king, he can This double attack was simply out of move on to using his material advantage. -+-vL-sN-+ my field of vision. I was feeling pretty +-zPR+-+- despondent here, thinking “Am I really 21. b4 axb4 22. cxb4 Qxd4+ 23. Rxd4 Bb6 PzP-+-+PzP going to blunder away every game?” when I found White’s best chance: -+-+-mk-tr wQ-+-sNRmK- 19. Rd7! Analysisafter14.fxg6 +-+-zpnsnp Activity is the only hope. -vl-+-zpp+ (Apparently, White should play 14. 19. ... Qxa7+ 20. Nd4 Ne6+ Nxe6 15. fxe6 although it doesn’t +-+-+-+- look like Black is doing too badly. 15. ... -zP-tR-zP-+ Qc8 [15. ... Nf5 16. Nf3 0-0]) 14. ... 0 -0-0!! -+-+-mk-tr Black sacrificed the g6-pawn, but because wq-vlRzpnsnp +-+-+-+- of the possibility to castle queenside, he -+-+-+PzP suddenly has a powerful attack. That is -+-+-zpp+ why in Fischer Random you have to be so zp-+-+-+- +-+-wQRmK- vigilant about the castling options of your After23....Bb6 opponent! It’s rare in chess that the move -+-sN-zP-+ “castles” changes the evaluation of a posi- +-zP-+-+- Again, it looked like Black had the tion, but in Fischer Random, it’s much upper hand ... more frequent. -zP-+-+PzP 24. Qe4 12. ... Nf7 13. Rh3 g6 14. Nd3 +-+-wQRmK- 24. Qe3 was better: 24. ... Nf5 25. Rd8+ After20.Nd4 After the game, Marc suggested a strong Bxd8 26. Qc5 0-0 27. b5 and Black’s bishop is not as well-positioned as it was regrouping: 14. Be3 Ng7 15. Nd4 Cer- Practically speaking, White is not doing in the game. tainly, the knight is more impressive on badly here (due to the fact that Black has- d4 than the bishop. n’t castled yet—if he does, White’s in trouble). 24. ... Nf5 25. Rfd1 I even thought that White may be better ... 14. ... Ng7 15. Qe1 Qc8 16. a5 bxa5 17. Bxa7 25. Kh1! Nxd4 (25. ... Bxd4 26. g4 and 20. ... Qc5 one of the pieces is lost.) 26. Qb7 and again, Carrying out my positional idea of pres- Black has a problem with the bishop. suring Black’s queenside, I completely 20. ... e6!! Neither Marc nor I saw this missed the coming tactical blow ... brilliant defense of the e-pawn. Black is 25. ... e5 26. fxe5 fxe5 27. b5 0-0 28. Kh1 Bxd4 29. Qc6
KINGS VERSUS QUEENS TOURNAMENT -+-+-trk+ September 9-16, 2011, Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis +-+-+n+p No. Title Name Points Individual Prize Team Prize -+Q+-+p+
1 +P+-zpn+- 1 GM Hikaru Nakamura 9 ⁄2 $5,500 $4,000
1 -+-vl-+-+ 2 GM Ben Finegold 7 ⁄2 $5,000 $4,000 3 GM Marc Arnold 6 $4,250 $4,000 +-+-+-+- 4 IM Jacek Stopa 6 $4,250 $4,000 -+-+-+PzP
1 +-+R+-+K 5 Kevin Cao 2 ⁄2 $1,500 $4,000 After29.Qc6 1 GM Kateryna Lahno 5 $3,000 $0
1 With accurate play, Black should even- 2 GM Alexandra Kosteniuk 5 ⁄2 $3,500 $0 tually win this position, but in rapid 3 IM Irina Krush 3 $2,500 $0 chess, it’s not so easy. White’s task is
1 easier: put your pieces on decent squares, 9 IM Anna Zatonskih 2 ⁄2 $1,500 $0 then don't blunder anything; let Black 1 10 IM Martha Fierro 2 ⁄2 $1,500 $0 come up with a plan. 29. ... Rb8 30. Rb1 Rb6 31. Qc8+ Kg7 32. g4 The average team rating of both the Queens and Kings was 2476 FIDE. This was a Scheveningen-paired tour- N5d6 33. Qd7 e4 34. Kg2 Bf6 35. Kf2 Bd4+ nament, in which each of the five team members played each of the opposing team members twice: once 36. Ke2 in a Fischer Random (Chess 960) game with a time control of Game/25 plus 10-second increment and once White has made some progress; the in a rapid game with a time control of Game/25 with a five-second increment. king is well placed on e2, blockading the Tournament website: http://saintlouischessclub.org/kings-vs-queens-tournament e-pawn. With Marc down to 10 seconds,
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with no plan in sight, he decided to repeat moves. It seemed like a fair ending to an rmk-+ltrqvl rmknsnltrqvl exciting game! zppzp-zp-+p zppzppzppzpp 36. ... Rb7 37. Qc6 Rb6 38. Qd7 Rb7 39. Qc6 Rb6, Draw agreed. -snn+-+p+ -+-+-+-+ +-+p+p+- +-+-+-+- -+-zP-+-+ -+-+-+-+ Castling proficiency +NsN-+PvL- +-+-+-+- IM Anna Zatonskih (2508) Kevin Cao (2152) PzPP+P+PzP PzPPzPPzPPzP Kings versus Queens Fischer Random (4), Saint Louis Chess Club, 09.14.2011 tRK+-+RwQL tRKsNNvLRwQL Notes by Finegold Analysisafter5....f5 Startingposition rmknsnltrqvl Now it is back to regular chess, as Anna. although the Bh1 still looks a bit odd. 1. ... f5! zppzppzppzpp 9. e4 Nec4? The “Dutch.” -+-+-+-+ 9. ... dxe4. 2. g4 f4! +-+-+-+- 10. Nxd5 Nxd5 11. Qxa7!! Seizing more space. -+-+-+-+ -+ktrltrq+ 3. e4 +-+-+-+- On 3. e3 Black would support the space PzPPzPPzPPzP wQpzp-+p+p with 3. ... g5 [3. ... f3 is probably a bit over -+-+-+p+ ambitious—Black will find the f3-pawn a tRKsNNvLRwQL nuisance to defend after 4. Qg3). Startingposition +-+n+-+- -+n+P+-+ 3. ... g5 I hope we are getting proficient at Of course, opening up the Bh8. castling now! But just in case, kingside +N+-+P+- castling is with the king going to g1, and PzPP+-+PzP 4. f3 the Rf1 staying where it is; queenside The outcome of the opening looks like castling is Kc1 and Ra1 to d1. +-mKR+R+L a big success for Black, due to the bishop 1. d4 After11.Qxa7 on h1. Of course, this didn't stop Hikaru from winning—Kateryna later blundered Anna was having a bad event with only I think the idea of Qxa7 or Qxh7 hap- a rook in a good position and lost. 1 ⁄2 out of six games. This was her first pened in every round of the 960 games. win, and a quite nice one at that. IK: Anna sees the ... Qg8 is useless in the Thank you to the Chess Club and Giorgi didn’t like the move 1. d4. He sug- defense of the black king. Scholastic Center for organizing this gested 1. f4 or 1. g4. 11. ... Ndb6 12. Rxd8+ Kxd8 13. Qb8+ Nc8 unique event, and to its generous bene- 1. ... d5 14. Rd1+ Bd7 15. Nc5 factors, Rex and Jeannie Sinquefield, who made it possible for a number of partic- IK: Black has plenty of good options The Bh1 makes a funny impression, ipants to earn their biggest ever prize rather than copying White. He could go 1. but White’s other pieces are all monsters. checks from a chess tournament. I hope ... f5, like Kateryna did against Hikaru, or 15. ... N4b6 16. Nxb7+ Ke7 17. Qxc7 f6 18. this was the start of more Fischer Random 1. ... g5, attacking the d4-pawn. Qc5+ Ke6 19. f4 Qg7 20. Qc7 Kf7 21. Nc5 Kg8 events in America ... let’s get on with the 2. Nc3 Nb6 3. f3 chess of the future! Black’s king is finally safe, but White’s The format of the event begged the ques- As so often happens in Chess960, White extra pawns decide the issue. A brutal attack. tion: which part did the players enjoy activates one bishop (Be1) and, um, makes 22. Nxd7 Rf7 23. Qd8+, Black resigned. more, regular chess or Fischer Random? the other bishop not so good! IK: It’s a good I could’ve gotten a definite answer to that thing that bishop can’t talk. question while in St. Louis, but as I was blundering right and left, it slipped my 3. ... Nc6 4. Bg3 g6 Mirroring Anna/Kevin mind that eventually I would have to write IK: Giorgi suggested 4. ... f5! with the GM Hikaru Nakamura (2753) about this event. I will, however, make a idea ... f4, burying the bishop on h1. GM Kateryna Lahno (2554) conjecture about how the players felt ... Kings versus Queens Fischer Random, Kateryna and Alexandra had played 5. Nb3 e5 Saint Louis Chess Club (4), 09.14.2011 Chess960 in Mainz before, even facing Notes by Krush IK: It's still not too late for 5. ... f5! each other in the finals of the 960 Women’s World Championship a few years back (see diagram top of next column) (see diagram top of next column) (Alexandra won). I even found a quote of This looks pretty bad for White, no? I thought it would be interesting to Alexandra’s from that event, “I enjoy show how the course of this game com- Chess960 very much. You do not have to 6. dxe5 Bxe5 pared to Zatonskih-Cao above. learn theory, you can just play.” . IK: 6. ... Nxe5!?. 1. d4 Read more and download a .pgn file of the 7. Bxe5 Nxe5 8. 0-0-0 0-0-0 Hikaru chooses the same first move games from saintlouischessclub.com.
uschess.org Chess Life — December 2011 29 CL_12-2011_grand_slam_AKF_r10_chess life 11/10/11 5:12 PM Page 30
Grand Slam Chess Carlsen Wins 2011 Grand Slam Title
NAkAmURA’S CHANCeS kILLeD By OJ By GM IAN ROGERS
agnus Carlsen is the 2011 Grand The amazing penultimate round Vallejo, who had been severely short of Slam champion, winning the title decided the tournament. First Anand time, has just retreated his rook to a1, Mafter a tiebreaking match against collapsed to lose in two hours against with five seconds on the clock to spare. Vassily Ivanchuk, with Hikaru Nakamura world number three Levon Aronian, after Nakamura now looked up to the just a glass of orange juice away in a tie which the world champion’s title hopes arbiter, Anil Surender of Sweden, and for third place. were over. asked “Is it move 40?.” The arbiter, not After the sixth round of the 2011 Grand Then Carlsen, who had had to draw on allowed to inform Nakamura one way or Slam final—an elite, six-player, double reserves of determination after his own the other, did nothing, though he made round-robin tournament split between upset against Vallejo early in the event, just enough involuntary body movement Sao Paulo, Brazil and Bilbao, Spain— demolished Ivanchuk to pull level with him. for Nakamura to interpret his response neither World Champion Viswanathan Nakamura, who had beaten Aronian as a nod in assent. Anand, nor world number one Carlsen, in the previous round, could also join Satisfied that he had reached the time nor Nakamura, gave themselves a realis- the tie for first if he could beat Vallejo, as control, Nakamura went to pour himself tic chance of overtaking the runaway he had done with considerable effort in an orange juice but while he was away, leader Vassily Ivanchuk. the first cycle. his 45 seconds ticked down to nothing Using the soccer scoring system (Bilbao After a shaky start, Nakamura (Black) and Vallejo was awarded the win. Rule: Win 3 points, Draw 1 point, Loss 0 won a pawn and then suffered perhaps the 1-0 time points), Ivanchuk was six points (two biggest brain explosion of his career ... wins) clear of the field and had beaten Nakamura, not surprisingly, became every rival except Carlsen. -+-tr-+-mk extremely upset and registered an official The transfer of the tournament from protest, soon rejected by the tournament Brazil to Spain at the halfway point was +-+-+Q+p technical director, Juan Carlos Fernan- always expected to favor the younger -+p+-zpp+ dez. players but Ivanchuk, 42, had just out- Nakamura later tweeted that this was played Nakamura, 23, in the first game in +p+-+-+- his most painful loss ever—had he con- Bilbao and seemed to also have settled -zP-+-+-zP verted his extra pawn he would have after the distress of being held up at gun- point in Sao Paulo. +-+-+qzP- However this was to prove the high -+-+-zP-+ point for Ivanchuk, who proceeded to lose to tailender Paco Vallejo and then tR-+r+RmK- watch as Carlsen and Nakamura closed After40.Ra1 the gap.
“Themainthinginchessistoenjoythegameand playexcitinggames.Youarenotgoingtoliveforever soeverygameItrytodosomethingnewand creative.”—GMHIkaruNakaMura PHOTO BY BETSY DYNAKO BETSY BY PHOTO
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been co-leader with one round to play— the 2010 Grand Slam final, Carlsen has Bf4 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. g4!? but he also accepted that he had mostly won four super-tournaments, whereas An ambitious move popularized by himself to blame. Anand is now nearing his fourth year Mikhail Botvinnik during his (unsuccess- At the moment that Nakamura asked without a tournament victory. ful) world title match against Petrosian in the arbiter, Vallejo’s clock had already For Nakamura, the tournament will 1963. ticked over to the second time control, have bittersweet memories. The American showing one hour and 15 seconds (indi- secured a plus score against the best 7. ... Be6 8. h4 Nd7 cating that Vallejo had made 40 moves), three players in the world and gained On 8. ... Bxh4?! 9. Qb3 is awkward for while Nakamura’s clock was still ticking enough rating points to move back into Black. 9. h5 Nh6 10. Be2 Nb6 11. Nh3 g5! 12. hxg6 “Youcouldhearsomenoise—whenyou e.p. hxg6 13. Bg3?! haveabadpositioneverythingbothers r+-wqk+-tr you,whenyouareplayingwellnothing zpp+-vlp+- disturbsyou.”—GMViswanathananand -snp+l+psn +-+p+-+- -+-zP-+P+
down seconds with no hour added (indi- the world’s top 10 but the loss to Vallejo +-sN-zP-vLN cating that Nakamura had not yet will long cause nightmares. “Overall I am PzP-+LzP-+ passed move 40). Had Nakamura looked very happy with the way I played in most at the clocks rather than the arbiter, he games,” said Nakamura immediately after tR-+QmK-+R could easily have seen that he had one the tournament. “However it will take a After13.Bg3 more move to make to reach the time while before I forget yesterday’s game. control, and he would have played 40. ... But you can’t do much about what hap- “The opening was unclear—it wasn’t R(1)d7 followed by 41. ... Kg7 with win- pened; there is always tomorrow.” until move 20 that we started playing ning chances. new moves,” Nakamura said after the Ivanchuk finished his round nine press game, unaware that his careless move conference with an Einstein anecdote, Grand Slam Final order (13. f3 is necessary, not fearing 13. and Nakamura might have found an Ein- Sao Paulo/Bilbao ... Bh4+ 14. Kd2 ) actually allowed Aron- stein quote appropriate as well this day; Leading final scores (3 for a win, 1 for a ian a big shot. However ... “Two things are infinite: the universe and draw): 13. ... Qd7? human stupidity; and I’m not sure about =1. Carlsen (Nor), Ivanchuk (Ukr) 15; 13. ... Nxg4! 14. Bxg4 Qd7! would have the universe.” =3. Nakamura (USA), Anand (Ind), won a pawn and White will struggle to Aronian (Arm), 12; obtain compensation for it. Thus only Carlsen and Ivanchuk 6. Vallejo (Spa) 10. entered the last round equal on points 14. Nf4 0-0-0 15. Nxe6 Qxe6 16. Rg1 Bd6 17. and both drew quiet final games to set up Qc2 Bxg3 18. Rxg3 f5 19. 0-0-0! Nxg4 20. a tiebreaking match. Games Bxg4 fxg4 21. Rdg1 Rh4 22. Qe2 Rf8 23. At the fast playoff time limit—four min- Nakamura’s best game was the follow- Nd1! Rf4! utes for all moves plus a three second ing marathon endgame win against the increment per move—Carlsen was heav- world number three; a piece of endgame -+k+-+-+ ily favored and he duly won the match to technique worthy of Capablanca. take the 2011 Grand Slam title and first zpp+-+-+- prize outright. -snp+q+p+ Carlsen deserved his victory; he defeated Ivanchuk twice during the clas- BILBAO GRAND SLAM FINAL (8) +-+p+-+- sical part of the tournament and also -+-zP-trptr would have finished half a point clear of Queen’s Gambit Declined, the field had a traditional scoring system Semi-Slav (D31) +-+-zP-tR- been used. GMhikarunakamura(FidE2753,Usa) PzP-+QzP-+ Carlsen has now moved well clear of GMLevonaronian(FidE2807,aRM) World Champion Anand at the top of the +-mKN+-tR- world ranking list. Since his failure at 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. After23....Rf4
year in a row Carlsen threw calculations into confusion by What is the Grand Slam? winning more than one Grand Slam tournament. (The The Grand Slam is an attempt at cooperation between ‘Wimbledon of Chess’ in Linares being cancelled due to the some of the strongest annual grandmaster tournaments. Spanish financial crisis compounded the organizers’ dif- In 2010-11 the tournaments covered by the Grand Slam ficulties.) were Wijk aan Zee, Linares, Nanjing and Bazna. The win- Nakamura qualified for the Grand Slam final by winning ner of each event, plus two wild cards, were meant to in Wijk aan Zee in January, ahead of almost all the best qualify for the Sao Paulo/Bilbao final but for the second players in the world.
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with 27. ... Nd6 when the g-pawn is safe “It’s true that I said [after 2007] that I would for the moment. never play in a cube again but already in 28. Qg3 Rh6 29. b3! Nb6 30. Qg4! “I shouldn't get to this position,” admit- Bilbao last year it was much better and ted Aronian. “I missed 30. Qg4 but when the trend of the game is changing and you here the cube was even bigger and quite are upset about blundering, it happens.” comfortable.” —ANAND 30. ... Nd7 31. Qxf5 gxf5 32. Nc3 Nf6 33. Ne2 Ng4 34. Nf4 Rh2 35. Nd3 Almost a perfect endgame position for 24. Kd2! Nakamura. “The critical question is White, who can slowly improve his posi- “The opening has turned into a very whether 27. ... Qe7 is playable or not? tion while Black can do nothing. The strange endgame almost immediately, After 28. Rxg6 Qb4+ 29. Nc3 I think White pressure against f2 is annoying but even- and Kd2-e1 is a very unusual maneuver, is better because 29. ... Qxb2 is impossi- tually White will place his king on g3 and but not bad,” said Nakamura. ble because of 30. Rg8+ Kc7 31. Qg3+! threaten to play f2-f3, thereby forcing and Black has no escape via 31. ... Kb6 the black rook back. 24. ... Nc4+ 25. Ke1 Rf3 26. Rxf3 gxf3 27. Qxf3 Qf5?! because of 32. Na4+. “But instead of 28. 35. ... Kd8 ... Qb4+, 28. ... Rxd4 is very interesting.” “Until 27. ... Qf5 the position was quite [Later analysis showed that White wins 35. ... a5 was necessary to gain a little playable for Black, and computers will here with 29. Qg3!—IR] space and/or exchange pawns when White advances. probably say that it is still a draw, but for Given that 27. ... Qe7 is insufficient a human it is very difficult to play,” said Aronian should have contented himself 36. b4! Ke7 37. a4 b6 38. Ke2 Kd6 39. Kf3
Sao Paulo Grand Slam Aronian's kitchen. 9. Ne5 ably feared 16. Nd5 but then 22. h4! Re8 23. Rd7 h6 Final (9) Queen’s Gambit Be7 led to nothing for White 16. ... Qf7 is a better version Accepted (D24) in a Gustafsson-Aronian blitz of the game. -+-+r+k+ GM Levon Aronian (FIDE game, which may have given 16. Ne4 Qe7 17. Qb3 Rab8 zppzpR+-zp- 2807, ARM) Aronian reason to analyze GM Viswanathan Anand this line further. The computer analysis pre- -+n+p+rzp (FIDE 2817, IND) ferred returning the pawn wq-+-+-sN- 9. ... Be7 immediately with 17. ... -+-+R+-zP 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Rad8!? 18. Qxb7 Nd4. No +-+-+-+- Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 r+lwqk+-tr doubt Anand feared finishing zppzp-vlpzpp in an endgame with a bad PzPQ+-zPP+ rsnlwqk+-tr -+n+psn-+ bishop and wrecked pawns +-+-+-mK- but it turns out that after 19. After23....h6 zppzp-+pzpp +-+-+-vL- Nxd4 Bxd4 20. b3 Black has Q+LzP-+-+ -+-+psn-+ the tactical shot 20. ... Bxf2+! 24. b4! +-+-+-+- +-sN-+N+- 21. Nxf2 Qc5! with advantage. PzP-+-zPPzP “I had various ways to -vlpzPP+-+ 18. Nxf6+ Rxf6 19. Ng5 Qb4!? play," said Aronian—[e.g. +-sN-+N+- tR-+-+RmK- 19. ... Kh8 was safer, 24. Re3 IR]—“but I was very PzP-+-zPPzP After9....Be7 because 20. Nxe6? would lose happy that I managed to tR-vLQmKL+R material after 20. ... Re8. recover and win [well] 10. Bxf6! Bxf6 11. d5! exd5 12. Probably White has no way to today.” After5....Bb4 Rfe1+ Be6 increase the pressure because 24. ... Qf5?! 12. ... Be7? is inferior in 20. Rc1!? is adequately met 6. Bxc4!? This loses immediately view of 13. Nxd5 0-0 (13. ... by 20. ... Nd4 21. Qd3 Nf5. but 24. ... Nxb4 also walks A gambit which has been Be6 14. Nxe7 Qxe7 15. Nd4 20. Qc2! Rg6?! into 25. Rxe6!! and 24. ... tried by various top players is also ugly) 14. Nxe7+ Nxe7 Qb5 25. a4! also leaves but only rarely in serious 15. Rad1 and Black loses at “Now things become worse Black helpless, e.g. 25. ... games. No doubt Aronian least a piece. for Black,” said Aronian. 20. ... Nxb4 (25. ... Qb6 26. Re1! was trying to avoid any world g6 was necessary, meeting 21. 13. Bxd5 0-0 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. Ne7 27. Rxe6!! leads to championship preparation Re4 Qe7 22. Rde1 with 22. ... Rad1 another spectacular finish.) in the main line 6. Bg5. e5 when White can regain the 26. Qxc7! Qxa4 and now White can win his pawn pawn after 23. f4 but with 6. ... Nxe4 7. 0-0 Nf6 White can finish in style back any time, but wants to only a slight advantage. with 27. Qd8!! Rf8 28. Rf4!! 7. ... Nxc3!? 8. bxc3 Be7 is do so only when he does not 21. Re4! Qa5 Rgf6 29. Rxg7+! Kxg7 30. the main alternative. give up his positional edge. Nxe6+ Kh8 31. Nxf8 and 21. ... Qe7 22. h4! the 8. Qa4+ Nc6 9. Bg5!? 15. ... Qe8 Black’s king is doomed. threat of 23. Nxh7! enters Another new idea from On 15. ... Qe7 Anand prob- the equation. 25. Rxe6!!, Black resigned.
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ibly, lead to a drawn rook and knight Oksana, who lost her handbag with pass- -+-+-+-+ versus rook endgame. port, might have disagreed.) Ivanchuk’s game against Nakamura zp-+-+-+- 71. ... Rd8 72. c6 started slowly—a reliable sign of jet-lag— -zppmk-+-+ 72. Re6! Rxd7 (72. ... Kd5 73. Rd6+) 73. and soon both players were very short of +-+p+p+- Rd6+ was more stylish. time. This was expected to play into the hands of Nakamura, since the young 72. ... Rc8 PzP-zP-+n+ American has been noted as the best +-+NzPK+- player of bullet chess (one minute per -+r+-+-+ game for all moves) in the world, yet -+-+-zP-tr +-+NtR-+- Nakamura was comprehensively out- +-+-+-tR- played by Ivanchuk in a flurry of hands. -+P+-+-+ Ivanchuk played his last 10 moves in 30 After39.Kf3 +-+-+-+- seconds and every move was to the point. “The way it finished was very disappoint- 39. ... a5? -+-mk-+p+ ing,” said Nakamura. “We reached this Panic in time trouble; now the c5-square +-+-+-mK- crazy time scramble where we were both will become very useful for the white pieces. -+-+-+-+ trying not to blunder.” “It should be a draw,” admitted Aronian, “but I was feeling embarrassed about play- +-+-+-+- ing so many bad moves that I couldn't pull After72....Rc8 BILBAO GRAND SLAM FINAL (6) myself together ... I guess it was just one of those days.” Sicilian Defense, Kan Variation (B43) 73. Re6! GMvassilyIvanchuk(FIde2765,UKr) 40. bxa5 bxa5 41. Kg3! Kc7?! 42. Rc1 The only move to win. 73. Ne5? would GMhikarunakamura(FIde2753,USA) This spoils nothing, but 42. f3! Rd2 be met by 73. ... Kd5! and suddenly 73. 43. fxg4 Rxd3 44. g5!! Rxe3+ 45. Kf4 ... Kd6 is unstoppable, e.g. 74. Kf4 Rf8+! 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. wins very quickly. 75. Kxg4 Kd6. Nc3 Qc7 6. Bd3 Nf6 7. f4!? 42. ... Rh7 43. Kf4 Re7 44. Rc2 73. ... Rc7 74. Rd6+ Kc4 75. Kxg4 Kb5 76. Ne5 White’s last three moves, while natural in themselves form an unusual set-up, No hurry is Nakamura’s motto in this At last, the rest is easy for White. which Nakamura immediately tries to game. 44. Kxf5? Nxf2! would be the sort 76. ... Rh7 77. Rd7 Rh8 78. Kf5 Kb6 79. Ke6, exploit. 7. 0-0 would be standard. of accident Aronian is hoping for. Black resigned. 7. ... Bb4 44. ... Re4+ 45. Kg5 Re8 46. Rb2 Again very calm. 46. Kxf5 Rxe3!? 47. Ne5! Nxe5 48. fxe3 Nc4 must be winning for White but might be slow. “Mylifeisastoryofadreamcometrue.Iam 46. ... Rf8 47. Nc5 Kc8 48. Kf4 Rh8 49. f3 Nh2 highlysatisfiedwithwhatIhaveachieved Desperation, but if 49. ... Nh6 50. Rh2 again ties up the rook and knight, and sofar.PeopleintheWestareverybraveto otherwise the f-pawn falls for nothing. becomechessprofessionals.Intheformer 50. Rf2! Rh3 51. Nb3 Kc7 52. Nxa5 Kb6 53. Nb3 Ka6 54. Nc1 Ka5 55. Ne2 Kxa4 56. Ng1 SovietUnionIcouldn'tachievemuchina Rh6 57. Kg3 Ng4 58. fxg4 fxg4 59. Rf5 normaljobsothedecisionwasmucheasier.” Stay alert!—59. Kxg4? Rg6+ would be another accident. —GMLevonAronIAn, 59. ... Rh1 onhIS29thbIrthdAydUrInGroUndSIx Many spectators were expecting Aron- ian to resign here, but, with a rest day coming, the world number three decides that there is nothing to lose by looking for an unlikely swindle. Ivanchuk’s sixth round win over Naka- rsnl+k+-tr mura was the tournament’s most amazing 60. Kg2 Rh4 61. Ne2 Kb5 62. Nf4 Rh8 63. game, for both on and off-board reasons. +pwqp+pzpp Kg3 Rg8 64. Re5 Kc4 65. Re6 Kb5 66. Re7 If anyone had an excuse to play poorly it Kb4 67. Nd3+ Kc3 68. Ne5 c5 69. dxc5 d4 p+-+psn-+ was Ivanchuk. He had just flown in from Aronian’s last few moves look like sui- South America, delayed after an ordeal where +-+-+-+- cide before resigning, but Nakamura, to he and his wife were held up by two gunmen -vl-sNPzP-+ his credit, sat down and thought for 10 as they got into a taxi to go to the airport. minutes to make sure he would not fall Ivanchuk expressed regret at the loss +-sNL+-+- for any of the famous Aronian tricks. of a favorite wooden chess set but seemed PzPP+-+PzP otherwise unperturbed, saying “At the 70. exd4 Kxd4 71. Nd7! end of the day, there wasn’t anything tR-vLQmK-+R 71. c6? Kd5 72. c7 Rc8! would, incred- particularly valuable there.” (His wife After7....Bb4
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Sao Paulo Chronicle
Garry Kasparov has lonG arGued that top chess half-time. yet many came just to watch the big games, and stayed should be played in the big cities of the world, and few are big- until the final press conference had concluded. ger than sao paulo (sp); 20 million people in a bustling metropolis the devotion of the Brazilian fans could best be seen on the full of high rise towers, clogged roads, multiple ethnicities and first three days, when warm days turned into unseasonal chills contrasts of wealth and poverty. as soon as the sun went down. even so, as the marathon anand- In the heart of sao paulo lies Ibirapuera park—a two square Ivanchuk game reached its dramatic conclusion in round three, kilometer oasis of calm where the locals escape to walk, jog, eat more than 150 fans—many shivering in shorts and t-shirts—were or carouse amongst the flowering jacaranda trees, the still lakes on hand to see anand pick up his king on move 70, find that he and the varied bird life. had nowhere safe to move it and resign. In mid-september a new edifice in Ibirapuera park was erected; the free day after round three saw a dramatic weather change an air-conditioned, sound-proofed, glass box which was to play in sao paulo, with temperatures soaring close to 100 degrees for host to the first half of the 2011 Grand slam final. the final two rounds, and decreasing only slightly in the evening. “We had no idea what to expect,” admitted GM and commenta- For round five, the only round played on a non-working day, more tor Gilberto Milos. “sao paulo is the best place in Brazil for chess but than 500 fans braved the heat and watched carlsen take down the games were in the middle of the the leader Ivanchuk. at the conclu- working day in the middle of the park— sion of the press conference after the perhaps nobody would come to watch.” game, carlsen was mobbed by fans that fear was replicated when keen to get a picture with their idol, chief organizer davy d’Israel whose or an autograph. at first carlsen dream it was to bring a top level seemed disconcerted by being tournament to sao paulo, went look- grabbed by the shoulder, having his ing for commercial sponsors. the head moved next to a fan’s head while city of sao paulo, in cooperation a friend snapped away on a mobile with the sp tourism authority has phone. however after a while he real- agreed to financially back the Grand ized that he was in no physical danger slam final and to allow the use of Ibi- and he tried to make sure that every rapuera park for the venue. fan had their chance. d’Israel looked yet virtually no private company on in wonder as the desperate cries in booming Brazil was interested in of “Magnus—here!” rang out—“It's co-sponsoring the tournament, mak- like if the Brazilian football team was ing the budget for the event far tighter here.” than had been hoped. (a second eventually carlsen was whisked Grand slam final in sao paulo might away to the palatial Melia hotel where be a different matter—after extensive a modest closing ceremony and lav- coverage of the tournament in the ish cocktail party took place. local media, d’Israel reported plenty late in the evening, the players of firms expressing a wish to be asso- made their excuses and retired to ciated with a 2012 tournament.) their rooms, the intercontinental trip In any case, Milos need not have to Bilbao awaiting the next day. worried that the tournament would last to fly were tournament leader only be watched by two men and a dog. vassily Ivanchuk and his wife every day as the elite grandmasters A cathedral in Sao Paulo, Brazil oksana who were held up at gun- began their battles in the giant fish- point and robbed directly outside bowl, 300 or more chess fans crowded the hotel as they entered a cab to the area around the box; snapping the grandmasters on their mobile take them to Guarulhos airport. phones, hanging out for autographs or just listening to the enter- With bad luck, it could have happened in a big city anywhere taining commentary provided by Milos and offsiders such as GM and d’Israel insists that, contrary to media reports, Ivanchuk never Giovanni vescovi or spanish journalist leontxo Garcia. threatened to leave the tournament. the players admitted that the box was not entirely sound- however for the Ivanchuks and for the tournament supporter, proofed; they could hear the audience applauding a win. anand the sao paulo tourist authority, it was a severe misfortune. reported hearing a buzz in the crowd when Ivanchuk played a though the players, Ivanchuk included, heaped praise on the sao particularly surprising move but “I never heard anything useful,” paulo organizers and the city, the tournament may struggle to the world champion said regretfully. shake off the memory of sao paulo as the place where Ivanchuk at the back of the box was a small refreshment area where play- was held up. ers could choose from delicacies such as strawberries, chocolate this would do an injustice to a well organized event which made and of course the fruit juice which proved a game-loser for naka- even anand—a known critic of the glass cube—accept that there mura in round nine in Bilbao. might be merit in sao paulo/Bilbao style events. d’Israel had made sure that there were plenty of other reasons as aronian said, “It pleases my eye to see so many people com- for chess fans to come to Ibirapuera park. every day in the tents ing to watch us play and the warmth of the public inspires our surrounding the main event one could find simultaneous exhibi- play. this is the future to bring many people to our game. as a tions, rapid tournaments, junior tournaments—and even a pavilion chessplayer we have many homes—holland, spain—and hope- extolling the delights of Bilbao, where the players were headed after fully Brazil will become one of them.”
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-+-tr-+-mk ”I thought, if we got to where we each +-wq-+ptrn have two minutes left, anything can p+-+-+nwQ happen, even a miracle!” +psNlzp-zP- —GM FrancIsco Vallejo-Pons, -+-+L+-+ aFter hIs wIn aGaInst carlsen vL-zP-+-+R P+P+-+-zP +-+-+RmK- 8. Nb3!? 18. ... Nb8!?, heading for d7, looks After26....Rd8 fatally slow after 19. Rh3 Nbd7 20. g4 but That Ivanchuk was improvising was then Black has the remarkable (com- By now Nakamura, starting to blitz out shown by his clock, already registering puter) resource 20. ... g5!! 21. fxg6 e.p. his moves, was reasonably pleased that half an hour used. (Nakamura was soon Rxg6 when 22. g5 can be answered by 22. he had escaped the first wave and had to catch up.) The text move (instead of, ... Rxg5+ 23. Qxg5 Rg8. reasonable counterchances. However say, 8. Bd2) is extraordinary not so much Ivanchuk had his last long think and because of the pawn sacrifice involved 19. Rh3 d5 came up with an ingenious plan which but because White willingly enters a posi- forced Nakamura to slow down. tion usually reached via the 4. ... Qb6 5. r+-+-+rmk Nb3 Qc7 Sicilian with the difference that 27. Bxg6 fxg6 28. Rf6! Qc8 29. Rh4! Bf7 30. White is a tempo down. +lwq-snpzpp Nd3 Kg8? 8. ... Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 d6 10. Ba3! 0-0 p+-+-sn-+ “I was going to play 30. ... Rxd3! 31. cxd3 Qxc3 32. Bb4 but I thought after 32. 10. ... Qxc3+ would be too risky after +p+pzpP+- ... Qc1+ White could play 33. Kf2! (33. Rf1 11. Qd2! Qc7 (11. ... Qxd2+ 12. Nxd2 d5 -+-+P+-wQ Qe3+ is only a draw.), but of course I 13. exd5 exd5 14. 0-0 leaves the bishop should have played this,” said Nakamura. on a3 a dominant piece.) 12. 0-0 with vLNzPL+-+R plenty of compensation for the pawn. P+P+-+PzP 31. Bd6! e4 11. Qd2 31. ... Re8 was a better chance, hoping +-+-+RmK- for 32. Bxe5? Rxe5! 33. Nxe5 Qc5+. How- Exactly why Ivanchuk chose this After19....d5 ever after 32. Nxe5!, White should prevail, moment to save his c-pawn is hard to fathom, since after 11. 0-0, White can soon indirectly defend the pawn via Rf3. Ivanchuk, however, was content; “The open- ing was fine and gave me good chances for “If playing in a box is something we have attack,” he explained afterwards. to do for the public, I will do it.” —anand 11. ... Rd8 12. 0-0 Nc6
r+ltr-+k+ 20. Nc5 e.g. 32. ... Qxc3 33. Qxg7+!, winning too many pieces for the queen. +pwq-+pzpp Ivanchuk is confident that his attack p+nzppsn-+ must triumph if he can hold his center 32. Be5! Rd5 33. Rc6 Qf8 34. Bxg7 +-+-+-+- together, though the trappy 20. Rff3!?, There was no time to worry about hoping for 20. ... dxe4 21. Qxh7+!! Nxh7 finesses like 34. Rc8!, mating quickly. -+-+PzP-+ 22. Rxh7+ Kxh7 23. Rh3 mate was more direct, and intending to meet 20. ... Rgc8 34. ... Qxg7 35. Rxe4 vLNzPL+-+- with 21. Bxe7 Qxe7 22. g4, as in the game. P+PwQ-+PzP Kevin Spraggett’s suggestion of 20. -+-+-+k+ Bc1!? also looks very promising, e.g. 20. ... tR-+-+RmK- dxe4 (On 20. ... Rgc8 21. g4! is very strong +-+-+lwqn After12....Nc6 because any ... h7-h6 defense is prevented p+R+-+pwQ by the bishop on c1.) 21. Bg5 Ned5 22. 13. Rf3 b5 14. Rg3 Kh8 15. Rf1 Bb7 16. f5 Bxe4 and Black will soon be mated. +p+r+-zP- Rg8 17. Qg5 e5?! 20. ... dxe4 21. Bxe4 Bd5 22. g4! h6 -+-+R+-+ Ivanchuk was not impressed by this Nakamura spent almost half of his +-zPN+-+- move, which he believed gave his attack remaining time on this move, which gives free rein. He considered 17. ... exf5 18. P+P+-+-zP up a pawn but holds back the attack. Rxf5 as playable for Black but was most 22. ... Qb6, hoping for 23. g5? Bxe4 24. +-+-+-mK- worried about 17. ... Ne5! e.g. 18. fxe6 gxf6 gxf6+ is well met by 23. Rf2. After35.Rxe4 Nxe4! 19. Bxe4 Bxe4 when he could not see anything for White. 23. g5 Nh7 24. f6 Ng6 25. fxg7+ Rxg7 26. Qxh6 Rd8 35. ... Rxg5+! 18. Qh4 Ne7
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Grand Slam Chess
A great try which seemed to shock Ivanchuk, though not for long enough to cause him to lose on time while he “HowmuchdoIstudyperday?Judging calculated that ‘losing’ his queen was still winning. bytheresultssofarinthistournament, 36. Qxg5! Nxg5 37. Rc8+ Be8 38. Rcxe8+ notenough!”—GMMaGnusCarlsen Kh7 39. Rh4+ and Black’s flag fell.
A near-miss for Nakamura against the because of 25. ... Bd4 but I completely into space. “I think I could also have world champion. missed 26. Bc7!,” admitted Nakamura. “If played 31. ... g4!?,” Anand explained later, he plays 25. ... Bxg3 I saw that I was “and on 32. Qe5+ Ke7 33. f5 I have 33. ... completely winning after 26. hxg3.” Anand Ra1, followed by running my king to the sao paolo GRaND slaM FINal(2) was not so certain, though accepting that queenside, but this seemed a safer option 26. ... b4 27. Rxd7+ Rxd7 28. Qxd7+ Kf6 —well, not exactly safe but safe enough. Nakamura’s near miss 29. Ba4! would leave him with a long dif- I didn’t see a win—with a lone queen I GMHikarunakamura(FIDe2753,usa) ficult defense ahead. thought there is no way you can mate, GMViswanathananand(FIDe2817, Computer analysis suggested that though I was a bit worried.” InD) Black might just be able to survive with the decidedly non-human 25. Bc6 Kf6 32. fxg5+ Kxg5 33. Qg7+ Kh5 26. Rxd7 Rxd7 27. Bxd7 Bxb2!!?, allow- Now it was Nakamura’s turn to show -+-tr-+-+ ing 28. Be8 which can be met by 28. ... his emotions as his clock ticked down; a +Q+nmkp+- Qe7 29. Qxb5 Bd4, ready to answer 30. mixture of disappointment and disgust Qxc4 with 30. ... Bxf2+ when the result- with himself for throwing away such a -+-+p+-zp ing piece up ending with pawns only on great chance. +pwq-vl-zp- one flank possibly cannot be won by -+p+-+-+ White. 34. Qf7+ Kg5 25. ... Qxe5 26. Bc6 Kf6 27. Bxd7 Qxb2 28. +-+-+LvL- Rf1 -+-+-+-+ -zP-+-zPPzP An ingenious winning try. The back +-+-+Q+- +-+R+-mK- rank threats and the d-file pin prevent -+-+p+-zp After24....Bxe5 White from utilising his extra piece and 28. h4 Qe5 is safe enough for Black. +p+-+-mk-
25. Bxe5? 28. ... c3 29. Qc7 Ra8 -+-+-+-+ Played very quickly by Nakamura and +-zp-+-+- soon regretted. “I had worked out five r+-+-+-+ -wq-+-+PzP moves before that 25. Bc6! doesn’t work +-wQL+p+- tr-+-+RmK- -+-+pmk-zp After34....Kg5 Sao Paulo— +p+-+-zp- The Records -+-+-+-+ 35. Qf6+ +-zp-+-+- “I saw some line where you could play h4+ and get your queen to g6,” said • In rounds three and four, Ivanchuk -wq-+-zPPzP Anand, “but even then when you play became the first player to beat +-+-+RmK- Kh2 I have Rxf1 and g3 isn't mate because 2800+ opponents in consecutive the g-pawn is pinned.” rounds—both times with black! After29....Ra8 35. ... Kh5 36. Qf7+ Kg5 37. Qg7+ Kh5 38. • In round three, the world num- Anand was not interested in investigat- Qf7+, Draw agreed. ber one and two, Magnus Carlsen ing 29. ... Rxd7 30. Qxd7 c2 31. Qd2 b4 and Viswanathan Anand both lost 32. f4 “when 32. ... g4 33. f5 looks dan- ... and the players shook hands on a on the same day, only the second gerous for Black because h6 is hanging,” draw six seconds before Nakamura’s clock time this has happened since the said Nakamura. “However I thought Black ticked down to zero. “It is nice to get such introduction of the Elo rating sys- might be OK after 32. ... Kg6!,” he added a great position but in the end it is the tem in 1970. and this seems to be true. result that matters,” said a disappointed Nakamura after the game. “I can do bet- • After round three, the world one 30. Bxe6! ter than this.” and two were in clear last place, a first. (Sofia 2005 had Veselin Topalov The slightest look of fear appeared on The key game of the tournament. and Anand tied with Judit Polgar in Anand’s face when Nakamura played this last place at the halfway mark). move but he recovered his composure quickly enough. • The Grand Slam final was the BIlBao GRaND slaM FINal (8) strongest tournament ever played 30. ... fxe6 31. f4 Ra1! in the Americas, or in the South- By now Anand’s poker face had Nimzo-Indian Defense (E21) ern Hemisphere. returned and he used much of the five GMMagnusCarlsen(FIDe2823,nOr) minutes he spent on this move gazing GMVassilyIvanchuk(FIDe2765,uKr)
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1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 5. 16. Ng5! Qh5 29. ... Ne5 Qc2 Bb7 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. Qxc3 Ne4 8. Qc2 f5 “Already it is very dangerous for Black,” Played after long thought. “I was sur- 9. g3 Nf6?! said Carlsen, “for example, 16. ... h6 prised by 29. ... Ne5,” said Carlsen, “as I allows 17. Bxd7! Qe7 18. Qxc4+ Kh8 19. thought the knight would be exposed rsn-wqk+-tr Qe6 and White wins.” there. I thought he had to play 29. ... Nf8 after which maybe I can play 30. Rd5!? but zplzpp+-zpp 17. Rxd7! Kh8! even here it is not completely clear. [After -zp-+psn-+ “I had seen many moves ago that I my miscalculation] I was happy that I still +-+-+p+- could play 17. Rxd7 and I got very excited had some chances” Ivanchuk disagreed— and thought I was going to win quickly,” “Practically 29. ... Ne7 was the best -+PzP-+-+ said Carlsen, “but [now] I couldn’t find chance.” However after 29. ... Ne7, White zP-+-+NzP- anything concrete.” has the unexpected 30. Qb5! when Black must lose material. -zPQ+PzP-zP 18. Re7!? 30. Qh4! Nc6 tR-vL-mKL+R “I considered 18. Rad1! but I had calcu- lated that 18. Re7 would be good,” said Played instantly, but it was better to After 9. ... Nf6 Carlsen. “Unfortunately I got lost in calcu- wait for f4 before moving the knight and “He played the opening inaccurately,” lating variations and missed something.” try 30. ... Ne6 instead, “but by now he had used up most of his time,” explained said Carlsen. “He wanted to get the posi- 18. ... Nd5 19. Bg4 Qg6 20. Nf7+ tion after 9. ... 0-0 10. Bg2 Nf6 11. 0-0 Carlsen. Also possible is 20. Qxg6 hxg6 21. Rf7 Be4 but I have [another option].” 31. Rd5! Ne6 32. Qc4 Ncd8? however was not consistent with White’s 10. Bh3!? earlier play, though the endgame must be “A blunder,” said Carlsen. “He could still “I don't know if 10. Bh3 is a great good for White. resist with (32. ... Ne7 33. Re5 Nf5) but he was under pressure both on position and move,” said Carlsen, “but at least it is 20. ... Kg8 21. Bf5 Qxf5! interesting.” 10. ... 0-0 11. 0-0 a5?! “The point of 10. Bh3 is that now if he “ItwasveryagreeableinBrazil.Ilike plays 11. ... Be4 I can move the queen and drive the bishop away with Nd2,” Brazilverymuchandtherewerevery explained Carlsen. “However I didn’t goodconditions.(Saidaftertherobbery!)” expect 11. ... a5 and I thought that he should play 11. ... Qe8 immediately.” —GMVaSSIlyIVanchuk 12. Rd1 “Usually when he goes ... a5 in these type of lines I would go b3 to prevent ... “I realized when I played 21. Bxf5 that on the clock.” I had forgotten something simple,” said a4 but I thought I was well enough devel- 33. Qg4+ Ng7 oped that he didn’t have time for ... a4 Carlsen. “I had seen 21. ... Qxf5! earlier here,” Carlsen explained. but lost myself in the complications. I Blundering a piece, but “I saw that am lucky that my position is still not after 33. ... Kh8 he has 34. Bd2! followed 12. ... Qe8 13. d5 Na6 14. Bf4 bad. Black has plenty of material for the by 35. Bc3+,” explained Ivanchuk. “After 14. Bf4 I liked my position very queen but his bad king is the only reason [Another good reason why Black should much,” said Carlsen. “All my pieces are White has chances. have tossed in 26. ... c3. IR] well developed.” 22. Qxf5 Nxe7 23. Nh6+! gxh6 24. Qg4+ Ng6 34. Qxc8, Black resigned. 25. Bxh6 Rf7 26. Rd1 Re8 27. h4 14. ... exd5 “He was very surprised when I took “He thought for a long time over this “I have to act quickly or otherwise I his bishop, but he was already lost,” said move,” said Carlsen. “14. ... exd5 doesn’t will be worse,” explained Carlsen. “Maybe Carlsen. . look very healthy as it opens the position he could have played 27. ... c3 now [or last up for my bishops.” move]—his pieces will be more [stable].” 15. Bxf5 dxc4 27. ... Nc5 28. h5 Bc8 29. Qxc4 Grand Slam Chess Masters Final At A Glance r+-+qtrk+ -+l+r+k+ +lzpp+-zpp +-zp-+r+p Date/Location: Sao Paulo, nzp-+-sn-+ -zp-+-+nvL Ibirapuera Park, from September 25th-October 1st; Bilbao, zp-+-+L+- zp-sn-+-+P Alhóndiga, from October 5th-11th. -+p+-vL-+ -+Q+-+-+ Top Finishers: 1st, 15 (1½): Magnus Carlsen; 2nd, 15 (½): zP-+-+NzP- zP-+-+-zP- Vassily Ivanchuk; 3rd-5th, 12: -zPQ+PzP-zP -zP-+PzP-+ Hikaru Nakamura, Levon Aronian, Viswanathan Anand; 6th, 10: tR-+R+-mK- +-+R+-mK- Francisco Vallejo. After 15. ... dxc4 After 29. Qxc4
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Fashion
Dress Like a Grandmaster Revenge of the Nerds, meet The Devil Wears Prada—now mate and be fruitful.
By NELLY ROSARIO nce upon a time, chess heroes graced the covers of pop- the Soviets had on the title. Fischer became the first American ular magazines. Books on chess play populated shelves. world champion since 1888 and, of course, graced the covers OArtists like Marcel Duchamp and Man Ray played chess, of magazines from Life to Sports Illustrated. drawing creative inspiration from the game. Chess clubs and Then the Cold War warmed. hallways were as packed as movie theaters and boxing arenas. Flag colors ran in the wash, and the allure of chess slowly The Cold War between Russia and the United States especially faded from visibility in American pop culture. By the end of the served to rally up a generation of American chess players dead- 1980s, the game’s public male image had flattened into two car- set on checkmating the opponent. This victory came to fruition icatures: 1) the fogey in drab tweeds and, 2) the bespectacled in what was coined the “Match of the Century.” In the 1972 geek in high-water pants, himself a future fogey in drab tweeds. World Chess Championship, Bobby Fischer beat defending In the last decade, however, it’s as if the concerned loved ones champion Boris Spassky and snatched the 24-year hold that of this homely pair have put in a call to the producers at What
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Left: GM Alexandra Kosteniuk, women’s world champion from 2008-2010, in a Moscow chess park. Right: A selection of some of the offerings from jewelry company rocklove.com.
Not to Wear and requested a head-to-toe makeover. A shopping trip to New York with $5,000 to spend is just what the sport needs, especially in the bear-market economy of the last few years. More and more, chess is looking to poker and golf for clues on how to revamp its image in order to draw more sponsors and media attention. So how can such an intellectual sport, mainly of interest to those who can play themselves, lure in the dollars and be more media-friendly? The answer lies in the rising tourna- ment participation of two traditionally underrepresented types: 1) the female player and, 2) the young player, who in some cases is also the female player. Chess, then, stands in a unique position to charter new waters in a media and fashion culture obsessed with the female and the youth—both universally considered pinnacles of beauty and of creativity/fertility/virility. On the other side of the board, fashion stands to gain some money, of course, but also much- needed gravitas, some real substance to its form.
Mythbuster Zhigen Lin’s “Secret of Chess” Hypothesis #3: Dress like a grandmaster and you start to play like one. (Lin’s Assessment: Plausible) “Players in the top section have a very good dress code,” Anneke Eder, secretary of the Corus tournament in the Netherlands, told Chess Today. “But players in the lower sections of the tourna- ment can do better with their dress ... but things are improving, it was worse 2-3 years ago.” Chess players might want to read Dress Like a Grandmaster by one Alexander “Coatoff.” Actually, the book can’t be found in stores. It doesn’t even exist—except in National Master Mike Petersen’s blog list of chess books he’d like to see. Who should pen the tome, then? Unfortunately, the real Alexander Kotov is no longer with us to expand on his Think/Play/Train Like a Grandmaster trilogy into realm of fashion—not that Kotov was much of a grandmaster there, with all due respect. The writing assignment, even if penned post-mortem, should be commissioned to the aforementioned, ubiquitous Bobby Fischer. Early in his career Fischer was as much for playing the Two Knights variation as for being an unapologetic clotheshorse. “I used to dress badly until I was about sixteen,” he once said, “but people just didn't seem to have enough respect for me, you know” (i.e., being banned from the Manhattan Chess Club for being improperly “accoutered”). In Profile of a Prodigy, Frank Brady (founding editor of the mag- azine version of Chess Life) describes Fischer before: “Up until late 1959 he had dressed atrociously for a champion, appear- ing at the most august and distinguished national and international events in sweaters and corduroys.” One formal pho- tograph shows Fischer in “a ski sweater among the solemnly suited contenders at Bled, incongruous as a hippie at the Plaza.” Enter Grandmaster Pal Benko in the role of What Not to Wear’s Stacy London and Clinton Kelly. Under Benko’s magic wand, Fischer was soon sporting hand-tailored and made-to- order suits from all over the world, later bragging that even his shirts and shoes were also handmade. After all, it was in his genes: his maternal grandfather had been a dress cutter. “He became quite clothes-crazy for a while,” says Brady of Fischer, “but late adolescence is a common age for that.” The “new Fischer,” as the press would name Fischer after, sur- prised everyone at the 1959 Candidates tournament in Yugoslavia by showing up in a suit, white shirt, and white tie. Also debut- ing that year was his book of collected games. He had his mojo now. Later, when asked what he’d do when he won the world championship, Fischer said: “I'll have my own club ... It’ll be class.
PHOTO: ANDREI ROZEN PHOTO: Tournaments in full dress. No bums in there ... then I’ll have some
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Fashion
i would wear in public. so i started making them myself.” his indie company endgame clothing strives “to restore chess to its historically rightful place as one of the greatest gifts “Playersinthetopsection man has ever given itself ... one shirt at a time.” no quaint chessy sayings here. many of his t-shirt designs incorporate fractal haveaverygooddress graphics, reflecting the kind of fourth-dimensional thinking involved in the game. the artistic vision outlined in his website code,butplayersinthe is equally philosophical: “endgame believes that intellectual pas- sions, like chess, are at the very core of what it means to be lowersectionsofthe human. Passion of the body is nothing without passion of the mind. it is our body that engages in the act, but it is our mind tournamentcandobetter that provides us with the lasting joy of it.” o’Brien tells me that he believes chess players have a respon- withtheirdress…but sibility to promote the game. “there has always been a clothing company that helps promote and identify a game or sport. thingsareimproving,it surfing has Quiksilver. motocross has fox. mixed martial arts has tapout.” now endgame is worn by players all over the world, wasworse2-3yearsago.” from grandmasters to rank beginners. “many of america’s top players, such as nakamura, akobian, hess, shankland and liu Anneke eder, wear our shirts. it was truly a surreal moment when we were secretary of the corus asked to create a campaign shirt for former World champion anatoly Karpov’s fide election.” tournament in the netherlands how are his shirts received? one player told o’Brien, “i hate
more suits made. i’d like to be one of the ten best-dressed men. GM Robert Hess in an Endgame Clothing t-shirt. that would really be something. i read that duke snyder made the list.” oh well, Bobby, we can’t win’em all.
rocking and loving the endgame against Fischer. no women besides queens allowed in fischer’s ideal tournament, either. Well, maybe allison hourcade, who brings her own bling to the chessboard as the world’s premier jeweler for the game in the World chess hall of fame. the game runs in her blood. she’s the daughter of a chess-enthusiast father, a native of st. louis, missouri. the city, also home to the World chess hall of fame and the chess club and scholastic center, has itself received international attention as the premier chess destination, even named “chess city of the year” by the u.s. chess federation in 2009 and 2011. stuffy old men at the harvard chess club, though, isn’t hourcade’s style. her handmade silver jewelry fuses the romance of historical eras with the edge of rock ‘n‘ roll, making hourcade’s rocklove chess collection an official partner of the u.s. chess championship. the collection has also been added to the u.s. chess federation’s catalog of merchandise and was among the prizes for winners of the 2011 u.s. Women’s championship. hourcade’s fantasy tournament flies in the face of fischer’s and takes yoko ono’s all-white chess-set installation, “Play it By trust,” to a whole new level. all women, first of all. “the chessboard would be made of black and white pavé diamonds,” she said in a telephone interview from her studio, which is located in, well, new york’s diamond district. opponents would wear form-fitting dresses and christian louboutin heels—the ones with the fierce-red soles—in corre- sponding colors. clean lines. sharp silhouettes. the overall tableau, like her handiwork, should “respect the austere but fashionable nature of the game.” no sneakers or t-shirts allowed in fischer’s ideal tournament, either, and no men besides kings, bishops, knights, and pawns allowed in hourcade’s. But then there’s John o’Brien, the man with whom she often does business and who shares her values of quality, effort, and craftsmanship when it comes to design. necessity drove o’Brien, a lifelong player, to start designing original chess apparel over a decado ago. in an interview with entrepre- neur andreea ayers he says, “i never found a chess shirt that
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your shirts, but I wear them all the time ... I really support what you are doing.” Non-chessplayers compliment his designs, then say, “Wait ... is that a chess t-shirt?” While it’s not nec- essarily adios to blazers and ties, tuxedos and bland logo emblazoned tees, O’Brien offers a bold alternative. “I like to think our fans experience an average increase of 150 rating points when wearing Endgame shirts ... but I’m not sure I can back that up with any evidence.” Assessment: Plausible.
Sewing Machine Combined with Chessboard. A ready- made art installation at the Swiss Museum of Games. Okay, I take back what I said about Alexander Kotov’s sense of fashion. In Play Like a Grandmaster, he unwittingly describes that other great Alexander, fashion designer Alexander McQueen: “the qualities of an artistic creator, a calculating practitioner, and a cold calm competitor” are what distinguish the grandmas- ter class player from the ordinary player. Kotov and the McQueen-alike brought sharp style, breadth of work, and fear- less provocation to their respective games. “You’ve got to know the rules to break them,” said the late McQueen. “That’s what I’m here for, to demolish the rules but to keep the tradition.” It’s in this aptly named grandmaster that art and fashion and chess mate shamelessly, bearing fruit that bursts with the kind of raw kinetic energy and fragility of emotion that got human Queen Eve into big trouble, once upon a time. In The Beginning, a short story by Alex Shternshain, God cre- ates the queen, who begins her life with color coordinating. The black queen walks up to the white queen and all their regal minds can think is, “Oh no, this woman is wearing the same dress as me, I hope no one notices.” Oh no, nothing of the sort happens in McQueen’s Spring/Summer 2005 ready-to-wear collection, “It’s Only a Game.” Sarah Mower of Style.com writes that the collection “summed up all his experience in sharp tailoring, spectacular romantic dresses, couture richness, and downright showman- ship. And, with every look laid out on a giant chessboard, it couldn’t help but suggest a metaphor for the workings of the fashion industry.” McQueen explains to Another Magazine what the idea of the chess game meant to him: “[W]e looked at six different types of GM Alexandra Kosteniuk: “I consider the fashion modeling women, women on opposing sides. We had the Americans fac- only like a hobby, and I do it only to promote chess.” ing the Japanese and the redheads facing the tanned Latinos.” His work was celebrated earlier this year in the sold-out retro- spective Savage Beauty at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. hardcore design philosophy.” Carlsen is photographed with Liv Tyler, in glorious black Beyond mere representation on the runway: and white, wearing leather and denim. “I think I look tough,” grandmasters and world champs as fashion models. Carlsen told the Norwegian media, and it’s impossible not to “Brains and beauty and world champ and writer and chess imagine the ensemble soon cropping up at tournaments, accom- ambassador and ...?!” Why not? Ask yet another great Alexan- panied by visions of slam dunks and hole in ones. dra. This time, Kosteniuk, the 27-year-old 14th woman world Yes, it’s inevitable that the media compare young, talented champion. Besides selling photos of her God-given self on her chess players like Carlsen and Kosteniuk to iconic sports prodi- website, she’s modeled for Vogue and Marie Claire. gies like Anna Kournikova, LeBron James, Tiger Woods and “I consider the fashion modeling only like a hobby, and I do it Venus and Serena Williams—all of whom have imported into only to promote chess,” she says in a 2008 interview for Lat- their respective arenas new fans, a hotter image, and millions estChess. “I always insist that the magazines that invite me to model in sponsorship and endorsements. for them write an article about chess ... the modeling helps chess G-Star even launched the Raw World Chess Challenge last as people find out that beauty and brains can go very well together.” year in which Carlsen faced off against the world via Internet from the uber-chic Cooper Square Hotel in New York City. 20-year-old Magnus Carlsen of Norway is the youngest player to ever top the international chess federation ranking Similarities between chess and modeling: “Just to stand and is the number-two ranked chess player in the world. in the same position for a lot of time, it takes some Though this Justin Bieber-ish ‘Mozart of chess’ humbly admits concentration” (Magnus Carlsen). that he’s not a fashion connoisseur nor ever thought of him- self as a model, the Dutch clothing label G-Star Raw chose him Regardless of what the mating of chess and fashion ultimately as their newest face for what they call “his uncompromising begets, enthusiasts on both sides of the board would be wise to heed
HESS PHOTOGRAPHED BY JEFF WEISS; KOSTENIUK BY DIEGO GARCES JEFF WEISS; KOSTENIUK BY BY HESS PHOTOGRAPHED approach to the game,” an approach that “mirrors G-Star’s own Yves St. Laurent’s admonition: Fashions fade, style is eternal. .
uschess.org Chess Life — December 2011 41 CL_12-2011_retreat_AKF_r9_chess life 11/10/11 5:20 PM Page 42
Instruction
Retreat To The First Rank ... And Win! Imagination and creativity can sometimes be revealed in a “backwards” way.
By ICCM BART GIBBONS The games of Paul morPhy demon- retreating move coming. There just seems 41. Nf3 Re8 42. Bd6 Bxf6 (desperation) 43. strated to chessplayers the need to develop to be something about moving backwards gxf6 Qxf6 44. Ng5 Qg7 45. Be5 Qe7 46. Bxg6!, your pieces early in the opening, and not that chessplayers don’t consider as often Black resigned. rarely do you see two bish- to waste time grabbing material. These as they should. ops and a knight attacking without lessons are just as instructive today, and I selected these positions for their cre- resistance from the opponent’s minor young players continue to hone their ativity and dramatic effect, in the hopes pieces. skills by learning gambit openings, hop- you will find them as fascinating as I ing to trap the unwary. have. I’ve also made sure that at least one Alekhine’s brilliance fortunately, there are times in chess move by a queen, rook, knight or bishop Alexander Alekhine when the best move in a position is one is included, as well as both colors. I’ve Boris Verlinsky that seems to go against our chess arranged the diagrams and comments in Odessa, 1918 instincts. mastery of chess requires one’s chronological order. let’s get started! imagination to explore freely; to analyze variations that might at first glance seem r+-+-tr-mk contrary to the demands of the position. A Staunton piece on the first rank zppwq-+-zpp resisting the temptation to play a move Howard Staunton -+-tR-+-+ that comes automatically to attention is Bernhard Horwitz one hallmark of a strong player. London, 1851 +-+-sN-vL- With this in mind, this article gives -+-+P+-+ examples of strong moves that retreat a -+l+-trk+ developed piece back to the first rank ... +Q+-+-+- and win! These intriguing positions illus- zp-+-+q+p PzP-+l+PzP trate an open mind to finding the n+p+pzPp+ necessary solution to the problem at +-tR-+-mK- hand. retreating moves also can have a vl-zp-vL-+- After23....Rf8 shocking effect on the opponent. as grandmaster ray Keene put it, “I have P+-+LzPP+ former World Champion alexander played games where the psychological +-+-+-+Q alekhine found himself in a wild posi- impact of a move has caused the opponent tion in this 1918 game. White is a knight to collapse—where perhaps the optimal -+-+N+-zP and a pawn up, but the rook on d6 is en move according to a computer might have +-+R+-+K prise, and Black also threatens mate with complicated things and encouraged the After38....Qf7 24. ... Qxc1+ 25. Bxc1 rf1. opponent to play on.” In playing through nor can White capture Black’s queen, these positions, I get the feeling that the from this position howard staunton as due to the mate on f1. White brilliantly losing side (which includes ex-world White played 39. Ng1! aiming to control met all these threats with 24. Qd1!!, guard- champion anatoly Karpov, plus other the g5- and e5-squares with his knight. ing against the mate, protecting the rook masters or grandmasters) did not see the The game continued 39. ... Bd8 40. g5 Bb7 on d6, and attacking the bishop on e2! If
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24. ... Bd1, then White can safely take the Demonstrating that uncanny mastery Taimanov tickles the chessic ivories queen on c7. The game concluded 24. ... of tactics so rare for one his age, Bobby GM Anatoly Karpov Qa5 25. Qxe2 Qxe5 26. Rd5, Black resigned. simply played 36. Qd1, ending Black’s GM Mark Taimanov threats, and keeping the pressure on Leningrad, 1977 Black’s pawn on b6. After 36. ... Qa2 37. Bronstein’s bishop backup Nxb6 Nxb6 38. Rxb6+ Kc8 39. Qxf3 Qxc4 40. r+-+-+-+ Giorgio Porreca Qf8+ Kd7 41. Qxa3, Black resigned. GM David Bronstein +-+-+-mk- Belgrade, 1954 -zP-zp-+p+ Fischer’s shocker r+-+kvl-tr Robert Fischer +-+Pzpn+- James Sherwin -+-wq-+-+ zppwqnzppzpl U.S. Championship, 1957 -+p+-sn-zp +R+-+-+- +-+-+-+- -+-+-trk+ -+-+-+PzP -+LzP-sN-zP +-+-+Rzpp +-+-wQL+K +-+-+-sN- -+-zp-+-+ After37.b6 +-+L+-wq- In our next position, then-World Cham- PzPP+-zPP+ pion Anatoly Karpov is playing Mark tR-vLQtR-mK- R+-+P+n+ Taimanov, known for his concert pianist After11.Re1 +-+-+-+- performances as much as for being a top Soviet grandmaster. Karpov has been Russian GM David Bronstein, who drew P+-+Q+PzP advancing his passed b-pawn the last the 1951 World Championship match +-tr-+-+K few moves, never stopping to give his with GM Mikhail Botvinnik, was on the After30....Rc1+ king an escape square by playing g2-g3 black side of our current position. Black or h2-h3. Taimanov alertly forced a win would like to play 11. ... e6 to develop This famous game from the 1957 U.S. with 37. ... Ra1 38. Rb1 (38. Qe2 Qd2!) 38. his king bishop, but White is poised to sac- Championship was included by Robert ... Ng3+! 39. hxg3 Ra8!, and Black mates rifice on that square. Nor can Black castle Fischer in his classic work My 60 Memo- next move. This example is a lesson for us right away, as the f7-pawn would fall. rable Games. all, to give the castled king some air. Bronstein solved both these problems Of all the positions in this article, this with 11. ... Bg8!. The game proceeded is the one I wish I had been present to see with 12. Nd3 e6 13. Bf4 Bd6 14. Bxd6 the most. I can only imagine the shock Polgar’s queenly retreat Qxd6 15. Nf5 Qf8 16. Qf3 0-0-0, and Black must have felt over the next few GM Judit Polgar Black has a solid game. Bronstein went on moves, as he continued to play on after GM Alexei Shirov to win in 42 moves. losing two rooks and a knight! (Maybe Amsterdam, 1995 White was in time pressure). Black had The next two examples are from Bobby just played 30. ... Rc1+, perhaps only r+-+-+ntr Fischer’s first U.S. Championship victory, expecting Bobby to continue with 31. New York 1957. The 14 year-old (!) Bobby Rf1+, after which 31. ... Kh8 wins quickly +-+Lmkpvl- had White against the current “Dean of for Black. However, White uncorked 31. l+-+-snpzp American chess,” GM Arthur Bisguier. Qf1!!, a truly stunning move which allows Black to take White’s queen with check. zp-+-zp-vL- The main point is that after 31. ... Rxf1+ -+p+N+-+ Bobby’s Bisguier backup 32. Rxf1 discovered check Kh8 33. Rxf8 GM Bobby Fischer is mate. The second point is that if 31. ... zP-+-+-+- GM Arthur Bisguier Rxf7 32. Ra8+ mates, while if Black tries -zP-+-zPPzP U.S. Championship, 1957 to eliminate White’s monster bishop with 31. ... Qxd5, 32. Rxf8 is mate. Sherwin +-+QmK-+R -+n+-+-+ fought on with 31. ... h5, hoping White After21.Qd1 would impulsively play 32. Rxf8+? Kh7, Finally, we have a gem from Judit Pol- +ksnN+-+p winning White’s queen. Instead, White gar who is playing the fiery Alexei Shirov. played 32. Qxc1!, again exploiting the dis- -zpp+p+-+ Polgar has attacked brilliantly in this covered check theme (if 32. ... Qxc1+ 33. game, though Black could have put up +-+-zP-zp- Rf1+ followed by 34. Rxc1). Black, most some resistance with 20. ... Bb7, instead likely dazed at this point, continued with -+P+-+-+ of 20. ... h6?, as played. White retreated 32. ... Qh4 33. Rxf8+ Kh7 34. h3 Qg3 35. hxg4 her queen to d1, with the immediate trQ+-vLpzP- h4 36. Be6, and Black resigned after this threat of 22. Qd6 mate! Black resigned dazzling tactical display by Bobby. There’s -+-+-zP-zP immediately, as 21. ... Kf8 22. Qd6+ Ne7 a YouTube video excerpt of Fischer ana- 23. Bxf6 wins more material. wqR+-+-mK- lyzing this game on a demonstration I hope these positions will encourage After35....Kb7 board, with Fischer grinning after 31. you to look at all the available squares to Qf1, and the audience applauding. Black has conjured up threats based on find the best move! . White’s weak back row, so White cannot See a Fischer/Fine bonus game from this safely capture anything yet. (see next position top of next column) article on Chess Life Online.
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USCF Affairs December
USCF EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT CODY STEWART Position: National Events Assistant Cody Stewart started working for the USCF in January of 2011 as National Events Assistant. His duties include player registration, team room reservations, editing newsletters and assisting with e-mail blasts for tournaments. Cody is responsible for contacting local area media where the USCF national scholastics are being held. At tournaments, he works at Chess Control to assist parents and coaches. Cody and his wife, Sarah, are in their first year of the master’s program at Southern Illinois Univer- sity in Carbondale, Illinois. The program’s focus is teaching English as a second language, particularly to international students. Cody enjoys music (he plays the drums), cooking, and travel. For his ded- ication to the USCF and his service to the scholastic community, we are pleased to announce that Cody is in the “Employee Spotlight” this month!
USCF SENDS DELEGATION TO KRAKOW, POLAND FOR 82ND FIDE CONGRESS A full report from Krakow will appear in a future issue of Chess Life. Here are some of the highlights from the various reports posted on uschess.org from the delegation. See Chess Life Online, October archives, and the press release section for other reports.
The delegation representing the USCF consisted of Ruth Haring Olympiad.” Of course, in the U.S., the SuperNationals has far (USCF president and head of delegation), Michael Khodarkovsky more players than the World Youth and is held successfully and (FIDE delegate), Francisco managed professionally. Guadalupe (zonal president), Another reason for this split IA Sophia Rohde, IA Walter proposal is that it was sug- Brown (qualifications com- gested that it is desirable to mission [QC]), Bill Hall (USCF separate “young children” executive director), and Tony from “young adults” for Rich. Vice President of FIDE social reasons. and former USCF President New rules are being Beatriz Marinello also drafted regarding residence attended as did IA Carol requirements for “change of Jarecki (commission mem- federation” regulations by ber representing BVI) and David Jarrett from the FIDE IA/IO Sevan Muradian (com- office in Athens. mission member). The World Amateur will be defined as Under 2000. Highlights from Ruth Haring: The age categories for the IO organizer titles approved World Senior will be changed for Bill Goichberg, Ankit to age 50 and 65 for both Gupta, Sophia Rohde and men and women. Steve Immitt. There was a formal signing The Constitutional Com- ceremony for the contract for mission has created a the Tromso Olympiad 2014. document and will be inviting comments by the From Francisco Guadalupe: member Federations. Following some discussions There is a proposal to (Left to right) IA Walter Brown, IA Sophia Rohde, Zonal President and debate, the QC was in Francisco Guadalupe, USCF Executive Director Bill Hall, USCF split the World Youth into President Ruth Haring, FIDE Delegate Michael Khodarkovsky. agreement to submit for two events which was approval to the executive heartily discussed and it board all outstanding titles was decided to vote on this matter in Turkey at the next gen- earned in the U.S. by the American players. This concession was eral assembly. The reason for this suggestion was that it is felt accompanied by a September 1, 2011 deadline after which all in other parts of the world that the World Youth has grown so FIDE norm tournaments must use one of the five approved time big it has become unmanageable, and “bigger than the controls, so all organizers must now be aware of these changes.
Reports by Bill Hall, Michael Khodarkovsky, Walter Brown, Tony Rich, and Sophia Rohde are on Chess Life Online, October archives..
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Back to Basics Four (Pawns) Against Alekhine
By GM Lev Alburt
Does White simply possess more space and therefore stand better—or is he overextended?
In the Alekhine Defense Black provokes More usual is 5. ... dxe5 6. fxe5 Nc6. forwardmovement of the white pawns, 6. Be3 +kr l r hoping to regain tempos back by attack- pppqpppp ing these pawns with his own, and I felt 6. d5 would be premature. perhaps to explore White’s somewhat At first I thought that 6. d5 Nb8!? (not 6. nn+ + + overextended, and thus weakened, posi- ... Na5? 7. Bd2, winning) 7. Nc3 (or 7. + + Pl+ tion. In Four Pawn Attacks (comparable Be3) should favor White, but then began +PP + + to the four pawn’s attack in the King’s to change my mind. Thus White’s deci- Indian and Austrian Attack with d4, e4, sion to steer the game into normal channels P N LN+ andf4 pawns in the Pirc) White allows (as after 5. ... dxe5 6. fxe5 Nc6) seems quite P + +PP himself to be provokedto the utmost. In reasonable. our game of this month, White, andthe 6. ... Bf5 7. Nc3 dxe5 8. fxe5 + RQKL+R space, prevail—mostly because Black After 11. ... Nc6 made a number of opening mistakes, The main theoretical position has been something both players, but especially reached. albeit I’d prefer the direct 13. Bxb6 axb6 Black, can hardly afford in this razor- 14. b4, winning decisive material. sharp system. r+ qkl r 12. ... f6 Writes the winner of this month’s ppp pppp award, Paul Birnbaum: This move sets serious problems for nn+ + + White, who wants to holdhis center, I am a seasonedtournament player + + Pl+ complete his development, and make his who has been much less active in recent +PP + + king safe. years. Analysis of this game reveals some 13. Be2 serious errors by both sides, around moves +NL+ 12-16. (Lev’s future comments will be in italics). PP + +PP +kr l r R +QKLNR pppqp pp Alekhine’s Defense, After 8. fxe5 nn+ p + Four Pawns Attack (B03) Paul Birnbaum (1759) 8. ... Nb4? + + Pl+ Romel Lapay (1574) +PP + + Marshall Saturday U1800, 06.25.2011 This seems pointless, encouraging White to keep developing his pieces. 8. ... P N LN+P 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4 e6, freeing Black’s f8-bishop, seems bet- P +L+P+ Nc6 ter. Correct—L.A. + RQK +R r+lqkl r 9. Rc1 Qd7 10. Nf3 0-0-0 11. a3 Nc6 After 13. Be2 ppp pppp nnp + + (see diagram top of next column) 13. ... h5? 12. h3? Black shouldcontinue with his plan: ++P+ 13. ... fxe5, and if 14. dxe5, then Qe6! and +PP P + Let the errors begin! Much stronger is the White center is shredded. 12. d5!, and if 12. ... Na5, 13. Nb5! fol- But after 14. d5 White—in a sharp posi- ++++ lowed by Nfd4 for White. tion—is still better. PP + +PP Here d4-d5 is more than simply strong 14. 0-0 g5? —it’s winning! e.g., 12. ... Nb8 13. Nb5, RNLQKLNR threatening checkmate in one move; if 12. Black shouldstill play 14. ... fxe5. After 5. ... Nc6 ... Na5, Paul’s 13. Nb5 is quite strong, Not so: now 15. d5 is even stronger
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than on the move before (see my comment 29. ... Nb8 30. cxb6 axb6 31. Qc4 Qd6 32. to Paul’s suggestion after 13. ... h5). +kq +r+ R1f6 Qd8 33. Rc6! 15. exf6 exf6 16. d5 ppp + + Threatening mate in two, and the black n+++ queen. +kr l r + lPp +p 33. ... Nxc6 pppq+ + +P+ + + +kq +r+ nn+ p + PN++ + +P+lpp + p +R+ P +L+ K pn+ + + +P+ + + + RQ+R+ P N LN+P + +Pp Lp P +L+P+ Analysis after 22. ... Qxd8 PQl + P + RQ+RK +k+ +rr P+++ + + +P+ After 16. d5 pppq+ + ++++K 16. ... Ne5? n+++ + lPplLp After 33. ... Nxc6 This loses a pawn. Better might have 34. Bxd8 Rxd8 35. Qxc6, Black resigned. been 16. ... Ne7. +P+ + P 17. Nxe5 fxe5 18. Bxg5 Bc5+ 19. Kh1 PN++ And Black resigned, as mate is unstop- P +L+P+ pable. +kr + r + RQ+R+K pppq+ + I felt euphoric after winning this game. After 20. h4 However, my analysis gives Black an edge n+++ after 12. ... f6!. I also think, as a 1. e4 + lPplLp This allows White’s knight access to player, I need another line against the e4. Black might have considered 20. ... Alekhine’s defense (other than the “Four +P+ + + Rxg5!? 21. hxg5 h4, pursuing his attack Pawns Attack”). P N + +P on White’s king. It took me three attempts to give you This attack isn’t dangerous., as after something with decent notes! P +L+P+ ... h4-h3 and White’s g2-g3, the white king As Paul himself mentions earlier (his + RQ+R+K hides behind Black’s h-pawn. And, most comment to 12. h3), White was much bet- importantly, an immediate 21. ... h4 loses ter after 12. d5. Thus, this time he won the After 19. Kh1 tactically: 22. Rxf5 and, if 22. ... Qxf5, opening duel, and can keep playing the 23. Bg4. Four Pawns Attack. And I wholeheartedly 19. ... Rdg8 21. Ne4 Bd4 commend Paul’s “three attempts”—time spent analyzing your own games in depth +k+ +rr 21. ... Be7 seems better. is time very well spent. . Not really: 22 . Rf7!—L.A. pppq+ + 22. Nf6 Bxe2 23. Qxe2 Qf7 24. Nxg8 Qxg8 n+++ White is now up a pawn and an + lPplLp Exchange, and his king is safe. The rest Send in your games! +P+ + + is technique. If you are unrated or were rated P N + +P 25. Rf5 Nd7 26. Rcf1 Qg6 27. b4! b6 28. Rf7 1799 or below on your Chess Life Rg8 (CL) label, then GM Lev Alburt P +L+P+ invites you to send your most + RQ+R+K +k+ +r+ instructive game with notes to: After 19. ... Rdg8 p pn+R+ Back to Basics, c/o Chess Life p + +q+ PO Box 3967 Crossville, TN Black might also have played 19. ... 38557-3967 Bxh3! And if 20. Bxd8 Bxg2+ 21. Kxg2 + +Pp Lp Or e-mail your material to Rg8+ 22. Kh2 Qxd8. PPl + P [email protected] (see diagram top of next column) P+++ GM Alburt will select the “most But 23. Qd3 takes the sting out of + +Q+P+ instructive” game and CL will award Black’s attack. an autographed copy of Lev’s 20. h4! + + +R+K newest book, Chess Training Pocket After 28. ... Rg8 Book II (by Lev Alburt and Al (see second diagram top of next column) Lawrence) to the person submit- 29. c5 ting the most instructive game and Anchors the white bishop. Beginning to open lines against Black’s annotations. 20. ... Bg4?! king.
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Endgame Lab Progress with the Seven-Piece Database
By GM Pal Benko The six-piece endgame database, a marvel in its own right, is now in danger of being overtaken exponentially by the arrival of a seven-piece database.
52. Kf6+ Kb2 52. Rd7+ Kf6 53. Rd1 g2 54. Rg1 Rg6 55. a5 This month I am providing a short Ke7 56. a6 Rb6+? review of recent endgame database Black is not going anywhere after 52. progress. The remarkable six-man data- ... Kc1. An unnecessary time-control check base, now in the public domain (available 53. Qh2+ Ka1 54. Qf4 b4? that throws away the draw. The natural at www.k4it.de), has even shown a record 56. ... Rxa6! is an easy theoretical draw. 243-move win. The team of Americans Either 54. ... Qd3 or 54. ... Qd5 is even. 57. Ka5 Rxb3 58. Rxg2 Ra3+ 59. Kb6 Rb3+ Mark Bourzutschky and Russian Yakov 55. Qxb4 Qf3+ 56. Kg7 d5 57. Qd4+ Kb1 58. 60. Kc5 Ra3 61. a7 Ke6 Konoval have worked together to aim for g6 Qe4 59. Qg1+ Kb2 60. Qf2+ Kc1 61. Kf6 even higher peaks. As early as 2006, d4 62. g7 Qc6+ 63. Kg5 Qd5+ 64. Qf5 Qd8+ If 61. ... Kd7, then 62. Rg8 Rxa7 63. among other interesting records, they 65. Kh6 Qg8 66. Qc5+ Kb1 67. Qxd4 Qe6+ Rg7+ wins. reported an unbelievable 517(!)-move win 68. Kg5, Black resigned. 62. Rg7 Ra1 63. Kc6 Ra2 64. Kb7 Rb2+ 65. in a king, queen, knight versus king, Kc8 Rc2+ 66. Kb8 Rb2+ 67. Rb7 Rh2 68. rook, bishop, and knight seven-man It is hard to judge in many queen end- a8=Q Rh8+ 69. Ka7, Black resigned. endgame. But these are positions without ings if there is a perpetual check or not. pawns—very rare in real games. Their newest article (in EG 2011) pres- Dark horses Two mistakes IM Coen Zuidema ents piece and pawn endgames too. Much GM Robert James Fischer GM Pal Benko more challenging for optimal play because GM Pal Benko U.S. Championship, New York, 1972 of possible pawn promotions and en pas- U.S. Championship, New York, 1959 sant moves, these endings are much more useful for practical players. Bourzutschky R++++ ++++ and Konoval gladly answered me and + + +k+ ++++ provided some analysis for Chess Life + + +k+ readers. + + +pr ++++ + +Npp+ Verdict +n+P GM Garry Kasparov ++++ The World ++++K Internet Challenge, 1999 KP+ + + P++++ ++++ +++Q ++++ ++++ +p+ + + White to play White to play + p +K+ 52. Kg3? 47. Kb4? +++P This natural move loses. White can ++++ The correct move was 47. b4!!, followed draw with 52. Ne3, 52. Ne7+ or 52. Nb6. by … g5 48. Ra7+ Kf8 49. b5! Re6 50. Ra4! 52. ... Nc6? ++++ Re3+ 51.Kb2!! Re2+ 52. Kc3 Ke7 53. a3! ++++ Re3+ 54. Kd4!! Rf3 55. Kc5! Kd8 56. Rg4 Only 52. ... Nb5! wins. Rf5+ 57. Kb6! Kc8 58. Rc4+ Kd7 59. a4 53. Kh3? +k+q+ + etc. But who can see so far ahead, includ- White to play ing all the sidelines? The rule of thumb is White draws with 53. Nb6!. that the passed pawn must be pushed. 53. ... Nd8! 54. Kg3 Nf7! 55. Kh3 Nh6 56. Kg3 Now the final word in a much-debated 47. ... g5 48. Ra7+ Kf6 49. a4 g4 50. Rd7 g3 Ng4 57. Kh3 Kf7 58. h5 Ke6! 59. Nc3 Nh6! 60. game can be decided thanks to the program. 51. Rd6+ Kf7 Kh4 Nf7! 61. Ne2 Kf6! 62. Nc3 Kg7? 51. Qh7 b5 51. ... Kf5 was also drawn after 52. Black is better after 62. ... f4 or 62. ... Level is 51. ... Ka1. Rd1 g2 53. Rg1 Rg6 54. a5 Kf4. Ke6.
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Benko’s Bafflers ProblemI ProblemII Y. Konoval-M. Bourzutschky (2009) Y. Konoval-M. Bourzutschky (2010) +K+ + + ++q+ Most of the time these studies resemble positions that could actu- +++P ++++ ally occur over the board. You must ++++ ++++ simply reach a theoretically won or ++++k +R+R+ Pk drawn position for White. ++Q+ ++++ Solutions can be found on page 69. ++++ ++++ Please e-mail submissions for ++++ +K+ + + Benko’s Bafflers to: ++++q ++++ [email protected] White to play and win White to play and win
63. Nd5!= Kh6 64. Ne7 Nd6 65. Ng8+ Kg7 66. The surprise: 4. h5? a4 5. h6 a3 6. h7 Ne7! Kf7 67. Nd5 Ke6 68. Nc7+! Kd7 69. Nd5 ++++ a2 7. h8=Q b1=Q and it is only a draw. Yet Nf7 70. Nc3? +++pp the database also shows a similar position as before in a case of castling long is win- A better drawing chance is 70. h6. ++++ ning for White, apparently because the 70. ... Ke6! 71. Ne2 Kd5? +++P white king is closer to its adversary. Still winning is 71. ... Kf6! 4. ... Kc2 5. Rxb2+ Kxb2 6. h5 a4 7. h6 a3 8. ++++ h7 a2 9. h8=Q+ Kb1 10. Qb8+ Kc2 11. Qe5 72. h6, Draw agreed. ++k+ Kb1 12. Qe1+ Kb2 13. Qb4+ Kc2 14. Qa3 Sometimes it is hard to understand the P+ + +p+ Kb1 15. Qb3+ Ka1 16. Qc2 g2 17. Qc1 mate. computer’s mysterious moves. Unfortu- nately, that can also apply to our own moves! R+K+ P. Benko (Correction) White to play and win Resign? 1. 0-0-0 h5 2. gxh6 e.p. gxh6 3. a4 h5 4. a5 GM Sergey Makarichev + + +r+ h4 5. a6 h3 6. a7 h2 7. a8=Q wins. IM Ye Rongguang ++P+ Beograd, 1988 But let’s see the end of this work after +p++ 7. ... g1=Q. Here 8. Qa7+ and 9. Qxg1 ++++ White mates in 12 moves but after 8. Qh1 + +K+ +R ++++ the mate is also possible in 22 moves. + + +p+ Using rules of artistic studies, this strictly +pL +lP counts as a “dual” since there should be ++++ ++++ only one solution in the main line. +k++
p+++ Echo ++++ +k+ + + Pal Benko White to play and win ++++ ++++ I have pushed the above position to K+++ the right from a 1923 composition by V. p+++ Platov that has now been found to have White to play ++++ a cook. Even after a new critical line: White resigned, but in a drawn posi- ++++ 1. Rh4 g3 2. Rh3 g2 3. Rh2 Kc3 4. Rxg2 Rxg2 tion! For example: 80. Be7 Kc3 81. Ka2! 5. e8=Q b3+ 82. Ka3! Kc2 83. Bf6 c5 84. Bg7 c4 +++p In the most difficult line White wins in 43 85. Kb4! Bd3 86. h7, Draw. ++k+ moves since the white king has more space for maneuvering on the left-hand side. So Ideal!? p + +PP J. H. Ulrichsen ++K+R though the computer refuted the original EG 2011 study, because of its processing power it White to play and win helped save the composition. (see diagram top of next column) I asked them about their future plans. Seeing the above example, I entered “We are not sure whether we even want to Studies can also be verified by the new into this theme but with minimal material. generate all the seven-man endgames, tablebase; here is an example: the Val- 1. 0-0 Kd2! 2. g4 hxg3 e.p. because many will not be interesting but ladao theme (which consists of three still take up a lot of space. Better analy- After 2. ... a5 3. g5 a4 4. g6 a3 5. g7 a2 special elements: castle, en passant and sis of the databases generated so far, and 6. g8=Q b1=Q 7. Qxa2+! Qxa2 8. Rf2+ is promotion). He did it with only eight men moving to interesting eight-man endgames the quickest win. and judged it as “unique and maybe may be more relevant.” Thanks to the 3. h4 a5 4. Rb1! ideal.” team for their excellent work so far. .
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2011 TROPHIES PLUS GRAND PRIX SUMMARY Trophies Plus awards $12,500 in cash prizes in the 2011 Grand Prix!
2011 TROPHIES PLUS GRAND PRIX STANDINGS
The following point totals reflect all rated event information as of October 26 for the 2011 Grand Prix. All Grand Prix updates are unofficial and subject to change during the year or until year-end tabulation is complete.
OVERALL STANDINGS
NAME STATE PTS.
1 GM Tamaz Gelashvili NY 271.60 2 GM Timur Gareyev TX 252.66 3 GM Sergey Kudrin CT 246.15 4 GM Mikheil Kekelidze NY 202.73 5 GM Alexander Shabalov PA 182.80 6 GM Alejandro Ramirez TX 174.83 7 GM Aleksandr Lenderman NY 169.67 8 GM Melikset Khachiyan CA 150.33 9 GM Alexander Ivanov MA 138.18 10 GM Mesgen Amanov IL 120.76 11 IM Enrico Sevillano CA 108.22 12 IM Yury Lapshun NY 101.50 13 IM Justin Sarkar NY 97.63 14 GM Julio Becerra FL 89.75 15 IM Irina Krush NY 85.92 Four-time U.S. Champion GM ALEXANDER SHABALOV moves up a spot from last month.
CATEGORIES AND PRIZES $12 ,500 IN CASH PRIZES! FIRST PRIZE: $5,000! IT’S NOT JUST A TROPHY. IT’S THE BEGINNING OF A LIFETIME OF ACHIEVEMENT. 2nd: $2,500 | 3rd: $1,000 4th: $900 | 5th: $800 Proud sponsor of USCF National Scholastic 6th: $700 | 7th: $600 tournament awards since 1999. 8th: $500 | 9th: $300 Proud sponsor of the USCF 2007-2011 All-America Team.
BETSY DYNAKO BETSY 10th: $200 315 W. 1st St., Templeton, Iowa 51463 | 800.397.9993 | www.trophiesplus.com BY PHOTO CL_12-2011_jgp_AKF_r4:chess life 11/9/2011 2:11 PM Page 51
ChessMagnetSchool.com is the sponsor of the 2011 Junior Grand Prix (JGP). Official standings for events received and processed by November 2, 2011 are unofficial and subject to change during the year or until year-end tabulation is complete. 2011 JGP prizes were not available as of press time and will be announced at a later date. The method for calculating points has been modified; see uschess.org for the most up-to-date information. Chess Magnet School provides computer-based online chess training for both adults and children, including those who study independently and those who study under the guidance of a coach or teacher, as well as support for chess coaches and others who teach chess. Chess Magnet School has been a partner with USCF on a number of projects and activities since 2006, and has provided the free program that teaches the rules of chess to newcomers in the “New to Chess” section of USCF’s website. USCF members are invited to learn more about Chess Magnet School at www.ChessMagnetSchool.com. 2011 CHESSMAGNETSCHOOL.COM JUNIOR GRAND PRIX TOP OVERALL STANDINGS
Name State Pts. Name State Pts. KORBA, NICKY CA-S 10689 CHEN, JASMINE NY 5081 SHUBEN, MATTHEW CA-S 9782 TURE, TANER NY 5002 ROACH, ANDREW UT 7394 YEN, MICHAEL J NJ 4965 KUMAR, ARAVIND NJ 7185 MOORTHY, SRINIVAS RAMANUJA MD 4923 VISWANADHA, KESAV CA-N 6704 CHIANG, SARAH TX 4910 REEDER, CHARLIE PARKER NY 6649 ZHONG, HOWARD OK 4826 MIZUSHIMA, DEREK MD 6594 PETERSON, GIA CA-S 4783 BANERJEE, ABHIMANYU FL 6167 NGUYEN, TRUNG VA 4775 LIANG, ADREAM WI 6116 ZACK, DANIEL NJ 4769 KOENIG, JAKE MD 5907 KULKARNI, SOUMYA MI 4734 YAN, KEVIN NY 5889 CHEN, JUSTIN LU MI 4723 QAZI, RAFEH R IL 5684 SUN, ABE IL 4680 CAO, JONATHAN VA 5623 RIVES, HAL NY 4630 ATTANAGODA, ISURU ADEEPA VA 5437 RAJASEKARAN, VIKAS VA 4623 GORTI, AKSHITA VA 5431 OFFERTALER, BENDEGUZ MD 4594 SCHEIN, AARON O NY 5427 NGUYEN, PHILIP PA 4592 MOTURI, SOUREESH PA 5376 ZHAO, CHENYI CA-N 4578 GAN, ERIC VA 5354 KADAVERU, AJIT VA 4568 WIENER, ALEXANDRA CT 5242 SINHA, SAHIL MD 4564 PETERSON, DANTE CA-S 5156 LUO, MAGGIE VA 4535
CHECK OUT USCF’S CORRESPONDENCE CHESS RATED EVENTS!
2011 Open Correspondence Chess Golden Knights Championship CORRESPONDENCE CHESS MATCHES (TWO PLAYERS) th $1,000 FIRST PRIZE Tw o or six-game options. ENTRY FEE: $5. USCF’s 64 (plus title of USCF’s Golden Knights Champion and plaque) Win A Correspondence Chess Trophy Four-player, double round-robin with class-level pairings. ANNUAL 2nd place $600 • 3rd place $400 • 4th place $300 • 5th place $200 1st-place winner re ceives a trophy. 6th thru 10th place $100 each • ENTRY FEE: $25 ENTRY FEE: $10. These USCF Correspondence Chess events are rated and open to all USCF members who reside on the North American continent, Victor Palciauskas Prize Tournaments islands, or Hawaii, as well as those USCF members with an APO or FPO address. USCF members who reside outside of the North Seven-player class-level pairings, one game with each Am erican continent are welcome to participate in e-mail events. Your USCF membership must remain current for the duration of of six opponents. the event, and entry fees must be paid in U.S. dollars. Those new to USCF Corre spond ence Chess, please estimate your strength: 1st-place winner receives $130 cash prize and a certificate Class A: 1800-1999 (very strong); Class B: 1600-1799 (strong); Class C: 1400-1599 (intermediate); Class D: 1399 and below signed by Victor Palciauskas. ENTRY FEE: $25. (beginner level). Note: Prize fund based on 300 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). 2011 E-mail Correspondence Chess Electronic Knights Championship 1st-place winner receives a John W. Collins certificate. ENTRY FEE: $7. th (Seven-player sections, one game with each of six opponents.) USCF’s 8 $700 FIRST PRIZE E-MAIL RATED EVENTS (NEED E-MAIL ACCESS): ANNUAL (plus title of USCF’s Electronic Knights Champion and plaque) Lightning Match 2nd place $400 • 3rd place $300 • 4th thru 10th place $100 each • ENTRY FEE: $25 Two players with two or six-game option. ENTRY FEE: $5. These USCF Correspondence Chess events are rated and open to all USCF members with e-mail access. Your USCF Swift Quads membership must remain current for the duration of the event, and entry fees must be paid in U.S. dollars. Maximum Four-player, double round-robin format. number of tournament entries allowed for the year for each player is ten. Note: Prize fund based on 200 entries 1st-place prize merchandise credit of $30. and may be decreased proportionately per number of entries assigned. ENTRY FEE: $10. Walter Muir E-Quads (webserver chess) TO ENTER: 800-903-USCF(8723) OR FAX 931-787-1200 OR ON-LINE AT WWW.USCHESS.ORG Four-player, double round-robin e-mail format tournament with class-level pairings. Name______USCF ID#______1st-place receives a certificate. Address ______City______State ___ ZIP ______ENTRY FEE: $7. Phone ______E-mail______Est. Rating ______Please circle event(s) selected. Credit card # (VISA, MC, Disc., AMEX) ______Exp. date ______NOTE: Except for Lightning Matches, Swift Quads, Walter If using VISA, need V-code ______ Check here if you do not wish to have an opponent who is incarcerated. *Note: This may slow down your assignment. Muir E-Quads & Electronic Knights, players will use post office mail, unless opponents agree to use e-mail. MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO U.S. CHESS AND MAIL TO: JOAN DUBOIS, USCF, PO BOX 3967, CROSSVILLE, TN 38557
uschess.org Chess Life — December 2011 51 CL_12-2011_TLA_JP_r7:chess life 11/4/2011 3:51 PM Page 52
Tournament Life
USCF National Events Bids Note: Tournament memberships not valid for National events Note: Organizers previously awarded SEE TLA IN THIS ISSUE FOR DETAILS options for USCF National Events must still submit proposals (including sample 2011 National Youth Action (West) December 9-11 • Irvine, California budgets) for their events. 2011 National Youth Action (East) December 9-11 • Miami, Florida NOW PAST DEADLINE OF 2011 Pan American Intercollegiate Chess Tournament December 27-30 • Ft. Worth, Texas JUNE 1, 2010: 2011 U.S. Masters 2012 U.S. Amateur Team Championship - South Feb. 17-19 or 18-19 • Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 2012 U.S. Amateur Team Championship - North Feb. 17-19 or 18-19 • Northbrook, Illinois DEADLINE JULY 1, 2011: 2012 29th Annual U.S. Amateur Team Championship West Feb. 18-20 • Santa Clara, California 2012 U.S. Junior Chess Congress 2012 42nd Annual World Amateur Team & U.S. Team East Championship Feb. 18-20 • 2012 U.S. Amateur Parsippany, New Jersey (East, North, West) 2012 National Open 2012 U.S. Game/15 Championship Feb. 26 • Albuquerque, New Mexico 2012 U.S. Game 10 Championship FUTURE EVENTS (Watch for details) 2012 U.S. Class Championship 2012 National High School (K-12) Championship April 13-15 • Minneapolis, Minnesota 2012 U.S. Masters Championship 2012 All-Girls National Championships April 20-22 • Chicago, Illinois 2012 Collegiate Final Four (from 2011 Pan Am Intercollegiate) 2012 National Junior High (K-9) Championship April 27-29 • San Diego, California 2012 National Elementary (K-6) Championship May 11-13 • Nashville, Tennessee DEADLINE JULY 1, 2012: 2013 U.S. Senior Open 2012 U.S. Amateur Championship South June 9-10 • Memphis, Tennessee 2013 U.S. Game/15 Championship 2012 U.S. Senior Open Championship July 9-14 • Houston, Texas 2013 U.S. Game 60 Championship 2012 U.S. Junior Open Championship July 13-15 • Houston, Texas 2013 U.S. Action G/30 Championship 2012 U. S. Open Aug. 4-12 • Vancouver, Washington DEADLINE JULY 1, 2013: 2012 U. S. Game/60 Oct. 27 • Pleasanton, California 2014 U.S. Senior Open 2012 U. S. Action Game/30 Oct. 28 • Pleasanton, California 2012 National Scholastic (K-12) Nov. 30-December 2 • Orlando, Florida OVERDUE BIDS 2013 SuperNationals V April 5-7 • Nashville, Tennessee Please contact the National Office if 2013 National Scholastic (K-12) December 13-15 • Lake Buena Vista, Florida you are interested in bidding for a National Event. The USCF recom- 2014 National High School (K-12) Championship April 4-6 • San Diego, California mends that bids be submitted ac- 2014 National Elementary (K-6) Championship May 9-11 • Dallas, Texas cording to the following schedule. However, bids may be consi- dered 2014 National Scholastic (K-12) December 12-14 • Orlando, Florida prior to these dates. *USCF reserves 2015 National Elementary (K-6) Championship May 8-10 • Nashville, Tennessee the right to decline all bids and organize the event itself. 2015 National Scholastic (K-12) December 5-7 • Orlando, Florida
Rating supplements will be updated The TLA pages “Information for Organizers, TDs, and Affiliates” and “Information for Players” can now be found EACH MONTH on the USCF website, online at main.uschess.org/ go/tlainfo. and each monthly rating supplement will be used for all tournaments beginning in that month, unless oth- erwise announced in Chess Life. The JUNIOR TOURNAMENT MEMBERSHIPS (JTMS) AVAILABLE USCF website at www.uschess.org also frequently lists unofficial rat- USCF’s Tournament Membership (TM) program, which allows players the option of joining for only one event ings.The purpose of unofficial ratings at a greatly reduced rate, has been modified. Junior TMs for age 24 or below may be purchased from affil- is to inform you of your progress; iates and are now available to them for $7 online with rating report submissions. They include one issue however, most tournaments do not of Chess Life or Chess Life for Kids, and $5 of this fee may be applied to a full membership within 60 days. use them for pairing or prize pur- JTMs not valid for National events. Many scholastic tournaments exist that are not USCF-rated, and the USCF poses. If you would otherwise be is concerned that the reason is that organizers fear losing players unwilling or unable to pay entry fee plus unrated, organizers may use your dues. The availability of a $7 option should cause some of these events to switch to being USCF-rated, pro- unofficial rating at their discretion, moting membership. The idea behind the TMs is not to sign up a lot of them, but rather to cause more even without advance publicity of USCF-rated tournaments to be held. More details on uschess.org. such a policy.
52 Chess Life — December 2011 uschess.org CL_12-2011_TLA_JP_r7:chess life 11/10/2011 1:22 PM Page 53
See previous issue for TLAs appearing December 1-14
TheTournament Announcements on the following pages are provided Dec. 27-30, Texas 3:30. Info/flyer: BayAreaChess.com/usatw12. Scholastic Side Event: for the convenience of USCF members and for informational pur- 2011 Pan American Intercollegiate Chess Tournament 5SS G/30. Four-player teams plus optional alternate, may be from same poses only. Unless expressly indicated otherwise, neither the U.S. Location: DFW Airport Marriott South, 4151 Centreport Blvd., Fort Worth, or different schools. Jan 2012 Supp, CCA min & TD discretion to place Chess Federation nor Chess Life warrants the accuracy of anything TX 76155. HR: $84/84/84/84. www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/dfwam- players accurately. Prizes:Trophies to each player inTop 3 teams over- contained in these Tournament Announcements. Those interested dfw-airport-marriott-south/?toDate=12/31/11&groupCode=paipaia&fro all,Top team u900, u800, u700, u600, u500, u400, u300, u200,Top scorer in additional information about or having questions concerning any mDate=12/26/11&app=resvlink or call 800-228-9290 reserve by 12/5 on each board (1-4). EF: $156/team or $39/player by 2/14, 2/15-17: of these tournaments are directed to contact the organizer listed. (or rate could go up) and ask for Pan American Chess rate. Free Park- $175/team, $48/player, Onsite: $185/team, $58/player. Registration: Mon Chess Life will exercise all due diligence in providing accurate ing. Tournament Dates: December 27-30, 2011. Intercollegiate 8-9am. Rounds: 10am, 11:30am, 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm. Info/flyer: typesetting of non-camera-ready copy but assumes no responsibil- Tournament Format: 4 Player Teams, up to 2 Alternates, traditional 6 BayAreaChess.com/usatws12. Blitz Event: Registration Mon 7-8pm, ity for errors made in such work. round Swiss Tournament, Game/90 with a 30 second increment. Rounds 8:30-10:30pm. EF: $12. 75% of entry fees returned as prizes. Coach/captain must hand in proposed team roster changes one hour Info/flyer: BayAreaChess.com/usatw12. Help in forming teams: a player Effective with TLAs submitted after November 10, 2010, the fol- before the beginning of the round. Rounds: Rd. 1: 12/27 6 pm, Rd. 2: and see bayareachess.com/events/12/usatw or email teamhelp@Bay lowing additional rules apply to Grand Prix tournaments: 12/28 10 am, Rd. 3: 5 pm, Rd 4: 12/29 10 am, Rd 5: 5 pm, and Rd 6: AreaChess.com for teams seeking players & players seeking teams. 12/30 9 am. Open to: College and University teams (at least two Play- Contact: For all these events, online entry at BayAreaChess.com/my/ 1) The guaranteed first prize must be at least $150. ers) from North and South America including the Caribbean.Teams must usatw12 and contact Bay Area Chess, 1590 Oakland Rd., Ste B213, San supply letter from University stating that the players meet eligibility Jose 95131.T: 408-786-5515. E: [email protected]. NS, NC,W, F. 2) No more than one prize under $100 may count towards the requirements. Entry Fees: Priority Registration by December 1, 2011 - Chess Magnet School JGP. Grand Prix point total. $240 per team. After December 1, 2011 $295 per team. Prizes: 1st place team = $1400, 2nd place team = $800, 3rd place team = $600, A Heritage Event! 3) Prizes below the maximum entry fee do not count towards Feb. 18-20, New Jersey the Grand Prix point total. 4th place team = $400, 5th place team = $250,Top InternationalTeam = $500,Top Division IITeam = $400,Top 4 boards = $100 each.Team 42nd Annual World Amateur Team & U.S. Team East Trophies or Plaques: Division I Champion 2200 and above, Division II 6SS, 40/2, SD/1. Parsippany Hilton, 1 Hilton Ct., Parsippany, NJ 07054. Chess Rate valid until 1/16. Reserve early 973-267-7373 or 1-800- SUBMISSIONS: If possible e-mail your tla to: [email protected] Champ 2000-2199, Division III Champion 1800-1999, Division IV Cham- pion Under 1800,Top 5 teams,Top 3 InternationalTeams,Top four Boars, HILTONS. Morris/Essex train to Morris Plains 1.5 miles. Open to 4- (Joan DuBois). For tla deadline schedule, formatting help and Grand player teams with one optional alternate. Team average (4 highest rat- Prix information see September 2011 Chess Life pg. 49 and 69 or and Top Alternate. Tournament is Fide Rated but uses USCF rules. For Additional information or online registration go to: www.swchess.com ings - 2012 January Rating list) must be under 2200. EF: $150 postmarked check http://main. uschess.org/ go/tlainfo. Payment can be done by 2/5/12. Scholastic teams College and below $145 per team, ALL-$185 online through theTD/Affiliate area or sent to: U.S. Chess,TLA Dept., or contact Barbara Swafford, 214-632-9000, [email protected]. PO Box 3967, Crossville, TN 38557. Ent: Dallas Chess Club, C/O Barbara Swafford, 2709 Longhorn Trail, after or at door. - all teams, any changes at site $25 charge. Check out Crowley,TX 76036. NS. NC. W. FIDE. Chess Magnet School JGP. official website www.njscf.org. Prizes: 1-5th Place teams, plaque and 4 digital clocks; Top Team (Denis Barry Award) U2100, 2000, 1900, Feb. 17-19 or 18-19, Florida 1800, 1700, 1600, 1500, 1400, 1300, 1200, 1000 each plaque and 4 Dig- Nationals 2012 U.S. Amateur Team Championship - South ital Clocks;Top college team (same school) 4 Digital Clocks & plaque; Dec. 9-11, California, Southern 5SS, G/120 (2-day option, Rd. 1 G/60). Universal Palms Hotel, 4900 Top HS team (grades 9-12 same school),Top Middle School (grades 5-9 2011 National Youth Action (West) Powerline Rd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309. Only 10 mins. to the Beach. same school), Top Elementary School (grades K-6 same school), Top 2 9SS, G/30. Hyatt Regency, 17900 Jamboree Blvd., Irvine, CA 92614, $69 hotel chess rate until cut-off date, 954-776-4880. 4-player teams ScholasticTeams (mixed schools okay) (Collins Award), Mixed Doubles 949-975-1234, $109 (Single – Quad). Four Sections: K-3, K-6, K-9, K-12. (with one optional alternate).Team average (4 highest ratings - January (2 males, 2 females-no alternates), Seniors (all players over age 50), Mil- Entry Fee: $50 by 11/10/11 USPS (or $50 on-line by 11/10, 6 pm cst); rating list) must be under 2200. Winning team qualifies for National itary, each plaque & 4 Digital Clocks to top team; CompanyTeam (same $70 by 11/20/11 USPS (or $70 on-line 11/10/11, 6:01 pm cst - 11/20/11, playoff online. EF per player: $40 by 2/10, $49 later. SPECIAL EF:Team employer) Old Timers Trophy (all players over 65), Family (4 family mem- 6 pm cst); $85 USPS 11/21-11/30 (or $85 on-line 11/20/11, 6:01 pm cst (one entry must be made for all players) $150 by 2/10, $190 later (any bers), State teams - CT, DE, MD, MA, NJ, NY (Benjamin Award), PA, VA, – 12/8, 6 pm cst); $85 by 12/9/11 6 PM on site (entries after 12/9/11 team changes $10). Teams from outside Florida will receive $25 off NC, RI, OH, Canada, each plaque top team; Special Plaque toTop College 6 PM cannot be guaranteed pairing for round 1, instead they may receive team entry fee. PRIZES:Top 1-3rd place teams;Top class teams: U2000, (NJ , NY, Pennsylvania), Best Player 1-4 and top alternate, All 6-0 scores 1/2 point bye round 1). Must be current USCF member by 8:30 am, U1800, U1600, U1400, U1000, U800; Top Senior team (all 50 & above), each Digital clock. Biggest Individual upset each round Engraved Cross 12/10 to be paired. Checks payable only to Chess Central. Awards: Top Female team, Top College team (same school), Top High School pen; Entry fee refunded to team with Best “Chess related” name, Sun- Individual: 1st –20th Place in each section (K-3, K-6, K-9, K-12). Class team (same school),Top Middle School team (same school, grades 6-8), day night-- Best “Chess Related” costumes or gimmick—gourmet dinner Awards: 1st-3rd Place, K-3: U800, U600, U400, Unr. K-6: U1000, U800, Top Elementary School team (same school);Top Boards 1-4. Schedule: for four. Reg. 9-12 Sat 2/18: Rds. 1-7:30, 11-6, 9-3:30. Special U600, Unr. K-9: U1200, U1000, U800, Unr. K-12: U1400, U1200, U1000, 3-day: 1st Rd. Fri. 7:30, 2-Day 1st Rd. Sat. 10; Rds. 2-5 Sat. 1:30, 6:45, Events!! Surprises and special give-aways each round. Mystery Unr. Teams: 1st-10th Place in each section. Special Sportsmanship tro- Sun. 9:30, 2:45. Free parking and Free Internet. Ent: Boca Raton Chess Guest and special Sunday morning panel on 72 match! Sunday night phy! Schedule: Opening Ceremony Sat., Dec. 10 at 9:30 am. Rds. 1-5 Sat., Club, 2385 Executive Ctr. Dr., Ste. 100, Boca Raton, FL 33431. Online entry - Bughouse $20 per team. Cash prizes. HR: Parsippany Hilton, chess rates 10 am, 12 noon, 2 pm, 3:30 pm & 5 pm. Rds. 6-9 Sun., 10 am, 12 noon, & add'l info: www.bocachess.com, 561-479-0351. Chess Magnet expire 1/16/2012. Rates $119 (up to 4 in room) 2nd hotel now attached 2 pm & 3:30 pm. Side Events: Bughouse Tournament – Fri, Dec. 9, 6:30 School JGP. to Hilton also up to 4 in room $126 per night-Hampton Inn---includes pm. EF: $20 per team ($10 for individuals and we help you create a team). Feb. 17-19 or 18-19, Illinois breakfast for 4 each day. Back up hotel - Sheraton Parsippany-about 2 On site registration only. Registration closes at 5 pm, Fri, Dec. 9. One sec- 2012 U.S. Amateur Team Championship - North miles. 973-515-2000. $99 per night. For help forming teams and more tion only, K-12. Bughouse Awards: 1st-10th Place. Blitz Tournament One section: Open. Sets-Boards-Clocks provided for USAT only by North information contact: [email protected] or Facebook: ATE- – Sat, Dec. 10, K-6 & K-12, 6:30 pm, $15 postmarked by 11/30/11, $20 American Chess Association. Open: 5SS, G/90+30/increment, 2-day: Team. Chks payable to NJSCF, mail by 2/05 to: E. Steven Doyle, 17 on-site ($15 on-line by 11/30/11, 6 pm cst, $20 on-line 11/30/11, 6:01 rd.1-2 G/60. Crowne Plaza Hotel, 2875 N. Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook, Stonehenge Road, Morristown, NJ 07960. (IncludeTeam name, Cap- pm cst - 12/08/11 6 pm cst) Registration closes at 5 pm, Sat, Dec. 10. IL 60062. 847-298-2525. $83.00 chess rate single-double-triple-quad tain, players full names, USCF Expiration, ID numbers and ratings in board Blitz Awards: Individual: 1st-20th in each section. Team: 1st-10th in until 2/3/12, FREE BREAKFAST BUFFET INCLUDED WITH ROOM! Please order). No team can include more than two GM's. Include SASE for con- each section. Puzzle Solving Contest: Sat. Dec. 10, 6:30 pm, Puzzle reserve early. Open to 4 player teams with one optional alternate. Team firmation if wanted, No registered or certified mail accepted. NS, NC,W. Solving Prizes: 1st-5th overall; 1st-5th U1000, EF: USPS: $15 postmarked average (4 highest ratings - January Rating List) must be under Chess Magnet School JGP. by 11/30/11 (On-line: $15 until 12/08/11, 6 pm cst) $20 at the site by 2200. EF: 3-day $140, per team if received USPS or on-line 6 PM by Feb- Feb. 26, New Mexico 5 pm. Awards Ceremony for Blitz/Bughouse/Puzzle Solving: Sun, 9 ruary 4th, $160 if received USPS or on-line 6 PM by Feb. 14th, $180 on-line Trophies Plus Grand Prix Points: 10 (Enhanced) am. NYA Awards Ceremony: Sun, Dec. 11, 5:30-7 pm. Club Teams until Feb. 16th 6 PM and at door. Individuals wishing to play, send $35 2012 U.S. G/15 Championship (QC) allowed! Master simuls and analysis scheduled. , Hyatt Regency, 17900 and request to be put on a team by USPS (received by 2/14) or on-line 6SS, G/15. University of New Mexico – Student Union Building, Albu- Jamboree Blvd, Irvine, CA 92614, 949-975-1234, $109 (Single – Quad) by 2/16 6 PM, $45 thereafter.Team changes on site or after 2/16 6 PM querque, NM 87131. USCF Membership required - available onsite. One reserve rooms by following links at http://chessweekend.com. Enter tour- $20. Check out official website www.chessweekend.com for more section, all players have an opportunity to win a U.S. Championship! Checks nament on line (except Bughouse) at http://chessweekend.com. info and complete prize list. Prizes: Awards to top two teams, top teams $$400-200-100 (B/50) U2400, U2200, U2000, U1800, U1600, U1400, payable only to Chess Central (no checks to USCF): Mail registra- with average rating u1900, u1600, and u1300. Award for Best Team U1200: $100 each, unrated: $50. Higher of regular or quick rating used tions with name-contact info-grade-birthday-team/school-uscf ID & Name.Winning team qualifies for national play-offs. Prizes to best team for prize eligibility. EF: $39. $10 late fee if after 1/23. Free entry to GMs, exp.-address-city-zip-e-mail address-coach name & contact info to: composed of juniors (high school and younger-must declare eligibility to IMs, and WGMs. Rds.: 6:30pm, 7:10pm, 7:50pm, 8:30pm, 9:10pm, Chess Central (Please, no checks payable to USCF), 37165 Willow, win prize). Prizes to top score on each board. Rounds: 3-day: on-site 9:50pm. Up to 2 half point byes upon req. before rd 1. NS NCW. ENT:Wired Gurnee, IL 60031. Updated info/Hotels/On-Line Entries: http://chessweek registration/check-in 5:30-6:30pm, rds.: 7pm, 10:00am & 4:00pm, Kings CC; 12004 Prospect Ave NE; Albuquerque, NM 87112. HR: $71 505- end.com. $10 service charge for on-site section/roster changes, and all 2-day: 944-2599 Hilton Homewood Suites – ABQ Airport, available until 2/1/12 refunds. Bookdealer scheduled. 10:00am & 3:30pm. on-site registration/check-in from 8:00- 9:30am, rds. 10:00am & 1:00pm then merge with 3-day. Illinois Blitz or room block full. Online Entry & add'l info: www.SouthernRockyOpen. Dec. 9-11, Florida Championship on Saturday night, $25 received by 2/14 USPS or on- com, [email protected], 505-550-4654. Part of the 2012 2011 National Youth Action (East) line (2/17), $30 at site. Illinois FIDE titled players get free entry-contact Southern Rocky FIDE Open Chess Festival. See 2012 Southern 9SS, G/30. DoubleTree Miami Mart/Airport Hotel and Exhibition Center, us for more info. First round 8 PM, 2 games with each opponent, 5 Rocky FIDE Open in Grand Prix for more information. 711 NW 72nd Ave., Miami, FL 33126, (888) 353-1995, www.doubletree rounds, bring sets, clock, & boards for Blitz. See www.chessweekend.com miamimart.com. HR: $129, mention NYA Chess. Four Sections: K-3, K- for details. All: Checks made payable to and sent to: Chess Central, 37165 6, K-9, K-12. Entry Fee: $50 by Nov 10; $70 by Nov 20, $85 after. On site Willow, Gurnee, IL 60031. Please include Team's name and roster (plus Grand Prix registration Friday December 9, 3pm to 9pm. Players registering after ID#s), captain's email and phone number, and desired schedule. Info: Dec. 11, New Jersey that will receive 1/2-point bye in first round. Awards: Individual: 1st-20th www.chessweekend.com, 847-773-7706 before 6 PM. North American Trophies Plus Grand Prix Points: 15 (enhanced) Place in each section (K-3, K-6, K-9, K-12). Class Awards: 1st-3rd Place, Chess Association will provide Sets-Boards-Clocksfor USAT only. Chess Dr. David Ostfeld Memorial ICA Early Winter 2011 Open Champi- K-3: U800, U600, U400, Unr. K-6: U1000, U800, U600, Unr. K-9: U1200, Magnet School JGP for US Amateur Team – North, Open Section. onship U1000, U800, Unr. K-12: U1400, U1200, U1000, Unr. Teams: 1st-10th Place Bergen Academy, 200 Hackensack Ave., Hackensack, NJ 07601. OpenTo in each section. Schedule: Opening Ceremony Sat., Dec 10 at 9:30 am. Feb. 18-20, California, Northern 29th Annual U.S. Amateur Team Championship West All Ages With Rating >1400. 4SS, G/60 USCF Memb Req'd Prize Fund ($$ Rds. 1-5 Sat., 10 am, 12 noon, 2 pm, 3:30 pm & 5 pm. Rds. 6-9 Sun., 10 b/40) 1st - 3rd $300, $250, $200, U2200, U2000, U1800, U1600 each $100. am, 12 noon, 2 pm & 3:30 pm. Side Events: Bughouse Tournament – (Blitz/Scholastic Feb. 20 only.) Main event: 6SS, 30/90 sd/60. Hyatt Regency, 5101 Great America Pkwy., Santa Clara, CA 95054. Free Park- Best U13Yrs Old $75, Best O65Yrs Old $75. Prize Fund Not Reduced Below Fri, Dec 9, one section only, K-12, on-site registration only, $20Team, closes 70 %. Reg Ends at 9 AM. Only one requested 1/2 pt bye allowed if at 6:30 pm, Fri, Dec 9. Bughouse Awards: 1st-10th Place. Blitz Tourna- ing! Hotel: Free Parking! $109 call 800-233-1234 for chess rate. Reserve by Feb. 4 or rates may increase. Four-player teams plus optional alter- requested before the start of rd two. EF Adv (pmk. By Dec 7th) $40 AT ment, two sections: K-6 and K-12 - Sat, Dec 10, 7 pm. EF: $15 if p/m Site $45 GMs Free Entry. Info 201 287 0250 or 201 833 1741. by Nov 30, $20 after or on site. Blitz Awards: Individual: 1st-20th in each nate, average rating of four highest must be under 2200, difference between ratings of board 3 & 4 must be less than 1000. January 2012 www.icanj.net. Email: [email protected]. Rds.: 9:30 AM, 11:45, 2:15, section. Team: 1st-10th in each section. GM/IM Simul and Lectures: 4:30 PM. ENT: Make EF and/or USCF Memb cks payable to: International TBA. Puzzle Solving Contest:TBA. Awards Ceremony for Side Events: Supp, CCA min &TD discretion to place players accurately. Main Event Prizes: Exclusive commemoratively inscribed digital clocks to each Chess Academy. Mail to: DianaTulman, 28 Canterbury Lane, New Milford, Sun, 9 am. NYA Awards Ceremony: Sun, December 11, 5:30-7 pm. Club NJ 07646. Teams allowed! Enter on line (except Bughouse) at www.active.com/ player and trophy to the team for top 3 overall teams, top team u2000, more-sports/miami-fl/national-youth-action-east-2011 or mail regis- u1800, u1600, u1400, and u1200; top "industry" team (all players from Dec. 17, North Carolina trations to: 305 Willow Pointe Dr., League City, TX 77573. Please make the same company), top "family" team (siblings, cousins, parents, Trophies Plus Grand Prix Points: 6 checks payable to Francisco Guadalupe (not USCF). Include Name, USCF uncle/aunts, grandparents), top junior team, and top school team; top Tobacco Road Action Chess Tournament ID #, Date of Birth, School or ClubTeam Name, Grade, and Section. For scorer on each board (1-4). Gift certificates for best 3 team names. Main 7-SS, G/30. Caraleigh Fellowship Hall, 118 Summit Ave., Raleigh, NC. EF: more information and mailed registration form please email flguadalupe@ Event EF: $188/team or $47/player by 2/14, 2/15-17: $197/team, $25 (rec'd by 12/16)/$30 at site. Prizes: $$800 b/40, OPEN: (GTD$ aol.com or call (713) 530-7820. Participants of NYA, including Side $56/player, Onsite: $217/team, $66/player. Main Event Sched: Regis- 1st, 2nd) $200-$100-$50, A,B,C,D,u1200 $90 ea. Unrateds will be assigned Events, must be current members of USCF. tration: Sat 9:30-10:30am. Rounds: Sat 11:30 5, Sun 11:30 5, Mon 10, rating for prize purposes after round 6. Up to 3 1/2-pt. byes for players
uschess.org Chess Life — December 2011 53 2012_USATE_ad_AKF_r6_chess life 11/9/11 7:39 PM Page 4
February 18-20, 2012 | Parsippany Hilton | Parsippany, New Jersey Join us as we remember the 40th anniversary of the Fischer-Spassky match! By plane, train or...