Where Organized in America Began

EMPIRE CHESS Winter 2016 Volume XXXVIII, No. 4 $5.00

Telling it like it is.

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NEW YORK STATE CHESS ASSOCIATION, INC. www.nysca.net

The State Chess Association, Inc., America‘s oldest chess organization, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting chess in New York State at all levels. As the State Affiliate of the Chess Federation, its Directors also serve as USCF Voting Members and Delegates.

President Bill Goichberg PO Box 249 Salisbury Mills, NY 12577 [email protected] Go Out and Play!

Vice President Polly Wright is a wonderful addition to the chess landscape. Online allows 57 Joyce Road players to have a game at any time, and play competitors from all over the Eastchester, NY 10709 world from the comfort of your own home. [email protected]

Treasurer Not only that, online web sites make it easier than ever to study chess and Karl Heck improve your play. Low-rated amateurs have access to databases and the 5426 Wright Street, CR 67 history of millions of games that would have only dreamed East Durham, NY 12423 [email protected] of. Even the former World Champion who was obsessed with chess couldn’t have played through them all. Membership Secretary Phyllis Benjamin P.O. Box 340511 Online chess, though, isn’t the same as playing live in a tournament. The Brooklyn, NY 11234-0511 face-to-face battle, likely with different time controls and conditions, is a [email protected] vastly different game than the online version. Neal Bellon did an article for

Board of Directors us last year talking about the reasons he doesn’t play online anymore. That Upstate Downstate is one way to handle it, but not the only one. William Townsend Phyllis Benjamin Bill Goichberg Dr. Frank Brady Shelby Lohrman Margarita Lanides USCF has acknowledged that online is different, creating separate ratings Karl Heck Lenny Chipkin for Online Quick and Online Blitz activity. USCF has deals with the Ron Lohrman Ed Frumkin Brenda Goichberg Polly Wright Internet and chess.com to run rated tournaments on their Steve Immitt platforms. Certainly on ICC, cheaters are thrown out of almost every Dolly Teasley USCF-rated event, showing that the concerns of some players regarding Sophia Rohde Harold Stenzel regular -rated USCF online play are certainly legitimate. The online Carol Jarecki platforms, though, remain a great way to get a rating and improve your Joe Felber play. Sunil Weeramantry

It’s a new year in 2016, and if you didn’t play in a live event last year, you should make an effort to try one this year. Enjoy yourself and the Tournament Clearinghouses Zip Codes under 12000 (downstate) environment. Don’t be worried about losing to a child, or to anybody. Bill Goichberg Enjoy the community and the players. New York is fortunate to have active [email protected] chess areas in all of the major regions of the state. From to NYS Zip Codes over 11999 (upstate) Arkport and many points in-between, traditional tournament chess activity Karl Heck lives and is vibrant in the Empire State. [email protected]

Deadlines Chess is meant to be enjoyed face-to-face. Be a part of our chess December 15 for the Winter Issue community in 2016. We’re looking forward to seeing you! March 15 for the Spring Issue June 15 for the Summer Issue September 15 for the Fall Issue

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EMPIRE CHESS Where organized chess began in America Volume XXXVIII, Number 4 – Winter 2016

Cover: The NYSCA banner hanging proudly in Albany at the State Championship. Nobody in the USA started before us.

From the Editor...... 2 Table of Contents …...... 3 Resurgence of the Weekend Swiss in Central New York by David A. Hater……………………………………4 An Instructive by Neal Bellon……………………………………………….…...... 7 NYSCA's Discount Program ...... …...... 8 Changing of the Guard at 2015 QCC Championship by Edward Frumkin…………………………….…..….....9 Capital Region News by Karl Heck…….……...... 12 Manhattan Applesauce win USCL by Frank Romano……...... 15 Kistler wins Watertown Championship by Don Klug………………………..……………………………...... 17 Kistler wins Jefferson Championship by Don Klug………………………..……………………………...... 18 Notes from the Marshall by Frank Romano……...... 20 Open Lines by Karl Heck………………………………..…..………………………………...... 22 How to Punctuate a Chess Game by Dean Howard………..………………………………………………...... 24 History of the Evans by Ray Kuzanek………………………………………………...... 26 New York Tournaments………………………………...... ,,,,,....28 Editor: Karl Heck, [email protected]. Webmaster: Daniel Heck, www.nysca.net.

Empire Chess, the official publication of the New York State Chess Association, Inc., is published quarterly. No liability is assumed with respect to the use of any information contained herein, or for any advertised products. Opinions expressed are solely those of the contributors, and not necessarily those of NYSCA. Empire Chess is COPYRIGHTED, 2015.

Empire Chess accepts articles, games, tournament reports, art work and photos. No responsibility is assumed for unsolicited material. All material submitted for publication becomes the property of Empire Chess, and will not be returned unless accompanied by a selfaddressed, stamped envelope. Letters received by Empire Chess are accepted & subject to editing. Please send to: Karl Heck, [email protected].

Membership in the NYSCA: $20/year with four printed Empire Chess; $12/year with online Empire Chess (two printed). To join, write to: Phyllis Benjamin, P.O. Box 340969, Brooklyn, NY 11234.

NYSCA membership now gets you discounts at Continental Chess Association events in New York State and all New York State Championship tournaments.

Please send articles and advertisements in camera-ready format for publication. (TIF file, Adobe Photoshop, 100 lines per inch). Chess games should be in ChessBase, with boards and positions in final form. Articles should be sent via e-mail, in Microsoft Word, Times New Roman font, size 11. Deadline for the Spring issue is March 15, 2016, although earlier submissions are appreciated, and will more easily guarantee a space in the next magazine.

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Resurgence of the Weekend Swiss in Central New York By David A. Hater New York is one of the top chess states in the country in terms of players, strong players, tournaments, size of prize fund and other metrics. However, Central New York has not enjoyed the same level of success. From 1995 until last year, there were no two-day or longer tournaments in the Syracuse area, the largest city in Central New York. Former NYSCA Treasurer 11.e5 Nxd5 12.exd5 Nxc3 13.Nxc3 Bxg2 14. Rg1 Joe Ball ran a long-running Saturday series of Re8” 15.Kf2 Bb7 16.f5 c4 17.Qd4 f6 18.Bh6 Re5 monthly tournaments from the 1980’s until 2012, but 18.Qxc4 1-0 two-day and Grand Prix events have been non- existent. The top two seeds were cruising along on Saturday and both were 3-0 entering the Sunday money Last year, New York State Chess Association and rounds. The two would faceoff on Sunday morning Continental Chess Association President Bill in Round Four, having overnight in order to prepare Goichberg sought to change that. He created the anything special that they might have in mind for the inaugural Central New York Open at Syracuse first round on Day Two. University, but the event was a bit of a disappointment. In spite of a $5,000 guaranteed prize Many times the top two seeds might agree to a quick fund, the turnout was modest and entry fees did not draw. That was not the case this year. The game was even cover the prize fund. Not to be deterred, Bill drawn, but not before 60 moves were played. Neither again organized the Second Central New York Open player achieved any significant advantage for the and the results were more promising. The entry fees entire game, but one has to admire that they both were reduced (with a reduction in prizes), and the continued to play for a win under grinding attendance not only remained the same with 63 conditions. Some may find the following game players, but the Central New York Open was a bit boring, but what I see is two strong players, neither stronger at the top of the wallchart. one of whom is able to get the upper hand.

This year IM Colomban Vitoux and FM Dov Gorman IM Colmoban Vitroux (2519) – FM Dov Gorman headed the Open section. Gorman played in the (2411) Round Four inaugural event as the top seed, but “only” finished in Sicilian Defense second place due to an upset by eventual 2014 1.e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Nc6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5.Be2 d5 6. c tournament winner Joshua Rofrano of Rochester. xd5 exd5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. OOBe7 9. d4 OO 10. Nx d5 Qxd5 11. Be3 cxd412. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Qxd4 Qx Ironically, Rofrano beat Gorman in round two in d4 14. Bxd4 2014 and the two were paired again in round two in 2015. This year the result was different.

FM Dov Gorman (2411) – Joshau Rorfano (2114) www.nysca.net 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.f3 e6 5.e4 exd5 6.cxd5 Bb7 7.Bxb5 Bd6 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Nge2 Qc7 10.f4 Qa5

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their scores in very different ways. The most interesting story of the three was Jacob Chen. He played only on Saturday and was 2-1. He signed up in advance for half-point byes on Sunday and finished with 3. Kistler, a veteran Expert player from the North Country, was paired down three times and up twice and won when paired down and lost when paired up. He rode the Swiss roller coaster: W L W L W. Smolinski played the role of comeback kid. He lost the first two rounds and got the bye Saturday night. Winning both games on Sunday allowed him to catch up.

One of the more interesting games occurred in round five in the open section. Peter Henner from the

Capital Region had White against an unrated player 14…Rd815. Rfd1 Be6 16. Bf3 Rd7 17. g3 h6 18. Be Emanuel Mukose. This unrated player though may 3Rad8 19. Bxa7 Rxd1+ 20. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 21.Bxd1 B have been unrated, but he proved he belonged in the xa2 22. b3 Bb1 23. Bf3 Bf5 24. Bd5Bb4 25. Kg2 Kf open section – he finished with two points and an 8 26. Kf3 Ke7 27. Bd4 f6 28.g4 Be6 29. Bxe6 Kxe6 1879 provisional rating. In the following game, 30. Ke4 g6 31. Be3Bd6 32. h3 h5 33. f3 Bc7 34. Bc5 Henner builds up a winning position, but tries to get a Bg3 35. Bf8hxg4 36. fxg4 f5+ 37. gxf5+ gxf5+ 38. little too cute and turns the tables on himself. Kf3Be1 39. Bg7 Kf7 40. Bd4 Kg6 41. Kf4 Bd2+42. Be3 Bc3 43. Bf2 Kf6 44. Bh4+ Ke6 45.Bd8 Bd2+ 4 Peter Henner (1943)—Emmanuel Mukose (UNR) 6. Kf3 Kf7 47. Bb6 Kg6 48. Be3Ba5 49. Bf4 Kh5 50 Reti System . Bg3 Bd2 51. Bf2 Kg6 52.Be3 Ba5 53. Bd4 Bd2 54. 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.d3 Bg4 5.Nbd2 e6 6. Bb6 Bb4 55. Bd8Bd6 56. Ke3 Kf7 57. Kd4 Ke6 58. OO Be7 7.Re1 OO 8.e4 Nc6 9. b3 Rc8 10.Bb2 d4 Bg5 Bg359. h4 Bf2+ 60. Kd3 Bg3 Drawn 11.a4 e5 12.Nc4 a6 13.a5 Qe7 14.Qd2 Be6 15. Nb6 Red8 16.Ng5 h6 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18.Bb3 Qd6 19.Qe2 After this draw, the final round was still in doubt. Rb8 20.f4 Nza5 21.fxe5 Qxb6 22.exf6 Rxf6 23.e5 Vitoux and Gorman were joined by National Master Rg6 24.Qe4 Kh7 25. Bg4 Nc6 26.Bxe6 Nb4 27.Bf7 Alexander Spinnell all with 3 ½ out of 4. Vitoux Nxc2 28.e6 c4 29.Bxg6+ Kh8 30.Re2 Nxa1 31. would face Spinnell with Spinnell having the White Bxa1 c3 32.Qd5 Rc8 33.Qd7 pieces. Gorman was paired down to a three-pointer – Lev Paciorkowski. Spinnell did offer a draw in the late opening/early middlegame in an equal position. The IM felt compelled to play to win, presumably due to tournament standing and as the top seeded player. Vitoux did in fact bring home the full point.

Vitroux forced Gorman to win his game in order to tie for first and he was also up to the task. The top two seeds finished with 4 1/2 out of 5, a full point ahead of the rest of the field. On board 3, Rofrano and his opponent Matt Slomski each had a chance for clear third if the game was decisive, but they drew to finish at 3 ½. Spinnell, Slomski, and Rofrano were joined by WFM Anna Levina who won her last round game. All finished with 3 ½ and won $50.

The Under 2100 prize was a three way tie between 33…Qc5 34.Rc2 b5 35.Bb2 Rd8 36. Qb7 cxb2 Jacob Chen, David Kistler, and Timothy Smolinski, 37.Rxc5 b1/Q+ 38.Kg2 Bxc5 39.e7 Bxe7 40.Qxe7 all with three points. These three players achieved Rc8 41.Be4 Qxb3 42.Qd7 Qc2+43.Kh3 Rf8 5

44.Qxd4 a5 45.Qd6 Qf2 46.Qg6 Qf1+ 47.Bg2 Qf5_ However, Tyshaune “only” tied for first. Larry 48. Qxf3 Rxf3 49. Kg4 Rf2 50.Bc6 b4 51.d4 b3 Goodman (1450)also finished with 4 ½. Each won 52.Be4 a4 53. D5 a3 0-1. $155, though surprisingly the two top finishers did not play each other in the event. Goodman drew Unfortunately, we do not have games from the lower Jovanna D’Alonzo (1143) in the second round. sections to share. However, there are a few stories of note. In both class sections, the eventual winners Justin (1486) and James Cunningham (1427) were paired up all five rounds! tied for third with 3 ½ points. King beat Cunningham in Round Two. In the Under 1900 section, University of Vermont student John Monfort was paired up every round and The mixed doubles prize ended in a tie for first with finished with 4 ½ points, picking up 170 rating points two teams scoring six points. The teams of WFM in the process going from 1611 to 1781 and making Anna Levina/Victor Levine and Carol Paden/Dan the long trip from Burlington worthwhile. His only Riley scored a combined 6 points and each team won draw was to Michael Miller (1695), who tied for $75. Special mention goes to Levina/Levine as they second place. Miller also won all his other games, also won the mixed doubles prize last year. In order but he signed up for a half-point bye in Round Four. to catch the father/daughter team of Levina/Levine, Monfort’s clear first place was worth $300. Paden and Riley both had to win the last round and they did exactly that! Levina/Levina both played in Spencer Martin (1519), who lost to Miller in Round the Open section, while the woman from and One and then won four straight in the 21-player Riley battled in the Under 1500 section. section and Anthony Magenta (1240), who lost to Miller in Round Two, also tied from Miller with four The tournament also offered plaques to the top three points. Magenta gained 219 rating points, more than college teams. Unfortunately, this prize has not been a full class, going from 1240 to 1459 in his second as much of a success in the Central New York Open tournament after a 14-year absence from rated play. as of yet. Last year only two college teams attended, Martin also had an impressive 179 rating point gain and the number was the same this year. Monfort led to end the weekend at 1698. his University of Vermont team to first place. The In the Under 1500 section, the lowest-rated player in second place trophy was won by SUNY-Poly. the section won the tournament. Tyshaune Mack (507) got the bye as the lowest-rated players in the Steve Immitt directed for Continental Chess, assisted 17-players section in round one, then was paired up by veteran Syracuse tournament director Joe Ball. four times and finished with 4 ½ points, picking up 408 rating points in the process. Full results can be found at www.centralnewyorkopencom.

State Scholastics is Coming! America’s Longest-Running State Championship is still in Saratoga Springs, but moving to a new date: March 12-13, 2016.

We’ll see you there!

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An Instructive Draw by Neal Bellon ([email protected])

The game below is a very instructive draw I played Okay, so Black chopped off the “London” , but recently at my club. My annotations below will White gets a that breathes fire down the e-file, a focus on three phases of the game: the London weak Black e- to attack, and a pawn on f4 that System opening, middlegame positional play, and an bolsters e5 and can possibly be pushed to f5. This opposite-colored Bishops endgame. was the point of White’s 10th move.

Long Island Chess Club: 5th LICC Fall Open 11…e6 12. Ne5 Qh4 13. Qg4 Qxg4 14. Nxg4 f5 15. 11/5/15, G/90;d5 Ne5 Bh6 16. Nxd7 Bxd7 17. g3 g5 18. fxg5 Bxg5 Neal Bellon (1770) - Michael Sambriski (1942) 19. Nf3 Bf6 20. Ne5 Control and occupation of e5 is a hallmark of the London. 1.d4 d5 2. Bf4 c6 3. c3 Nf6 4. e3 g6 5. Bd3 Bg7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. h3 Nbd7 8. O-O Re8 9. Nbd2 20…Rad8 (diagram)

21.Nxd7?! Much stronger is 21. f4, bolstering the e5 The London System is more about central control and against Black’s bad Bishop and creating a strong preventing counterplay, rather than central expansion positional bind that ties up Black. Instead, I and attacking, though the latter is possible depending went for a “cheapie” tactical shot that wins a on Black’s play. I often use the analogy of the pawn, but Black is fine and the extra pawn is London being like a trap system that a hockey team uses. It might be a boring game, but you give your hardly winning in this Queenless position. aggressive opponent nothing to work with. 21…Rxd7 22. Bxf5 Rde7 23. Bg4 e5 24. dxe5 Rxe5 9…Nh5 25. Rxe5 Rxe5 26. Kf1 Kf7 27.Re1 d4 28. Rxe5 This Bishop hunt is typical in the London but nothing Bxe5 29. f4 for White to worry about. 29…cxd4 is better. 29…dxc3 30. bxc3 Bxc3 31. Bf5 h6 32. Ke2 Kf6 33. 10. Re1! Bc8 b6 34. Kd3 Be1 35. g4 a5 36. Bd7 c5 37. Bb5 This is the move for diehard London players. The An excellent square for the Bishop that ties down thinking is that if Black is willing to move his Knight Black’s pawns. I knew it was very drawish here but three times in the opening just to trade it, White is was hoping to get a pawn breakthrough on the happy to play along. 10…Nxf4 11. exf4 (continued on page 11) 7

NYSCA: Get Your Discounts and Be a Board Member!

NYSCA has approved a new way for affiliates and organizers of the New York State Championship and New York State Open to support us. Organizers that offer a significant entry fee discount for the NYSCA events as well as other tournaments that the organizer holds. The State Scholastic Championship, which is the largest funder of NYSCA, is unchanged by this change in membership criteria. It is worth noting that the traditional membership- required model remains in effect, and may be used by any organizer, as has been the case throughout NYSCA's history.

In 2015, membership at the State Championship and State Open will not be required, but members will be offered a $7 discount on their entry fee to the event. Continental Chess Association (CCA) is also offering a $5 discount at its other tournaments in New York, including the Long Island Open and Manhattan Open. It should be noted that CCA revived the New York State Open in May in Lake George, and the event has been a success for NYSCA. NYSCA is willing to work with any other organizer on other NYSCA events.

NYSCA wants to work with organizers to expand the discounts. Organizers that offer the discounts will have their events advertised in Empire Chess, posted on the NYSCA web site and advertised through NYSCA's facebook and feeds. By accessing NYSCA's group of committed tournament chess players, the discounts in entry fee will more than pay for itself with increased entries and the ability to obtain entries from further away. NYSCA is also working on internet options for membership verification and purchase.

NYSCA is also looking for Board members. Elections are held in every odd-numbered year, and not only do Directors get to help NYSCA grow chess from Montauk to Niagara, they also have the opportunity to vote in USCF elections. There are elections in Upstate and Downstate New York. Please let us know if you would like to be on the next ballot.

Help us make NYSCA the best chess organization it can be in the best chess state in the country. It will make us better, and your events better as well.

NEW YORK STATE CHESS ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP FORM

Name:______Address:______City:______State:______Zip:______

E-Mail:______USCF ID:______

$20 for four printed issues $12 for two printed issues (Winter and Summer)

Mail to: Phyllis Benjamin, Secretary, NYSCA, PO Box 340969, Brooklyn, NY 11234. (please note new address)

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Changing of the Guard at 2015 Queens Chess Club Championship by Edward Frumkin

The 2015 edition of our club championship began on 6.Nxf6+ Bxf6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.Nf3 Bd7 9.Ne5 0–0 October 9 with 13 games and three additional players 10.Bd3 c5 11.Nf3 cxd4 12.Nxd4 Rd8 13.0–0 Nc6 expected to enter with byes the following week. Four 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Qc1 Rac8 16.Qe3 a6 17.Rab1 draws and several upsets ensued (of the nine decisive Bd5 18.b3 Qe7 19.c4 Bc6 20.Rbd1 g6 21.Rd2 Qh4 games, only one was won by the handler of the White 22.Rfd1 Qe7 23.Be4 Rxd2 24.Rxd2 Bxe4 25.Qxe4 pieces). The first such was 9-year-old Charles Hua Rd8 26.Rxd8+ Qxd8 27.g3 Qd7 28.b4 h5 29.h4 Kf8 (1807) over Ed Frumkin (2013), immediately 30.Kg2 Ke8 31.a4 Qc6 32.Qxc6+ bxc6 33.Kf3 Kd7 followed by his dad Long Hua (1255), the house 34.Ke4 f6 35.f4 Kd6 36.Kd4 c5+ 37.bxc5+ Kc6 player, over Frank Paciulli (1949), who then dropped 38.a5 Kc7 39.Ke4 Kc6 40.Kd4 Kc7 41.Ke4 Kc6 out. Drawn.

There were eight former club champions in the field at the start, and one of 15 eventual matchups of ex- champs took place already on Board 1 (Ed Kopiecki (one clear title, one shared)-IM Jay Bonin (six clear, four shared), won by the latter with a nice exchange sac). Former champs Joe Felber (one clear) and Edgar Cimafranca (one shared), as well as Bill Arluck and Adrian Relingado, each of whom had finished third in recent championships, were held to draws by Clayton Glad, Guy Rawlins, Jay Kleinman and James Sirotnik, respectively. Sirotnik’s draw from a rating gap of 434 points gave him the early lead for the upset prize over Charles Hua (Long Hua’s 694 point win didn’t count since he wasn’t a tournament entrant).

Round 2 brought the entry of another former champion, Devlin Sinclair (one clear) and several After two rounds there were only four perfect scores other players, bringing us up to 15 boards. The and Round 3 pairings of Parhami-Bonin and Hua-IM excess of players in the 1-0 group coming off Black Danny Kopec (two shared titles) were posted, only to led to two getting a second Black in Round 2 under be changed when Charles’ maternal grandfather died variation 29E4b (as Casey Stengel would say, “You and the family went to China for the funeral, can look it up”). Payam Parhami (defending champ) necessitating three consecutive byes (byes for and Charles Hua each won with the second Black, the Rounds 4 and 5 had been declared at entry). Kopec- latter from Arunas Simonaitis (2025) for a 218-point Bonin was a short draw and Sinclair beat Parhami upset for a momentary lead for that prize, until with the Black pieces. passed by Guy Rawlins (1618) over Jay Kleinman (1858). In the 0-1 group Frumkin, Ira Cohen and There were now seven players at 2½-½, but two were Rito Ilao each got a second White, but Frumkin lost taking byes the next two rounds, with IM Kopec for again, this time to Mulazim Muwwakkil (1843). lectures at CCA events in and , and Charles Hua as previously In the game below, lower-rated James Sirotnick mentioned. Bonin-Arluck and Felber-Sinclair were (1542) held 1976-rated Adrian Relingado with Black. wins for Jay and Devlin, while Cimafranca-Parhami was an interesting draw as Parhami set up a Relingado,Adrian (1976) - Sirotnik, James (1542) with two Bishops and pawn vs. . Andrew Ryba [C13] French Defense (2332) was a surprise late entry with the maximum Queens Chess Club Championship (1), 09.10.2015 three byes, spotting the leaders a full point and 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Be7 9 making him the 10th former champion in the field Queens Chess Club Championship (6), 13.11.2015 and enlarging the field to 32 paid entrants, raising the 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 c5 4.Nbd2 cxd4 5.exd4 Nc6 prize fund by 1/3 for the third consecutive year. 6.c3 g6 7.Bd3 Bg7 8.0–0 0–0 9.Re1 Qc7 10.Nf1 Nd7 11.Ne3 Nb6 12.Qb3 Rd8 13.a4 a5 14.Bb5 f6 15.Bd2 Mikhail Mordukhay (1552) upended Frumkin (2013) Kh8 16.h3 e5 17.dxe5 fxe5 18.Rad1 e4 19.Nh2 Ne5 to take the upset lead (461), which he held for the rest 20.Nc2 Nbc4 21.Bg5 Rf8 22.Ne3 of the event. 22.Rxd5 Qf7 23.Bxc4 Nxc4 24.Qxc4 Be6³ 22...Nd3 23.Re2 Round 5 saw a top board pairing of Sinclair-Bonin in [23.Rxd3 exd3 24.Nxd5 Qc5 25.Nf3 d2 26.Rf1÷] which the former declined a draw offer and then won, 23...Qe5 putting him a full point ahead of the field. Sinclair made National Master as a result of this tournament, and this victory was a key reason why.

Devlin Sinclair (2196) – IM Jay Bonin (2423) [E92] King’s Indian Queens Chess Club Championship (5), 06.11.2015 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d6 3.c4 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.e4 0–0 6.Be2 e5 7.d5 a5 8.0–0 Na6 9.Ne1 Nc5 10.f3 Nh5 11.Nd3 Nxd3 12.Bxd3 Nf4 13.Ne2 Nxd3 14.Qxd3 f5 15.Be3 f4 16.Bf2 g5 17.c5 g4 18.Rac1 Qg5 19.Kh1 Rf6 20.fxg4 Bxg4 21.Ng1 Rh6 22.cxd6 Qh5 23.h3 cxd6 24.Bb6 Kh8 25.Rc2 Bf6 26.Nf3 Rg8 27.Nh2

24.Bh4?? 24.h4 24...Qh5 25.f3 Nxe3 26.Be7 Nxd1 27.Qxd1 Rf7 28.Bd6 Nf4 29.Rd2 Be6 30.Bf1 e3 31.Rd4 Qg5 32.Ng4 e2 33.Bxe2 Nxe2+ 34.Qxe2 Bxd4+ 35.cxd4 Bxg4 36.hxg4 Kg8 37.g3 Qc1+ 38.Kg2 Qc6 39.Qe5 Re8 0–1

Bonin and Parhami drew, while Simonaitis beat Cimafranca, so three more players lurked at 4-2, creating the possibility of a six-way tie for the 27...f3? championship. Last round pairings were Kopec- 27...Bd7 28.Bxa5 Rhg6÷ Sinclair, Ryba-Kopiecki, Hua-Bonin (a possible 9 28.Nxg4 fxg2+? year-old champion or co-champion !!) and Parhami- 28...Qxg4 29.Rxf3± Simonaitis. Kopec and Ryba made draw offers that 29.Rxg2+- Rxg4 30.Rxf6! Rxg2 31.Rxh6 Qg5 were declined, and then both won. Charles Hua’s 32.Qf3 1–0 amazing run came to an end, while Simonaitis Ryba, Parhami, Arluck, Lawson and Kopiecki all sacrificed his Queen for a pretty mate after a Knight won to stay within a point. In Round 6 Ryba was declined. defeated Sinclair to create a five way tie for the lead at 4½-1½ that included Kopec (win from Lawson), Payem Parhami (2144) -,Arunas Simonaitis (2025) Kopiecki (win from Arluck) and Charles Hua (win [D00] QP Game from Dick Murphy (1972). Queens Chess Club Championship (7), 20.11.2015 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 c5 3.e3 Nc6 4.c3 Qb6 5.Qb3 c4 6.Qc2 Sinclair,Devlin (2196) – NM Ryba,Andrew (2332) Bf5 7.Qc1 Nf6 8.Be2 h6 9.Nd2 g5 10.Bg3 Ne4 [D04] Queen’s Pawn Game 11.Nxe4 Bxe4 12.Bf3 0–0–0 13.Bxe4 dxe4 14.Qc2 10 f5 15.f3 e5 16.fxe4 f4 17.exf4 exd4 18.0–0–0 d3 other in the tournament, as the of IM Jay 19.Qd2 Bc5 20.Re1 gxf4 21.Bxf4 Rhf8 22.Nf3 Qa6 Bonin and Arunas Simonaitis were next at 5-2 23.Kb1 Na5 24.Bg3 Rf6 25.Bh4? winning $152 each, splitting the third place and Under 2100 prizes. Both players participated in every round of the tournament, with the IM going 4- 1-2 while Simonaitis won five and lost two.

The $120 Under 1800 prize was split four ways by Rito Ilao (1624), Guy Rawlins, Mikhail Mordukhay and Frank Drazil (1537) with scores of 3-4. Philip Mathew won the Under 1500 prize of $96 with 2-5 and Mordukhay took the $40 upset prize as well. Ed Frumkin and Joe Felber directed.

You can find most of the game scores on the club website, which is at www.queens-chess.com., which is the most popular club in the second largest borough in New York State, meeting on Friday

When the smoke cleared, IM Danny Kopec and NM nights. Andrew Ryba were co-champions at 5½-1½, winning $320 each in splitting the $400 first prize and $240 second prize. byes did not lead to that pairing.

Kopec yielded only one draw while taking two half- point byes, while Ryba won all of the games he Instructive Draw (continued) played. The two co-champions did not play each

An Instructive Draw (from page seven) Kingside while hoping for a slip from my opponent. I didn’t notate the exact move, but I declined a draw offer around this point.

43. gxh6+? This impatient move might as well be a draw offer. It does nothing to try to play for an advantage or induce a mistake from Black. 43. a4 or g6 would have been much superior.

37…Bg3 38. Ke4 Bh2 39. h4 Bg3 40. g5+! 43…Kxh6 The best move. It’s truly a “dead draw” at this point. 40…Kg7 41. h5 Be1 42. Kf5 Bc3 44. Kg4 Bd2 45. Be2 Bc1 46. Kf5 c4 47. Bxc4 Kxh5 48. Ke5 Kg6 49. f5+ Kg7 50. f6+ Kf8 51. Ke6 Be3 52. a4 1/2-1/2

11

Capital Region News by Karl Heck The Capital Region is one of the more active chess Winners in the unrated scholastic sections were Adam regions in Upstate New York, and the annual Make Aleksic and Reginald Anadlo in the Grade 6-12 the Right Move season is one key reason for the section with 3 ½ points, drawing each other in the Region’s activity. second round. Thomas Hetman won the Grades 3-5 section with a perfect 4-0 score, and Aanish Iyengar The 2015-16 season started with TRM 96 at the won the Grades K-2 section, also with four points. Albany Academy on Columbus Day weekend and National Chess Day, which drew 95 players. The Brother John McManus, Sandeep and Sreenivas Open section was a triumph for Mlan Majo, a Alampalli directed the tournament for Make the newcomer to the region from Brooklyn. Majo scored Right Move. 3 ½ points to win the 10-player section by half-a- point. Michael Mockler was clear second with three Zachary Calderon spotted the field half-a pointwith a points, and Karl Heck and Jonathan D’Alonzo tied bye in the first round of the TRM 99 tournament at for third with 2 ½ points. Niskayuna High School in December, but won the last three round to win the Open section with 3 ½ Mayo beat the Editor quite convincingly in the last points. David Sterner was clear second with three round. points, and rising junior Nitin Obla, wearing the colors of local rival Shaker High School, was clear White: Karl Heck (1700) third with 2 ½ points, losing in the last round in a Black: Alan Majo (1603) time scramble with Calderon. TRM 96 October 10, 2015 Sicilian Wing Gambit. Rhamel Bynum, a regular winner in this section, won 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. b4 cxb4 4. d4 Nc6 5. d5 Ne7 6. the King 1000-1400 section with a perfect 4-0 score. a3 bxa3 7. Nxa3 Nf6 8. Qd4 exd5 9. e5 Nc6 10. Danny Diaz was clear second with 3 ½ points. Qd1 Ne4 11. Qxd5 Bb4+ 12. Nd2 Nc3 13. Qc4 Qe7 Antonio Lacy won the Queen 600-999 section with a 14. f4 d5 15. Qd3 Nxe5 16. fxNe5 Qxe5+ 17. Kf2 perfect 4-0 score, with Adam Aleksic and Deon Bc5+ 18. Kf3 Qf6+ 19. Kg3 Qf2# (0-1) Santhosh tying for second with 3 ½ points in the 17- player section after they drew different players in the Derin Gumustop and Blaise Loya won the King first round. Jack Berry and William Wu tied for first 1000-1400 rated section with 3-1 scores, with Loya with 3 ½ points in the Rook Under 600 section, winning in the last round to force the tie. Ashwin drawing each other in the last round. Both may have Vutha, Jared Wargacki and Rhamel Bynum tied for “graduated” from the section with the coming of the thired with 2 ½ points. Aubrey Nooks won the Quren New Year. 600-999 rated section outright with a perfect 4-0 score, besting the 17-player field by a full point. William Mathers, director of the East Greenbush Harun Gupel, Balaji Mahadevan, Connor Hurley and Chess Community, won the All Welcome section Amit Goel tied for second with 3-1 scores. with a perfect 4-0 score. Michael Martinkat was clear second in his first rournament with three points, Aryan Mishra won the Under 600 rated section with losing to Matters in the third round. 3 ½ points, yielding a draw in the third round to Spencer Moon. Five players tied for second in the Winners of the unrated scholastic sections were 20-player section: Ben Goldberg, Tanmay Goel, Yousef Abdelmagid and Michael Makutonin in the Serigne Sow, Michael Malatino and Rowechen Grades 6-12 section with perfect 4-0 scores. Karthik Zhong. Narayan won the Grade 3-5 section with 3 ½ points, drawing third-place finisher Moah Droz in the third Veteran Hudson Valley player Ken Evans won the round. Pradham Rodda was clear second with three unrated All Welcome section with 3 ½ points, points. David Xu won the Grades K-2 section. drawing third-place finisher Satish Iyengar in the second round. Keith Hetman was clear second with Brother John McManus, Sandeep and Sreenivas three points, losing to Evans in the first round. Alampalli directed the tournament for Make the Right Move. 12

The Albany Chess Club championship has started, as Samuel Koblensky and Ethan Rafferty tied for the round-round events throughout the Capital second with three points. Matthew Belfance won the Region are a ritual of Fall and early Winter. Rook Under 600 section with a perfect 4-0 score, with Jack Berry being clear second with 3 ½ points, Courtesy of enyca.org, we have this first-round upset drawing in the first round and working back through in the Albany championship. the field.

White: Cory Northrup East Greenbush Chess Club organizer Bill Matters Black: Dean Howard won the All Welcome section with 3 ½ points, Albany Club Championship Round 1 yielding a draw to fellow club member Mary October 28, 2015 Livingston in the last round. Premjith Narayan was Center Counter (by ) clear second with three points, and Livingston was 1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.exd5Nxd5 4.Nxd5 Qxd5 5.Nf3 third with 2 ½ points. Bf5 6.b3Nc67.Be2 e5 8.d3 Bb4+ 9.Bd2 Bd6 10.O-O O-O-O 11.Ng5 e4 12.dxe4 Bxe4 13.Bc4 Qe5 14.f4 Winners in the unrated scholastic sections were Bc5+15.Kh1 Qf5 16.Nxf7 Miguel Cruz in the Grades 6-12 section with a perfect 4-0 score, Yashna Hasija won the Grades 3-5 section with four points, and Karthik Narayan and Kwayme Boyake won the Grades K-2 section with 3-1 scores.

Brother John McManus, Sandeep and Sreenivas Alampalli directed the tournament for Make the Right Move.

Michael Mockler and David Sterner were the stars of the Open section of the 80-player Bethlehem Fall Classic, with both players ending with three points. Sterner beat Mockler in the second round, but lost to Ernest Johnson of the Hudson Vallye in the last round. Rhamel Bynum won the King and Queen 600-1400 section with a perfect 4-0 scores. Devine Gumustop was clear second with 3 ½ points, drawing

to Balaji Mahadevan in the third round. Six players Bb4 17.Rf2 Bc3 18.Nxd8 Rxd8 19.Rb1 Bd4 tied for third with three points: Danny Diaz, Jared 20.Rf1Rd6 21.Be2 Rg6 22.Bf3 Bxc2 23.Qe1 Bxb1 Wargacki, David Rynkowski, Aryan Mishra, Samuel 24.Qxb1 Qd725.Be4 Rf6 26.Bxh7Qf727.f5 Rh6 Koblensky and Amit Goel. 28.Bxh6 gxh6 29.Bg6 Qf6 30.Qe4 Be5 31.Qc4 Ne7 32.Qf7 Nxg6 1–0 Adam Aleksic and Max Heller won the 20-player Rook Under 600 section with perfect 4-0 scores, as Empire Chess columnist Zachary Calderon, home on the section ran to form. Tanmay Goel, Andrew and college break from his studies at Brooklyn College, Eleanor Cerf, Lerchen Zheng and William Wu tied took part of the weekend to lay a 4-0 perfect score on for third 3-1 scores. the field at the 102-player TRM 97 tournament held at SUNY Albany’s Campus Event Center. Empire William Matters won the All Welcome section with a Chess editor Karl Heck was clear second with three perfect 4-0 sweep. Thomas Clark and Premjith points, losing to Calderon in the third round. Narayan tied for second with 3-1 scores. Winners in the unrated scholastic section were Ty Sprague in the Danny Diaz and Val Meyer Chabris tied for third in Grades 6-12 section with four points, Nikhil the King 1000-1400 section with 3-1scores. Diaz Radosevich in the Grades 3-5 section with four beat Chabris in the second round, but lost to Blaise points, and Karthik Narayan in the Grades K-2 Loya in the third round. Erica Li won the Queen section, also with four points. 600-999 section with a perfect 4-0 score, with Catalina Varela, Nicholas Rappazzo, Arvan Mihsra, Brother John McManus, Sandeep and Sreenivas 13

Alampalli directed the tournament for Make the 10…Kf8 11. Re1 Be6 12. d5 Bd7 13. dc6 bc6 14. e5 Right Move and the Bethlehem Chess Club. de5 15. Ne5 Rd8 18. Ng6+ fg6 17. Re7 Ke7 18. David Sterner won the Open section with a perfect 4- Qe2+ Kd7 19. Qe6 # 0 score at the TRM 98 tournament in November at LaSalle Institute in Troy. Sandeep Alampalli stepped Brother John McManus and Sreenivas Alampalli behind the tournament directed desk for once to directed the 71-player tournament for Make the Right finish second in the Open section with 2 ½ points. Move. Rhamel Bynum and Shreyas Raman won the King 1000-1400 section with 3 ½ points, drawing in the After five events so far in the 2015-16 chess season, second round. Albany High School is leading East Greenbush in the team competition by 67.5 to 64.5. Bethlehem is third Aryan Mishra won the Quen 600-999 section with a with 62 points. As East Greenbush and Bethlehem perfect 4-0 score, with Erica Li, Balaji Mahadevan, are the traditional powers in this competition, the and Nicholas Rappazzo tying for second with three emergence of Albany High as a rival is very points. Arjun Nair won the Rook Under 600 sectin interesting, and it remains to be seen if Albany High with 3 ½ points, drawing to Aarush Iyengar in the last can continue to lead the teams during the second half round. Iyengar and Lerchen Zhong tied for second of the season. :Long-time participant and event with three points. sponsor Albany Academies is fourth with 45 ½ points. Satish Iyengar, Premjith Narayan and Kevin Mazwell tied for first with three points in the All Welcome Make the Right Move has been active in chess in the section Narayan defeated Maxwell in the first round, Capital Region and New York City for over a decade, but lost to Iyengar in the last round to force the tie. providing thousands of Empire State chess players the opportunity to play in free chess tournaments and Winners in the unrated scholastic sections were other chess-related events, and their season has Shuyang Zhang in the Grades 6-12 section with four become the building by which other chess points, Yashna Hasjia winning the Grades 3-5 section events in the Capital region work around. Their with four points, and Navin Mahesh completing the formula of securing a variety of regional sites and perfect score scholastic sections with a perfect 4-0 local sponsors for their events has proven successful, score in the Grades K-2 section. and their events regularly attract over 100 players of all ages and strengths. Courtesy of Make the Right Move, here is one of the top scholastic games from the tournament. There will be a charity conducted on Wednesday, January 6th by rated Expert White: Aryan Mishra and Empire Chess columnist Zachary Calderon at the Black: Erica Li East Greenbush Chess Community at 6:30 p.;m. Mr. Queen Section: TRM 98, LaSalle Institute Troy Calderon will play up to 30 players, and the cost of admission to the simul are donations for the 1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 ed4 6. Rensselaer County food pantry. Along with being an cd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bd2 8. Nd2 d6 9. h3 Qe7 10. 0-0 Expert chess player and columnist for Empire Chess, Zachary is a freshman at Brooklyn College. Advanced registration is encouraged for the simultaneous exhibition.

The East Greenbush Chess Community, one of the most active clubs in the Capital Region, regularly meets on Wednesday nights at the Sunshine Day Care Center, 14 Hays Road in East Greenbush not far from the Hudson River.

14

Manhattan Applesauce is the Boss of the US Chess League by Frank Romano

The Manhattan Applesauce are the kings of the US …exd5 16.exd5 Bb7 17.Be2 g6 18.Bxh5 gxh5 19. Chess League (USCL) for 2015. The USCL just completed its 11th season of team play among cities in the United States, with all play occurring on the Internet Chess Club interface. For 2015, the USCL expanded to a record 20 teams, with 10 teams in each of two divisions: East and West. There were 10 rounds in the regular season played on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, followed by playoffs which 12 teams participated in. Teams are ;limited to an average rating of 2400.25.

In 2015, New York had two teams in the USCL: the New York Knights and the Manhattan Applesauce.

In addition, New York players also played for teams f5 Qe5 20.Rhf1 Rfe821.Bd4 Qxd5 22.g6 Bf8 23.gxf in New Jersey and Connecticut. The Knights are 7+ Kxf7 24.Qg5 Re4 25.Qxh5+ Re7 26.Bb6Qg8 27. charter members of the USCL and won the f6+ Ke6 28.Qf5+1–0 championship in 2009 and 2011. The Applesauce joined the USCL in 2007, and this is their first One rule that the league has in the USCL playoffs is championship. that the higher seed has draw odds during the matches. This rule came into immediate effect during The ten-match season ended with New England and the Wildcard first round of the playoffs, as Manhattan New York tied for first in the East with 7 ½ match and New Jersey both advanced in the East with points and 24 game points. Dallas and St. Louis tied drawn matches. for first in the West with 6 ½ points. In the Eastern Division, New Jersey (led by New York State Hall of GM Zviad Izoria, a fixture at the Marshall Chess Famer GM Joel Benjamin) was clear third with seven Club and a Board One stalwart for the Applesauce, points, Manhattan was fourth with 6 ½ points, beat former New York State Champion GM Michael Connecticut was fifth with 5 ½ points, and Carolina Rohde with Black in a King’s Indian on Board One to claimed the last playoff spot in the East with a 4-6 keep the Applesauce’s season alive. Izoria ended the record. 2015 season with an 8-3 record for the Applesauce.

In the Battle for the Big Apple during the regular The other winner for Manhattan in the Wildcard season, the Knights and Applesauce drew 2-2 in Round was GM Giorgi Kacheichvili, who defeated Week Three, and the Knights beat the Applesauce in former New York State Scholastic Champion IM Week Ten to earn a bye in the first round of the Danny Edelman on Board Two in what was largely playoffs, as GM Mark Paragua won on Board One for an intramural affair given the close proximity of the the Knights. The match loss was the only one of the two teams in one of the battles largely within the year for Manhattan, which had a 4-1-5 record during New York City metropolitan area. New York the regular season. The game is shown below: chessplayers are everywhere, and GM Rohde is obviously well-known in New York events. GM Mark Paragua(2638)– GM Irina Krush, (2551) GM Michael Rohde 2531–GM Zviad Izoria 2638 B48 Sicilian Defense E92 King’s Indian USCL Week 10 USCL Wildcard Round 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0- 6.Be3 a6 7.Qd2 Nf68.f3 Be7 9.g4 00 10.000 b5 11.K 0 6.Be2 e5 7.d5 a5 8.Bg5 h69.Be3 Ng4 10.Bd2 f5 11 b1 Bb7 12.g5 Nh5 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.f4 b415.Nd5!15 .h3 Nf6 12.exf5 gxf5 13.Qc1 Kh7 14.g4 Na6 15.gxf5 15

Ng8 16.h4 Bxf5 17.Ng5+ Kh8 18.Nce4 Kc4 Kxf3 Drawn. The Semifinals was a true intra-city battle between the Knights and the Applesauce. The Applesauce equalized the season series at 1-1-1 in the most important match of the year, beating New York 3-1. GM Alex Lenderman returned to Board One for the Semifinals for Manhattan and defeated New York’s GM Mark Paragua, and NM Levy Rozman of Manhattan defeated NM Jonthtan Subervi of New York.

GM Zviar Izoria held serve with Black against GM Pascal Charbonneau and junior Expert Akira Nakada held a draw against FM Aravind Kumar, earning Manhattan a valuable half-point and removing the pressure from the top players. 18…hxg5 19.hxg5+ Nh6 20.Ng3 Bg621.Bh5 Qe8 22 .gxh6 Bf6 23.Bg5 Nc5 24.Bxf6+ Rxf6 25.Qg5 Qf7 The same lineup returned for Manhattan for the final 26.000 Rg827.Qe3 Bxh5 28.Nxh5 Rf3 29.h7 Rg2 30 against the St. Louis Archbishops on December 1, .Qe1 Rfxf2 31.Qc3 Qf5 0–1 and Manhattan made it a December to remember with a victory over the defending champions by the Manhattan had a more clearcut result in the score of 2 ½-1 ½. Quarterfinals, defeating the New England Nor’easters by 2 ½ - 1 ½. As in the Wildcard Round, Izoria and Unlike the previous rounds of the playoffs, the lower Kacheishvili were the winners to move the team boards were the key to success for the Applesauce in forward. NM Levy Rozman, an experienced New the Finals. GM Alex Lenderman lost on Board One York master, held FM Steven Winer to produce the to GM Ilya Myzhnyk, and GM Zviad Izoira could margin of victory. only draw against Super-GM , but

NM Levy Rozman won against NM Spencer New York also went through to the Semifinals on Finegold, and Expert Akira Nakada beat NM draw odds as the higher-seeded team, drawing all Nicholas Rosenthal on Board Four to bring the four boards. This battle between New York’s GM championship home. The last game to finish was Pascal Charbonneau and New Jersey’s GM Joel Izoria’s draw, getting a perpetual in a tricky Benjamin was the USCL Game of the Week. Queen vs. Rook and three pawn endgame.

GM Pascal Charbonneau (2552)– Along with Izoria, the other season-long mainstay of GM Joel Benjamin (2629) the team was Levy Rozman, who finished the season E45 Nimzo-Indian with an 8-2 record, and scored 2 ½ points in the final USCL Quarterfinals three playoff matches. Without his nerves of steel 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 b6 5.Nge2 Ba6 6.N gaining points on the lower boards, Manhattan could g3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 d58.Ba3 Bxc4 9.Bxc4 dxc4 10.Qa not have been the champions. 4+ Qd7 11.Qxc4 Qc6 12.Qxc6+ Nxc6 13.c4 0-0-  0 14.f3 h5 15.h4 Rhg8 16.Kf2 g5 17.Bb2 Rg6 18N Other players for the Applesauce this season were e2 Rdg8 19.e4 gxh420.Nf4 Nxe4+ 21.fxe4 Rg4 22.K GM Irina Krush, New York State Champion IM e3 Rg3+ 23.Kd2 R8g4 24.Raf1 Na5 25.Bc1Nxc4+ 2 Aleksandr Ostroskiy, FM Alec Getz, NM Venkat, NM 6.Be2 Nd6 27.Be3 Nxe4 28.Kd3 Nd6 29.Rf3 Nf5 30 Ben Gershenov,and NM Hans Niemann. Ben .Rh3 Rxf331.gxf3 Rg8 32.Bf2 Rd8 33.Ke4 Kb7 34. Gershenov was the Team Manager with assistance Ne2 c5 35.Bxh4 Rd5 36.Bf6 Nd6+37.Ke3 cxd4+ 38. from Aleksandr Ostrovskiy and Levy Rozman. Nxd4 Ra5 39.Rh2 e5 40.Nb3 Ra4 41.Rxh5 Rxa2 42 .Bxe5Nc4+ 43.Kd4 Ra4 44.Kc3 Nxe5 45.Rxe5 Rf4 The Applesauce played this season from the Chess- 46.Re7+ Ka6 47.Nd4 b548.Rd7 Kb6 49.Rd5 a6 50. in-the-Schools Office in Manhattan, and will be ready Rf5 Rxf5 51.Nxf5 Bc5 52.Kh6 f6 53.Ng4 Kd554.Nx to defend its title against all comers in 2016. f6+ Ke5 55.Ne4 Kf4 56.Nd2 Ke3 57.Kb4 Kf4 58.K a5 Ke3 59.Kxa6b4 60.Kb5 Kxd2 61.Kxb4 Ke3 62. 16

DR. KISTLER GLIDES to 6th WATERTOWN CHAMPIONSHIP by Don Klug David Kistler easily won his sixth Watertown Chess Club title on December 8th with a 2-0 Match victory over runner –up Adolfo Prieto. Dr. Kistler (+24-7=6) had suffered seven losses over the eight-month long chess club season before clinching the top seed with his County Championship title in October. His seasons record against second place finished Adolfo Prieto was just +2-2=3, and club members were expecting more of the same in the championship match. Not so!

The club champion, holding draw odds in the championship match, laid in waiting for his opponent to misstep. Dr. Kistler changed the normal sequence of moves in a very drawn looking position at move

25 and Mr. Prieto missed an in between f7 pawn capture with check, costing Mr. Prieto the loss of the 27. Bxf7+ ! Kxf7 28.Rxb8 Ne4 29.Be1 Bf6 30.c4 exchange and the game. Bd4 31.Kg2 Bc5 32.f3 Nf6 33.Bb4 Nh5 34.Bd2 Ke6 35.Rf8 Nf6 36.Rb8 Nd7 37.Rb7 g6 38.Kg3 Bd4 Watertown Chess Club 39.Bb4 Nf6 40.Rb5 h6 41.Ra5 Nh5+ 42.Rxh5 gxh5 2015 Championship Match, game 1 43.Kh4 d5 44.cxd5+ Kxd5 45.Kxh5 Be3 46.f5 Ke5 47.Kg6 Bg5 48.Bc3+ Kf4 49.Bd2+ Kxf3 50.Bxg5 David Kistler (2029) hxg5 51.Kxg5 1–0 Prieto, Adolfo (1878) [C86], In game two, Mr. Prieto, now playing White and December 1, 2015 faced with the pressure to even the match played aggressively. He blundered at move 24 by losing a 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.Qe2 d6 5.c3 a6 Rook without just as he had done in 6.Ba4 b5 7.Bb3 Be7 8.0–0 0–0 9.h3 Nb8 10.d4 2014 to end that club championship match. Nbd7 11.Rd1 Qe8 12.a4 Bb7 13.Nbd2 c5 14.axb5 axb5 15.Rxa8 Qxa8 16.Qxb5 Bc6 17.Qe2 Nxe4 Dr. Kistler announced his (hopefully temporary) 18.dxe5 Nxd2 19.Bxd2 Bxf3 20.Qxf3 Qxf3 21.gxf3 retirement from weekly club play this week after six Nxe5 22.Bd5 Rb8 23.Rb1 and a half years as a club member, six Club and 23.b4 cxb4 24.cxb4 Bf6 seven County championships. Dr. Kistler has scored 23...c4 24.f4 Nd3 25.b4 196 wins, 25 draws and only 17 losses during his Tempting Black to exchange the passed 'b' pawn now. club membership. Dr. Kistler has also won 41 of the [25.Bxc4 Rxb2 26.Bxd3 Rxd2 27.Rb8+ Bf8 28.Bxh7+ 53 tournaments that he has played, a truly impressive Kxh7 29.Rxf8] record for one of the strongest players in the North 25...cxb3 26.Bxb3 Country. 26.Rxb3 Rxb3 27.Bxb3 Nc5 28.Bd5] (...and now the misstep by Black!) Further information on the Watertown Chess Club 26...Nc5? (diagram). and chess in the North Country can be found at Black misses the power of the check. www.watertownchessclub.com.

17

Dr. David Kistler Wins 7th Straight Jefferson County by Don Klug

Dr. David Kistler won his seventh straight Jefferson County Chess Championship since 2009, on October 10th. He defeated 2014 co-champion Don Klug in the first round and cruised to a 3-0 record. Dr. Kistler has achieved an undefeated record in this event over these past seven years.

This year’s event was attended by just four players, even though the event was on National Chess Day and was advertised in a national and State . A holiday weekend and balmy fall weather appears to have influenced the poor attendance. Below is the critical position of the first round game between the 2014 co-champions. This game seemed to decide the championship immediately. Dr. Kistler cruised easily by his two remaining opponents in what turned into a round-robin event. Game position after 20. Nd6

Mr. Klug, feeling the pressure of having his The two alternative moves would have left Black with opponent’s knight embedded on the sixth rank, very solid positions, either 20..Re7 or 20…Bxd6. wrongly decided to give up the rook exchange for A. 20...Re7 21.Nb5 Qb8 22.Rad1 Red7 23.Nd6 Qc7 pawn and knight, with 20… Rxd6? (See position 24.Nb5 Qb8 25.Nd6 Qc7 26.Nb5 Qb8 draw below) The trade gave white the double threat of the B. 20...Bxd6 21.exd6 Qxd6 22.Bf6 Ra8 23.Rfd1 Qf8 open “d’ file and “a1-h8” diagonal. White had little 24.Rd7 Bc6 25.Rd2, leaving the position nearly even. trouble from Black after this error and won easily. The lesson here is that Black needed to take the necessary time to more carefully analyze the position, 2015 Jefferson County Championship regardless of the clock time. The game continued Dr. David Kistler- Don Klug with: King’s Indian Attacj 21.exd6 Qxd6 22.Rad1 Qc6 23.Rf2 c4 24.Bf6 Bg7 Round 1, October 10th (TC Game/75, d5) 25.Rfd2 Bxf6? Another Black mistake, but it really does not matter 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 c6 4.0–0 Nbd7 5.d4 e6 as White is clearly up material and will eventually 6.Nbd2 Bd6 7.b3 0–0 8.Bb2 Re8 9.Ne5 c5 10.e3 win. 25...cxb3 26.cxb3 Bxf6 27.gxf6 Qc3 28.Kf2 Bd5 Qc7 11.f4 b6 12.g4 Bb7 13.g5 Ne4 14.Bxe4 dxe4 29.f5 Rc8 30.Ke2 Qb4 31.fxe6 fxe6 32.f7+ Kg7. 15.Ndc4 Nxe5 16.dxe5 Be7 17.Qh5 g6 18.Qh6 Bf8 26.gxf6 h5 27.Qg5 Qc5 28.Qxc5 bxc5 29.Rd7 Bc6 19.Qh4 Rad8 20.Nd6 Rxd6? 30.Rc7 Bd5 31.Rxa7 cxb3 32.axb3 Rc8 33.Rd7 c4 At this juncture, Black is both concerned with the 34.b4 Rb8 35.c3 Ra8 36.b5 Ra3 37.b6 Rb3 clock management and a potential cramped position. 38.R1xd5 exd5 39.b7 1-0.

www.nysca.net

18

Notes from the Marshall by Frank Romano Anytime at the is special, but New York State Champion FM Nicolas de T Checa the atmosphere is more electric and exciting during and Master Ryan Ruiz tied for third with the world-famous club’s 100th Anniversary. The 6-3 scores. Hoffman and Yury Volvovskiy tied for players and staff of the Marshall are definitely fifth with 5 ½ points in the closely-contested event. making this a centennial to remember! Oscar Garcia directed for the Marshall. When special events such as a recent lecture on Bobby Fischer with Dr. Frank Brady and former The Marshall November Masters drew a rare entrant, USCF President Leroy Dubeck are taking place, so is former World Championship finalist GM Gata the bread-and-butter of the club, which is playing the Kamsky, on November 17th. The world-famous Royal Game in a way befitting of the strongest chess tied for first in the 25-player tournament club in the United States. with IM Kassa Korley. The two co-winners drew in the third round. The Marshall December Masters drew 20 players to the club on December 15th, and IM Yaacov Norowitz Current New York State Champion IM Aleksandr was the winner of the Gregory Keener-directed Ostrovskiy and current New York State Scholastic tournament with 3 ½ points. Norowitz drew rising Champion FM Joshua Colas tied for third with junior NM Hans Niemann in the last round to clinch undefeated 3-1 scores. These two champions drew in first prize. the last round when the winner could have joined the tie at the top. WGM Vera Nebolsina also joined the Niemann, New York State Hall of Famer IM Jay tie for third, though she lost in the first round to GM Bonin, Chinese IM Kaioi Yang and Donari Braxton Irina Krush. tied for second with 3-1 scores. Niemann and Braxton was undefeated, Yang lost to Norowitz in the Bryan Quick directed the tournament for the third round and Bonin lost in the first round to NM Marshall. Juan Sena before working back through the field. GM Yury Lapshun took the Marshall No Draw The 2015 Jerry Simon Amateur, open to all non- Weekend tournament on Thanksgiving weekend masters, was a victory for regular Marshall players seriously, clobbering the 47-player field with a George Berg and Robert Olsen, Jr. with 4-1 scores. perfect 6-0 score with no draws in an impressive The two co-winners in the 40-player tournament performance. drew in the second round. Berg drew Expert Jason Margiotta in the fourth round, while Olsen took a Oluwaseun Bisiriyu-Salam, an Expert, got through half-point bye in the last round. the field for a clear second with 4 ½ points out of six. One of his draws was against GM Sergey Kudrin, a Six Expert players tied for third with 3 ½ points: most impressive performance. Kudrin led a group of Henry Oi, Rudy Tia, Jr., Ryan Ruiz, Zachary Cohn, five players with four points that also included NM Jason Margiotta, and Anthony Greco. Yoon-Young Kim, NM Alexander King, Michael Layevskiy and fast-rising junior Adi Murgescu. Gregory Keener directed the tournament with assistance from Bryan Quick. Anthony Norris directed the tournament for the Marshall. The Marshall’s 500 Blitz tournament drew 27 strong players on Black Friday. GM Alexander Stripunsky As part of the Marshall’s Centennial Celebration, the won the tournament with an 8 ½-1/2 score, only club revived its Junior Club Championship, which yielding a draw to veteran FM Asa Hoffman in was held on November 22. Round Seven. The 26-player tournament was a comprehensive IM Aleksandr Ostrovskiy, the current New York State triumph for NM Ethan Li, a member of the 2016 All- Champion, was clear second with an 8-1 score, only American Chess Team. Li swept the field with a losing to Stripunsky in the fourth round. Former perfect 5-0 score, winning by a point and a half. 19

f5 22. Rh3 Kh7 23. Nf3 Kg7 24. Rg3+ Kh7 25. Three players tied with 3 ½ points: NM Hans Ng5+ Kh8 26. Rh3 Kg727. Qg3 Kf6 28. Rxh6+ Niemann, National School Grade Champion Nico Ke7 29. Rxb7+ Ke8 30. h4 Nxd4 31. Kh2 Rxc3 32. Werner Chasin and Sophie Morris-Suzuki. Morris- Qf2 Qc5 33. Qb2 Nc6 34. Rb5 Qe3 35. Nh3 Qg3+ Suzuki gained over 100 points in the field to raise her 36. Kh1 Qe1+ 37. Kh2 Qg3+ 38. Kh1 Qe1+ 39.Kh2 rating to 1782. Qg3+ 1/2-1/2

Joris Kate, Katherine Shaw Davis, Marcus Sutton and Bryan Quick, Oscar Garcia and Gregory Keener Maya Doron-Repa tied for fifth with 3-2 scores. directed the tournament for the Marshall, which is Jermaine Reid directed for the Marshall. one of the ways that the Club works to help players get FIDE ratings and international norms. The Marshall also held a FIDE Invitational from November 6 through 14th at the Club. The Marshall FIDE Invitational Round 7 tournament was a triumph for NM Brandon White: Zachary Tanenbaum 2155 Jacobson, who won the event with a 7-2 score despite Black: Brandon Jacobson 2236 losing in the first round to namesake NM Aaron ECO C54 Jacobson. Brandon went 7-1 against everybody else, 1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O including this smooth eighth-round win against NM 6. O-O d6 7. Nbd2 h6 8. h3 Be6 9. Re1 Bb6 10. Levy Rozman: Bb3 Qd7 11. Nf1 Ne7 12. Ng3 Ng6 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. fxe3 c6 15.Bxe6 fxe6 16. Rf1 d5 17. exd5 exd5 Marshall FIDE Invitational Round 8 18. e4 Qc7 19. Qc2 Nf4 20. Rae1 Rad8 21.exd5 White: NM Brandon Jacobson Rxd5 22. c4 Rxd3 23. Nxe5 Nxh3+ 24. Kh2 Rxg3 Black: NM Levy Rozman 25. Kxg3 Ng5 26. Rf2 Re8 27.Rfe2 Nf7 28. Qf5 ECO: D12 Queen’s Gambit Declined Rxe5 29. Rxe5 Nd7 30. Kh2 Ndxe5 31. Kh1 Qe7 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. 32. Qc8+ Kh7 33.Qf5+ g6 34. Qe4 Qg5 35. Rf1 Nh4 Be4 7. f3 Bg6 8. Qb3 b59. c5 Nbd7 10. a4 b4 Nd6 36. Qd4 Nf5 37. Qxa7 Ng3+ 38. Kg1 Nxf1 11. Qxb4 Rb8 12. Qa3 a5 13. Nxg6 hxg6 14. Be2 e5 39.Qxb7+ Kg8 40. Qb8+ Kg7 41. Qa7+ Nf7 42. 15. O-O Nh5 16. g3 Qf6 17. Rd1 Nxg3 18. hxg3 Qd4+ Qe5 0-1 Qg5 19. Kg2 Qh5 20. Rg1 Qh2+ 21. Kf1 f522. Bd2 Be7 23. Nd1 Qh3+ 24. Kf2 g5 25. Bf1 Qh5 26. Bg2 Marshall FIDE Invitational Round 6 Rf8 27. Rh1 Qg6 28. f4gxf4 29. gxf4 Nf6 30. dxe5 White: NM Brandon Jacobson 2236 Ne4+ 31. Bxe4 dxe4 32. Kf1 Rd8 33. Be1 Rd3 34. Black: NM Bhatty Karan 2109 Qa2 Rd5 35. Nc3 Rd3 36. Bf2 Bxc5 37. Rd1 Rxd1+ ECO A96 Dutch Defense 38. Nxd1 Ke7 39. Qc4 Bb4 40. Bh4+Kd7 41. Rg1 1. d4 e6 2. c4 f5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Qh6 42. e6+ Kc7 43. Qd4 Qxe6 44. Rxg7+ Kc8 45. O-O d6 7. Nc3 a5 8. Qc2Nc6 9. e4 Nb4 10. Qe2 Qa7 1-0 fxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Qxe4 e5 13. g4 Bd7 14. dxe5 Bc615. Qe2 dxe5 16. Nxe5 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Rozman, FM Rostislav Taborsky, and NM Aaron Bd6 18. f4 Bxe5 19. fxe5 Rxf1 20. Kxf1 Qd4 Jacobson tied for second with 5 ½ points. Jacobson 21. Bd2 Nd3 22. Kg2 Qxc4 23. Kg3 Rf8 24. Rc1 was undefeated with two wins and seven draws in the Qd4 25. Rf1 Rxf1 26. Qxf1 Nxe5 27.Qf5 Qd3+ 28. closely-contested event, such as in this sixth-round Qxd3 Nxd3 29. Bxa5 Nxb2 30. Bxc7 Kf7 31. Kf4 battle between Rozman and Taborsky which directly Ke6 32. Ke4 Nd1 33.Ba5 Nf2+ 34. Kf4 Nd3+ 35. affected the top of the table. Ke4 Nf2+ 36. Kf3 Nd3 37. Bc3 g6 38. Ke3 Ne5 39. Kf4Nf7 40. Bb2 Kd5 41. Ba3 Kd4 42. Be7 Kd5 43. Marshall FIDE Invitational Round 6 Bf6 Ke6 44. Bg7 Kd5 45. Bb2 Ke6 46.Ke4 Ng5+ White: NM Levy Rozman 2262 47. Kf4 Nh3+ 48. Kg3 Ng5 49. h4 Nf7 50. Kf4 Kd5 Black: FM RostislavTaborsky 2193 51. Bf6 Ke6 52. Bc3Kd5 53. Bb2 Ke6 54. Bd4 Kd5 D00 55. Bg7 Ke6 56. Ke4 Kd6 57. Kd4 b6 58. Bf8+ Ke6 1.d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 d5 3. e3 c5 4. c3 Qb6 5. Qc2 Nc6 6. 59.g5 Kd7 60. Kd5 Ke8 61. Ba3 Kd7 62. Bb4 h6 Nd2 cxd4 7. exd4 Bd7 8.Ngf3 Rc8 9. Qb3 e6 10. 63. gxh6 Nxh6 64. Ke5 Nf5 65. h5 gxh566. Kxf5 h4 Bd3 Na5 11. Qc2 Bb5 12. O-O Bxd3 13. Qxd3 Be7 1-0 14. Ne5Nc6 15. f4 h6 16. Bh4 O-O 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 (continued on page 24) 18. Nd7 Qxb2 19. Rab1 Qa3 20. Nxf6+gxf6 21. Rf3 20

Open Lines..tidbits about the chess world. by Karl Heck

• FM Justus Williams, a former New York State champion, led the way for the New York delegation at the National K-12 Grade Championships held Deceember 4-6 in Orlando, Florida. Williams was co-champion along with Aaron Grabinsky of Oregon with a 6-1 final score. Williams lost in the third round to David Richey Hauge of Washington, DC, who tied for fifth. New York State Scholastic Champion FM Joshua Colas tied for third with 5 ½ points, losing to Williams in the last round to fall out of first place. NM Isaac Barayev, NM Alexander Spinnell, John Chen, Samuel Zhang and Michael Ainsworth all tied for fifth in the 63-player 12th Grade section as Empire State scholastic stars filled the top of the table.

Wesley Wang, a fellow New Yorker, won the 199-player 6th Grade Championship with 6 ½ points. Having draw odds, Wang drew Constantine Oskiper of New Jersey in the last round after six straight wins to secure the tile. Evelyn Zhu tied for second with a 6-1 score, losing only to Wang in the sixth round. Siddarth Vijayasnakar and Daniel Levkov tied for eighth with 5 ½ points.

New Yorker Samit Dhar was victorious in the 196-player 5th Grade Championship with 6 ½ points, drawing Florida’s Raghav Venkat in the fifth round and winning a showdown with Texas’s Daniel Hung in the last round giving draw odds. Zachary Yan and Leonardo Liu tied for 10th with 5 ½ points.

Nico Werner Chasin won the fourth title for New York players in the 198-player 3rd Grade Championship with 6 ½ points. Chasin yielded a draw in the third round to fellow New Yorker Sean Kaloudis in the third round, and won four straight as the section’s highest-rated player to win the Championship. James Oh, Jack Levine and Dae San Kim tied for second in the six-point score group.

Oliver Boydell was part of a four-way tie for first in the 73-player Kindergarten Championship with a 6-1 score. Boydell lost in the fifth round, and won the last two rounds to move into the tie for the title.

New Yorkers were quite strong in the other sections as well. In the 11th Grade section, Hal Rives, Eric Zhang and Daniel Kostovetsky tied for sixth with 5-2 scores in that 71-player section. William Greif tied for second with a 6-1 score in the 10th Grade section, losing only in Round Five to Arizona’s Prateek Pinisetti to finish one-half point behind champion John Ludwig. Ethan Li tied for fourth with 5 ½ points in the 10th Grade section.

Arjun Rai tied for second in the 128-player 8th Grade section with a 6-1 score, with his sixth-round draw to fellow six-point finisher Darian Nguyen of Arizona being the difference between second and first. Vicki Yang tied for sixth with 5 ½ points. Akira Wood Nakada tied for second in the 141-player 7th Grade section with an undefeated 6-1 score. Justin Dalhouse tied for fifth with 5 ½ points, losing only to the champion.

In the 4th Grade Championship which was won by the new youngest National Master in the country, Maximillian Lu of Connecticut with a rare perfect 7-0 score, Gus Huston of New York tied for third with a 6-1 score, only losing to Lu in the sixth round. Nathaniel Shuman, Henry Burton and Charles Hua tied for eighth with 5 ½ points. Thomas Fini and Dylan Ma was in the six-point score groupd tying for third in the 2nd Grade Championship. Johji Nakada and Alexander Rubinstein tied for ninth with 5 ½ points in the 173- player section. 21

Nathaniel Mullodzhanov and Daniel Luo were in the six-point score group in a tie for third in the 133- player 1st Grade Championship.

New Yorkers also won Team Championships at the School Grade. Team winners were Stuyvesant High School in the 12th Grade section (Alexander Spinnell, John Chen, and Samuel Zhang); Stuyvesant High in the 10th Grade Championship (Danel Regassa, Zachary Yu, Charlie Parker Reeder, Shaina Peters); IS 318 in the 8th Grade Championships (Arjun Rai, Vicki Yang, Li Heng Wang, Wang Chen); IS 318 in the 7th Grade Championship (Justin Dalhouse, Steven Xue, Katrina Wong, Kunchok Kahndo); Jericho Middle School in the 6th Grade Championship (Wesley Wang, Evelyn Zhu and Joshua Dong); PS 33 Chelsea Prep in the 5th Grade Championship (Samit Dhar, Leonrado Liu, Adam Sherer); Dalton School in the 4th Grade Championship (Gus Huston, Nathaniel Shuman and Veda Sagranek), PS 41 in the 3rd Grade Championship (Nico Werner Chasin, Jack Levine, Aeneas Merchant); and PS 77 Lower Lab School in the 1st Grade Championship (Royal Buchanan, Morgan Kenzo Mairaj, Sobel Gaudissard).

New York can be proud of all of our players that participated and the parents and coaches that brought them to Nationals, along with the five individual and nine team championships the Empire State won in Orlando. A total of 1,725 players participated in the K-12 Grade, the highest number since 2003.

• Once again, New York’s scholastic stars ranked highly on the 2016 All-American Chess Team sponsored by Trophies Plus. Ten of the 74 players on the Team hail from the Empire State, second only to California’s 11 and well ahead of Texas. The 2016 honorees were as follows:

 Age 17 (minimum rating 2450) – IM Michael Bodek  Age 16 (minimum rating 2400) – FM Joshua Colas  Age 14 (minimum rating 2350) – NM Ethan Li  Age 13 (minimum rating 2300) – FM Nicolas de T Checa (IM-elect)  Age 12 (minimum rating 2200) – FM David Brodsky  Age 12 (minimum rating 2200) – FM Marcus Ming Miyasaka  Age 10 (minimum rating 2100) – Wesley Wang  Age 9 (minimum rating 2000) – Benjamin Medina  Age 8 and Under (minimum rating 1950) – Nico Werner Chasin  Age 8 and Under (minimum rating 1950) – Nathaniel Lande Shuman

Congratulations to all 10 New York players. Both our Denker (Joshua Colas) and Barber (Marcus Ming Miyasaka) made the team, as well as former New York State Champiou Nicolas Checa. The future, and present, of New York chess is brighter due to the efforts of these strong players.

• In addition to the national stage, several New York scholastic players took on the world as part of the 130- player Team USA in the World Youth Team Championships, held in Greece in November. FM 9and IM- elect) former New York State Champion Nicolas de T Checa finished eighth in the Open Under 14 section. Newcomer to international chess Adi Murgescu impressed in the Under 8 section, going 8 ½-11 and finishing in a tie for third.

WFM Martha Samadashvili of the Capital Region finished seventh with an 8-3 score, including a draw against the gold medalist in the last round, in the Girls Under 12 section.

Impressive results against the best of the world!

• New York’s adult players have also been impressive “on the road.” The King’s Island Open in Ciucinnati over Veteran’s Day weekend resulted in two of the three big winners being from the Big Apple: GM Aleksandr Lenderman and IM (and GM-elect) Justin Sarkar, along with Indian IM Priyadharshan 22

Kannappan. All three players scored three wins and two draws to split the big money in the 293=[;ayer tournament.

A pretty win from IM Sarkar is shown below, courtesy of USCF.

IM Justin Sarkar (2491) – NM Milos Davidovich (2200) Queen’s Gambit Declined 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.dxc5 d4 7.Na4 b5 8.cxb6 axb6 9.e3 Bb4+10.Bd2 d3 11.Bxb4 Nxb41 2.Nd4 Nf6 13.Nc3 OO 14.Bxd3 Nxd3+15.Qxd3 Ba6 16.Ncb5 Qd517.OO Rac8 18.Rfd1 Bb7 19.f3 Rfe8 20.Nf5 Qxd3 21.Rxd3 Ba6 22.Rb3 Re5 23.Nbd4 Bc4 24.Rc1 Rec5 25.Ne7+ Kf8 26.Nxc8 Bxb3 27.Rxc5 bxc5 28.Nxb3 c4 29.Nd2 c3 30.bxc3 Nd5 31.c4 Nxe3 32.a4 Nc2 33.a5 Nb4 34.Nb6 Ke8 35.Ne4 f6 36.Nc5 Nc6 37.a6 Kd8 38.Ne6+ Ke7 39.Nd4 Na7 40.Nb5 Nc6 41.Kf2 Kd8 42.Ke3 g6 43.a7 Nxa7 44.Nxa7 Kc7 45.c5 Kb7 46.Nbc8 f5 47.Kd4 g5 48.c6+Kc7 49.Kc5 g4 50.fxg4 fxg4 51.Nd6 h5 52.Nf7 h4 53.Nb5+Kb8 54.Nfd6 h3 55.gxh3 gxh3 56.c7+Ka8 57.c8=R#1–0

• New York native GM was the big winner at the Millionaire Open in Las Vegas in October. Nakamura knocked-out the field and won $100,000 for his efforts, besting Chinese GM Qunag Liem Le in the knockout playoff for the big money. New York GM Aleksandr Lenderman finished fourth in the Open section of the million-dollar event, winning $16,000 for his week in Vegas.

Notes for the Marshall (continued from page 21)

Marshall FIDE Invitational Round 5 White: NM Juan Sena 2123 Black: NM Levy Rozman 2262 ECO A08 King’s Indian Attack 1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 Nc6 5. g3 Bd6 6. Bg2 Nge7 7. O-O d4 8. c3e5 9. cxd4 cxd4 10. Nc4 Bc7 11. a4 Ng6 12. Bg5 f6 13. Bd2 a5 14. Qb3 Qe7 15. h4h5 16. Rfc1 Nb4 17. Bxb4 axb4 18. Ne1 Be6 19. Qd1 Nf8 20. Bf3 g6 21. a5 Kf7 22.Bg2 Nd7 23. Kh2 g5 24. Nf3 g4 25. Nfd2 Ra6 26. f3 Kg7 27. Nb3 Nf8 28. Qd2 f529. exf5 Bxf5 30. Qf2 Rf6 31. Re1 Bxd3 32. Nxe5 Bxe5 33. Qxd4 Ng6 34. Qxd3 gxf335. Bxf3 Nxh4 36. Nd4 Rd8 37. Qe4 Rxd4 0-1

The October Marshall Masters was a rare perfect score triumph in what are generally highly-competitive and closely-contested events, and the person delivering the 4-0 score was New York State Scholastic Chess Champion FM Joshua Colas. Colas defeated NM Dan Lapan in the last round to secure the perfect score triumph in the 27-player tournament.

GM Mackenzie Molner was clear second with 3 ½ points, drawing IM Kassa Korley in the third round. Korley, Lapan and NM Todd Bryant all tied for third with 3-1 scores, with Korley going undefeated.

Gregory Keener directed for the Marshall.

23

How to Punctuate a Chess Game By Dean Howard

Sometimes the usual symbols don't show what really in human terms. Black should still win after this happened in a chess game. Non-master games would sacrifice, but White's game falls apart completely be full of ? and ?! and the Informant hieroglyphics for after the simple 17...Rg8. "better is" and "weak square".

Games played by real people need different symbols. Here is an imperfect but interesting old game, with a few examples of what I mean.

White: John Morse Black: Dean Howard Capital District Chess League, 2011 Queen Pawn Game

1. d4 d5 2. f4 Nf6 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. Be3

The cat symbol shows this is a pet line of John's. It may not be "good" technically, but he's comfortable with the stonewall-like formation and has played it many times, while opponents have to work it out with the clock running. 18. gxf4 Qxf4 19. Qe1 Rg8+ 20. Kf1 Ng3+

I chose the black cat as a reminder that offbeat lines "Danger ahead." Not bad by itself, but it leads to are risky. You can have bad luck unless you study trouble. The noose tightens after 20... Rg3, but this them enough to be familiar (pun intended). 21. Kf2 Nf5 22. Bb5+ Ke7 23. Qe5 ¿¿Qxe5?? This is a very hard move to punctuate. It should lose, but how can you give two question marks for failing to find an amazing continuation like 23... Rg2+!! 24. Kxg2 Nh4+!! 25. Kf1 (25. Nxh4 Rg8+) Qxf3+ 26. Ke1 Qxh1+

24. dxe5 Ng3 25. Rhg1 Ne4+ 26. Ke3 c4 27. Ba4 ?! The old "dubious" symbol works here. White misses a chance to simplify and make the game more goof- proof with (27. Bxc4 Nxc3 28. bc dc 29. Rab1) 27…Ng3 28. Bc2 Rg7 29. Rg2

4... e6 5.

4…Nbd7 6. Bf2 Bd6 7. e3 c5 8. c3 Ne4 9. Be2 Nxf2 10. Kxf2 Qc7 11. g3 Nf6 12. h3 Bf5 13. Nh4 Be4 14. Nxe4 Nxe4+ 15. Kg2 g5 16. Nf3 gxf4 17. exf4 Bxf4 ?

The "meeple" question mark means this is a mistake 24

I had only a minute left, so this a good human choice for two reasons. Removing the Knight means I can't into a , and removing the last pawn means I won't lose even if my time runs out.

58. Kxf3 Kxe5 59. Ba4 f5 60. Bb5 Kd5 61. Ba6 e5 62. Bc8 e4+ 63. Ke2 f4 0-1

29…Rag8 !

A clever human decision. (29...Nf5+ 30. Kg2 Rxg2+ 31. Kg2 Ne3+ 32. Kf2 Nxc2 {isn't quite enough because} 33. Rc1 Nb4 34. cxb4) traps the Knight, so I hoped that John would miss the threat again.

30. Rag1 Nf5+ 31. Bxf5 Rxg2 32. Rxg2 Rxg2 33. Bxh7 Rxb2 34. Nd4 Rh2 35. Bc2 Rxh3+ 36. Kd2 a6 37. a4 Rg3 38. Bd1 Rd3+ 39. Kc2 Re3 40. Nf3 b5 The final position deserves an exclamation point of 41. axb5 axb5 42. Kd2 Re4 43. Bc2 Rg4 44. Bd1 its own. Maybe John does too, for resigning Kd7 45. Nd4 Re4 46. Nf3 Kc6 47. Bc2 Rf4 48. Ke3 respectfully and allowing the game to end on such a Rg4 49. Bd1 Rg7 50. Kf4 Kc5 51. Ke3 b4 52. cxb4+ picturesque note. Kxb4 53. Kd2 Kc5 54. Ke3 Rg3 55. Kd2 d4 56. Ke2 Kd5 57. Kf2 Rxf3+ !

Remember the Labor Day Tradition! America’s Longest-Running Returns to Albany.

Make Your Plans Now!

25

History of the by Ray Kuzanek In 1995 I wrote a book on the Evans Gambit Welsh farmer, went to sea at the age of fourteen and (Moody The Evans Gambit Revolution)and have served until the end of the Napoleonic War in 1815. included here a reprint of the history of the Evans Transferring to the postal service, he reached the rank Gambit from that book written by Ray Kuzanek, who of captain in 1819, and regularly sailed between did extensive research on the history of the Evans Milford Haven, Wales and Waterford, Ireland. He Gambit. The purpose of this history is to provide the learned chess from naval lieutenant Harry Wilson, foundation for a series of articles on the Evans and first conceived of the gambit bearing his name in Gambit to be included in the next several issues 1824. Traveling to London in 1827 (or late 1826), he of Empire Chess. The previous articles on the 4.Ng5 introduced the gambit to Alexander MacDonnell. The variation of the Two Knights' Defense coupled with gambit was analyzed in William Lewis' First Series the Evans articles should provide players with a of Chess Lessons (1831-1832), but only became complete opening repertoire to meet the two most widely known when it was used by MacDonnell in common responses to 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 which his series of matches with LaBourdonnais in 1834 provides players bored with the over-analyzed Ruy and 1835. Lopez to have a viable alternative to the Ruy. In Paul Morphy's annotations to the 26th game of the LaBourdonnais-MacDonnell match (appearing in the New York Ledger of March 3, 1860, Morphy wrote, 'The game before us is the first in which that most beautiful of openings, the Evans Gambit, occurs between these two distinguished players. M'Donnell had for some time been familiar with the attack, having analyzed this debut with its originator, Captain Evans. LaBourdonnais, on the other hand, was comparatively unacquainted with this new style of play, and although unfortunate in his first encounter, deserves great credit for the skill and patience with which he elaborated the defence in subsequent games.'

MacDonnell played the gambit six times, winning The development of theory owes its four and losing one. LaBourdonnais used the gambit growth to individual analysis, an evolving sixteen times, winning eleven and losing three. Many understanding of the tactics and strategy inherent in of the lines, which were to become the subject of positions through exchanges of ideas, and testing intense analysis for decades to come were highlighted initial conclusions in actual games. Added to these in this match. elements is the human penchant for changing fashion, the exercise of imagination, the creation of beauty, The variation repeatedly revisited during the match and the impact of dominant personalities. was to become known as the “Normal Position':

5...Ba5 (or 5...Bc5) 6.O-O d6 7.d4 exd4 8.cxd4 Bb6. These wellsprings of creativity have affected the The position was reached 18 times with MacDonnell development of all chess openings in some degree, continuing with 9.h3 and LaBourdonnais favoring but can, arguably, be said to be specially true of the 9.d5, 9.Bb2, and 9.Nc3. Evans Gambit. A rich past, linking historic matches between the towering figures of an era, and the The games and the tactical themes they represented gradual refinement of opening ideas gives the were featured in the French player/student a context for his/her own expanded publication LaPalamede (the first magazine totally appreciation of the many facets of the opening. devoted to chess, and edited by LaBourdonnais from

1836-1839 and St. Amant from 1841-1847) as well as William Davies Evans (1790-1872), the son of a 26 the British periodicals of George Walker and Howard contemporary texts: Staunton. Handbuch des Schachspiels, 1843, 12 pages. Handbuch des Schachspiels, 1852, 14 pages. Wor mald's Chess Openings, 1875, 50 pages. Cordel's Fuhrer durch die Schactheorie, 1888 Gossips The Chess Players Manual, 109 pages. Handbuch des Schachspiels, 1880, 41 pages. Handbuch des Schachspiels, 1902, 41 pages. Handbuch des Schachspiels, 1916, 61 pages.

With the passage of time, the old analysis became forgotten. Modern compendiums thought it sufficient to cite few pages of columns. This circumstance was illustrated by Bernard Zuckerman (an acknowledged expert on chess openings) comment in the November, 1982, issue of regarding the Normal Position, that, 'no one mentions, 14...Ne7 ' after 10...Bd7. This move was, in fact, mentioned One of the basic issues became whether White should in MCO 2ndedition, 1913. castle before playing d4. Morphy's view was expressed in his annotations to 6.O-O., 'This was Bobby Fischer's adoption of the Evans in informal considered White's best play until after the death of play during the 1960's sets him apart from current both of these illustrious chess athletes. Later analysis players in the serious approach he took towards the has proved 6. P to Q fourth followed by 7. Castles gambit. This attitude resulted in his 1963 victory over etc., to the strongest line of attack at this juncture.' Reuben Fine in an obscure variation of the “However, Morphy's time of active play was brief, Compromised Defense. Another major exception: and it fell to Anderssen, Zukerotort, and later, World Champion Kasparov's victory over Anand in Chigorin to carry the torch of analytical exploration. the Tal Memorial, 1995 (see page 39). Add to this An early d4 was thought to be premature since it deviation from modern neglect, the 1976 publication allowed the Compromised Defense, which became of Play the Evans Gambit by Cafferty and Harding the focus of intense analysis. In the Normal Position, which pulled together analysis from numerous Anderssen and Zukertort explored the fine points of 19th century sources. Harding and Botterill's serious 9.d5, while Chigorin supported 9.Nc3 (endorsed by treatment of the opening in Open mark a Morphy). In the late 1880's, Steinitz's ideas of minor renaissance for the Evans. holding on to the gambit pawn and defending the resulting cramped position were forcefully The story of the Evans offers the student a historical advocated, but won few converts. bonus. Specific lessons can be anchored in your mind

The rise of Lasker's Defense in the late 1890's finally by reviewing games player over a century ago, and took the sting out of the 6.d4 continuation [Sammy you can experience the 'Twilight Zone' feeling of Reshevsky suggested to me that the Lasker Defense transcending time as you have the same emotions refuted the Evans]. Morphy's use of 6.d4 was experienced by the old masters at the time of their mentioned in articles in British Chess Magazineearly initial discovery. in the 20th Century, and Tartakower proposed new approaches for White, but fashion had changed, and My source for the biographical material on Captain other openings were contending for the analyst’s Evans was Play the Evans Gambit, and I cannot close attention. The strategic ideas of the Ruy Lopez and without giving the contemporary testimonial to his Queen's Gambit were being established, there was own playing strength, which the authors cite, increasing appreciation of closed openings, and the 'Staunton invited him to be his second for the famous Hypermodern School was on the horizon. The era of Paris match against St. Amant, but other duties the ascendancy of the Evans Gambit had passed. prevented the Captain from accepting. In 1845, he was one of the team which took part in the first game The enormous efforts of the 19th century analysts is of chess ever played by the electric telegraph.' - A apparent by the degree to which it was covered by fitting measure of respect for an opening pioneer. 27

Upcoming NYSCA-Sponsored and Major Tournaments

EVERY THURSDAY Marshall Thursday Action 4-SS, G/25 d5. $325 b/28: $100-75-50. U2200, U1900: $50. EF: $40, MCC Mbrs. $20. Rds.: 7-8:15-9:30-10:45. Limit two byes; request by rd. 2.marshallchessclub.org 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716.

JAN 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 FEB 6, 13, 20, 27 MAR Rochester Chess Center Saturday Tournaments! 3-SS, G/60 d5. Rochester CC, 221 Norris Dr., Rochester, NY 14610. 585-442-2430. Prizes based on entries. EF: $15, RCC members $13. $2 less for HS and Pre-HS. Reg.: 1-1:45 pm. Rds.: 2-4-6. One bye available, request at entry. www.nychess.org. Also, Youth tournament, G/30 d5, every Saturday morning 10am-1pm, trophies and prizes. EF: $5.

Tuesday Night Quads – Brooklyn Strategist Brooklyn Strategist, 333 Court St., Brooklyn, NY. G/25 d5. Every Tuesday night 7 p.m. EF: $20. 1 bye available. Prizes: 1st, 2nd, Under 1800 - approimately 60% payout. Food & drink available onsite. Contact: 718- 576-3035.

JAN. 19, FEB. 16, MAR. 15 Marshall Masters TROPHIES PLUS GRAND PRIX POINTS: 10 4-SS, G/25 d5. Open to 2000+ players. FIDE Rapid rated. $750 GTD: 250-150-100. Top U2400 125, Top U2300 100, Biggest upset $25. EF:$40, MCC Mbrs $30. GMs Free. Reg.: 6:15-6:45pm. Rds.: 7-8:15-9:30-10:45pm. Max one bye, for round 1 or 4 only. Request at entry. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. www.marshallchessclub.org.

A HERITAGE EVENT! US CHESS JUNIOR GRAND PRIX! DEC. 26-28 OR 27-28 34th annual Empire City Open TROPHIES PLUS GRAND PRIX POINTS: 80 (ENHANCED) 6SS, 40/110, SD/30 d10 (2-day option, rds. 1-3 G/40 d10). Hotel Pennsylvania, 401 Seventh Ave. (32nd-33rd St., across from Penn Station), New York 10001. $13,000 guaranteed prize fund. In 6 sections. Open: $1200-600- 300-200, clear or tiebreak win $50 bonus, top Under 2300/Unr $500-250. Under 2200: $1000-500-250-125, top U2000/Unr $500-250. Under 1900: $1000-500-250-125, top U1700 (no unr) $400-200. Under 1600: $800-400- 200-100, top U1400 (no unr) $300-150. Under 1300: $500-250-125-75, top U1100 (no unr) $200-100. Under 1000:$200-100-60-40, trophies to first 5, top Under 800, Under 600, Under 400, Unrated. Unrated may not win over $100 in U1000, $200 in U1300, $350 U1600, or $500 U1900. Mixed doubles bonus prizes: best male/female 2-player “team” combined score among all sections: $600-400-200. Team average must be under 2200; teammates may play in different sections; teams must register at site (no extra fee) before both players begin round 2; teammate pairings avoided but possible. Top 4 sections EF: $105 online at www.chessaction.com by 12/24, $115 phoned by 12/22 (406-896-2038, no questions), 3-day $113, 2-day $112 if check mailed by 12/17, all $120 at site, or online until 2 hours before rd. 1. GMs free; $90 from prize. Under 1300 Section EF: All $30 less than top 4 sections EF. Under 1000 Section EF: All $60 less than top 4 sections EF. All: Re-entry $50, not available in Open. Online EF $5 less to NYSCA members; $12 NYSCA dues may be paid with entry fee. No checks at site, credit cards OK. Unofficial uschess.org ratings usually used if otherwise unrated. Special 1 year USCF dues with magazine if paid with entry. Online at chessaction.com, Adult $30, Young Adult $20, Scholastic $15. Mailed, phoned or at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $30, Scholastic $20. 3-Day Schedule: Reg. ends Sat 10 am. Rds. Sat 11 & 5, Sun 11 & 5, Mon 10 & 3:30. 2-Day Schedule: Reg. ends Sun 9 am. Rds. Sun 10, 12:15, 2:30 & 5, Mon 10 & 3:30. Half point byes available all rounds, limit 2 byes, Open must commit before rd. 2, others before rd. 4. HR: $159-169-179 plus required $15/night facility fee, 1-800-223-8585, 212-736-5000, reserve by 12/7 (earlier is better) or rate will increase, ask for Continental Chess Association rate. Facility fee includes high speed wireless in room, unlimited local & long distance calling, and unlimited use of Ballys Total Fitness located next door to the hotel. Ent: chessaction.com or Continental Chess, PO Box 249, Salisbury Mills, NY 12577. Questions: chesstour.com, DirectorAtChess.US, 347-201-2269. $15 service charge for refunds. Advance

28 entries posted atwww.chessaction.com (online entries posted instantly). Blitz tournament Sunday 9:30 pm, enter by 9:15 pm.

DEC. 27: 2015 WINTER SCHOLASTIC (K-6) CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS 4-SS, G/30 d.5Honoring the US Soldiers of the THREE NICKELS, 555TH Parachute Infantry Battalion and the Tuskegee Airmen “Red Tails.”. Players are to report no later than 12:45pm. Games 1pm until 5pm. Audubon Branch Library, 350 John J. Audubon Parkway, Amherst, NY 14228. Sections: K-3 and 4th to 6th grades. Advance Registration Only: All players must register with full name, USCF id number, grade, school and contact information to [email protected], no later than midnight on Sunday, December 20, 2015. AWARDS: Trophies will be awarded to the Top Three winners and Top Female in each section. Participant medals will be given to all chess players. Hosted by Archangel 8 Chess Academy, Tournament Director – Michael A. Mc Duffie

JAN. 1 Marshall New Year’s Ridiculousness Insane Person Championship! TROPHIES PLUS GRAND PRIX POINTS: 15 10-SS, G/25 d5. $1,317 Gtd: $546-219-17-2-1, U2237: $173, U1926: $154, U1624: $121. “Brilliancy Prize?!”: $84 to the player scoring best overall in games where they open 1.g4 or 1…g5. (Bonus Prize: “Shoot the Moon”: $179 to the player who draws all 10 games; only 1 prize!)EF: $79, MCC Mbrs $48. GMs Free, $23 reduced from prizes. (Re-entry: $31.) Reg.: 10:15-10:45am. Rds.: 11am-12:15-1:30-3:00-4:15-5:30-7:00-8:15-9:30-10:45pm. 4 byes available, request at entry. Proper attire appreciated. www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212- 477-3716.

US CHESS JUNIOR GRAND PRIX! JAN. 1-3 Marshall Weekend FIDE 5-SS, 40/90 SD/30 +30. FIDE Rated. ($600 b/25): $250-125. U2200: $125; U1900 $100. EF: $60, MCC Mbrs $40. GMs Free. Reg.: Ends 15 min before round start. Rds.: Fri. 6pm, Sat. & Sun. 12:30-5:30pm. Max 2 byes, request by round 3. www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716.

JAN. 8 Greater NY Scholastics Friday Night Blitz Booster! (BLZ) 4-SS, G/5 d0, double-round, 8 games. NY Marriott At Brooklyn Bridge, 333 Adams St., Brooklyn (see Greater NY Scholastics: 1/9-10). EF: $30, parents, alumni & those with Greater NY Scholastics $20. Trophies: top 3, Top U1800, U1500, Unr. Reg. on-site 6-6:45 pm. Rds.: 7-7:30-8-8:30 pm. Bye OK rd. 1. Blitz-rated, but higher of regular or blitz used for pairings, prizes. W.

JAN. 9 AND/OR 10 Greater NY Scholastic Parents & Friends Tournament! 2 separate tmts, each 4SS, G/30 d10. NY Marriott At Brooklyn Bridge, 333 Adams St., Brooklyn (see Greater NY Scholastics: 1/9-10). EF each day: $30, parents, alumni & those with Greater NY Scholastics $20. Trophies: top 3 each day. Reg. on-site until 20 min before game. Rds.: 12-1:30-3-4:30 pm. Limit 2 byes, commit by 1:30. W.

AN AMERICAN CLASSIC! A HERITAGE EVENT! US CHESS JUNIOR GRAND PRIX! JAN. 9 OR 10 OR 9-10 Foundation presents the 50th Annual Greater NY Scholastic Championships - Since 1966, US Chess Longest-Running Scholastic! Beautiful hotel site: NY Marriott Hotel At Brooklyn Bridge, 333 Adams Street (near Borough Hall), Brooklyn, NY. Nearby subway stations: Jay Street Metrotech (A, C, F & R trains), Hoyt Street (2 & 3 trains), Borough Hall (4 & 5 trains), Court Street (R train). HR$149, call 877-513-6305 or 718-246-7000 by 12/18 (rooms may sell out early), mention chess. In 14 sections! Each section has its own age, grade and rating requirements (Championship sections open to all who are under grade and age limits). The 5 Championship sections are each2 days, 6-SS, G/60 d/10, Rounds 10 am-1-4 pm Sat-Sun. Awards ceremonies about 6:30 pm Sun. The 9 non- Championship sections are each 1-day, G/30 d10: Junior High Under 1000, Primary Under 1000, Primary Under 500, and K-1 Under 400 are Saturday: 10 am-12-1:30-3-4:30 pm; Awards ceremonies about 6 pm. High School Under 1900, High School Under 1200, Elementary Under 1400, Elementary Under 1000 and Elementary Under 600 are Sunday: 10 am-12-1:30-3-4:30 pm, Awards ceremonies about 6 pm. All 3 Primary sections open to 29 grades 3/below born after 1/9/06. 1. Primary Championship (Sat-Sun), EF $58.30 postmarked by 12/18/15. 2. Primary Under 1000 (Sat), EF $58.20 postmarked by 12/18/15. 3. Primary Under 500 (Sat), EF $58.10 postmarked by 12/18/15. Both K-1 sections open to grade 1/below born after 1/9/08. 4. K-1 Championship (Sat-Sun), EF $59.30 postmarked by 12/18/15. 5. K-1 Under 400 (Sat), EF $59.20 postmarked by 12/18/15. Both Junior High sections open to grades 9/below born after 1/9/00. 6. JHS Championship (Sat-Sun), EF $56.30 postmarked by 12/18/15. 7. JHS Under 1000 (Sat), EF $56.20 postmarked by 12/18/15. All 4 Elementary sections open to grades 6/below born after 1/9/03. 8. Elementary Championship (Sat-Sun), EF $57.40 postmarked by 12/18/15. 9. Elementary Under 1400 (Sun), EF $57.30 postmarked by 12/18/15. 9.Elementary Under 1000 (Sun), EF $57.20 postmarked by 12/18/15. 11. Elementary Under 600 (Sun), EF $57.10 postmarked by 12/18/15. All 3 High School sections open to grades 12/below born after 1/9/96. 12. High School Championship (Sat-Sun), EF $55.30 postmarked by 12/18/15. 13. High School Under 1900 (Sun), EF $55.20 postmarked by 12/18/15. 14. High School Under 1200 (Sun), EF $55.10 postmarked by 12/18/15. Trophies each section to Top 12, top 3 Unrateds and Top 6 teams (top 4 scores from same school = team, all on team must attend same school: no combined teams, even if one school “feeds” another). In High School U1200, plaques also to top 2 each grade: 7-9. In Junior High U1000, plaques also to top 2 each grade: 4-6. In K-1 Championship, plaques also to top 6 K/below (you can win both plaque + trophy). All players scoring 4 or more (5 or more in Championship) who don't win a trophy receive a medal! Speed playoff for 5-0 or 6-0. Individual free entry prizes (each Championship section): Free entry to specified Continental Chess tournaments thru 1/20/17 to 1st, thru 10/10/16 to 2nd, thru 8/25 to 3rd, thru 6/15 to 4th. Individual free entry prizes (each non-Championship section): Free entry to specified Continental Chess tmts. thru 12/1/16 to 1st, thru 8/25 to 2nd, thru 6/15 to 3rd, thru 4/25 to 4th. Team free entry prizes: free entry to specified CCA tmts. thru 8/25/16 to 1st team, thru 6/15 to 2nd team each section! Free entries courtesy of Continental Chess and are valid for CCA tmts. with 100% unconditionally guaranteed prize funds. Free entries do not include NYS Scholastics in Saratoga. See www.chesscenter.cc or www.gnyscc.com orwww.chesstour.com for complete details and restrictions. High School Mixed Doubles (best male/female 2-player “team” combined score among all 3 High School sections after 5 rounds) Bonus Prizes: free entry to specified CCA tmts. thru 8/25/16 to 1st team, thru 6/15 to 2nd. Team average must be under 2200; Mixed Doubles teammates may play in different sections and may attend different schools; teams must register on-site (no extra charge!) before rd. 2; teammate pairings avoided but possible. All: January 2016 official ratings used, except unofficial ratings at uschess.org usually used if otherwise unrated. TD reserves right to assign estimated ratings to players with non-USCF ratings. EFs $10 extra per player postmarked 12/19- 26. Entries $5 less per player if 4 or more from same school in SAME ENVELOPE! Mailed entries: list name, rating, ID# (non-USCF members enclose dues), school, grade, DOB, address, (specify section!). Checks to: Chess Center of NY, PO Box 4615, New Windsor, NY 12553. If necessary to confirm receipt, enclose SASE. No mail postmarked after 12/26/15! All substitutions from advance entry list charged late fee. Switching sections subject to $15 extra charge. $15 service charge for each player refund. TD reserves right to reassign sections for advance entries with incorrect or unclear registrations. Limit 2 byes (limit 3 in Championship), commit before rd. 3. Phone entries: $74 by credit card thru 1/4: 406-896-2191 (24 hours: entries only, no questions), no phone entries after 1/4.Online entries at www.gnyscc.com: $55 thru 12/26/15, $65 12/27-1/4, $75 1/5-1/7. Online team entry discounts thru 1/4 only, no team discounts by phone or at site. On-site entry fee: $85 until 8:30 am, $100 after 8:30 am; after 9 am you risk not playing rd. 1. Good luck attempting to change entries after 9am. Help with parking: http://nyc.bestparking.com/neighborhoods/downtown-brooklyn parking andhttps://www.parkingpanda.com/brooklyn-parking Questions, team rooms: [email protected], [email protected] or 347-201-2269 (leave message, email is better). Jan 9-10 only: 718-246-7000. Sets provided by Little House of Chess-- bring clocks! W. Info:www.chesscenter.cc, www.gnyscc.com. Note: Only Championship Sections qualify for US Chess Junior Grand Prix.

JAN. 16 TRM 100 Albany HS, 700 Washington Ave., 12203. Free. 8 sections 4SS, G/30 d5. Pre-register by Thurs at www.chesstrm.org. Special events will take place at this anniversary event.

JAN. 16-17: 2016 International Friendship Cup. Old First Ward Community Center, 62 Republic, Buffalo, NY. 5-SS in Open and Scholastic Sections. Open $1,865 based on 30 entries. 1st: $400 and Friendship Cup, 2nd: $300,

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3rd: $200, 4th: $100, Top Under 2000, $145. EF: $50 in advance and $60 at the site. TC: G/115, d5. Rounds: Saturday: 10 a.m., 2:30 and 7 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Under 1600: 6-SS with Rds: 10 a.m., 12;30 and 3 pm Saturday and Sunday., EF: $30 in advance and $40 at the site. Prizes based on 24 paid entries are 1st: $300 and Friendship Cup, 2nd: $200 and trophy, 3rd: $100. Top Under 1200: $120. The Scholastic tournament is 5-SS on Saturday. Rds: 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:30, 3 and 4:30 p.m. Awards at 6 p.m. Sections are All Grils, K-3, 4-8 and 9-12 Grades. EF: $15 in advance and $25 at the door, with a $5 discount for multiple family members participating. Trophies to the Top 5 winners, and participation medals to all. ENT: Archangel 8 Chess Aacdemy, “ONE,” 60F Guilford Lane, Buffalo, NY 14221, [email protected]

JAN. 30-31: Marshall No-Dtraws Weekend. 6-SS, G/75 d10. No Draws! If a game ends in a draw by any means, the players will switch colors and play another game with the remaining time on the clock. This continues until there is a winner. *Only the first game will be counted for USCF rating* Prizes: ($875 b/35) $300-200, U2300: $125, U2000: $125, U1700: $125. EF: $80, MCC Mbrs $40. GMs Free, Mbr EF reduced from prizes. Reg.: Ends 15 min before round start. Rds.: Sat. & Sun. 12:30-3:45-7:00pm. Two byes available, request at entry. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. www.marshallchessclub.org.

MAR 12-13, 2016: 49th New York State Scholastic Championship, Saratoga Springs. See back cover for further information.

A HERITAGE EVENT! US CHESS JUNIOR GRAND PRIX! MAR. 19-20 38th Annual Marchand Open TROPHIES PLUS GRAND PRIX POINTS: 150 (ENHANCED) Dr. Erich Marchand "requested that his friends play chess in his memory." 5SS, G/115 d5. Location: Strong National Museum of Play, One Manhattan Square, Rochester, NY 14607. $16,440 Gtd. Open Section: $3000- 2000-1300-800-500-300. Under 2200 & U2000 each $750-450. FIDE Rated. EF: $85. U1800 Section: $1100-750- 450. Under 1600 $750-450. EF: $70. U1400 Section: $500-300-200. Under 1200 $300-200. EF $60. U1000 Section: $400-250-160. Under 800 $200-130. EF: $50. Unrated players in the U1800 section can only win $375, in U1400 $175 & U1000 $125. No limit in Open. Balance to next prize winners. EF refunded and $100 appearance award to all GM and IM if paid by 3/5/2016. All EF add $20 after 3/5/2016. NYSCA members deduct $3. All sections USCF rated. Ratings as in March Supplement. Bring sets, boards, and clocks – none provided. Food court and chess books & equipment sales available on-site. No smoking allowed on The Strong campus. Free parking. Reg.: 8:30-9:15am. Rds.: Sat. 10-2:15-6:30, Sun. 10-2:15. One 1/2 point bye available in rd. 1, 2, 3, or 4 if requested at entry. Optional first round Friday, 3/18/2016 at 7pm played at Rochester Chess Center (register by 6:30pm). Info: 585-442-2430. Mail entry to:Rochester Chess Center, 221 Norris Dr., Rochester, NY 14610. Website: nychess.org. Store: chessset.com.

US CHESS JUNIOR GRAND PRIX! MAR. 20 65th Binghamton Open 4SS, G/65 d5. Prizes: $300 b/24. Open-$100-$60-$30; Reserve-$50-$40-$20 (U1700). EF: Open $25, Reserve $20 (U1700). Cash only on site.Schedule: Registration 8:45-9:15 AM. Rounds: 9:30-12Noon-2:30- 4:45. Entry: payable to: "Cordisco's Corner Store", 308 Chenango St., Binghamton, NY 13901, (607) 772- 8782, [email protected]. www.nysca.net -- your source for New York State Chess Information. Now on Twitter at @nystatechess and on Facebook.

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A Heritage Event! US Chess Junior Grand Prix! 49th annual NEW YORK STATE SCHOLASTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS (out of state welcome) MARCH 12-13, 2016 (Note change: all sections play G/60, d10 both days and start at same times) 6-round Swiss System, G/60, d10, open to grades K-12; top NYS player & team in each section are NY champions. In 10 sections. High School & Junior High Championships at Courtyard by Marriott, 11 Excelsior Ave., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (2/5 mile from Saratoga Hilton). Other sections at Saratoga Hilton, 534 Broadway (I-87 Exit 13-N, 4 miles north on US 9), Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.Team prizes based on top four scores from same school; no combined school teams allowed even if one school “feeds” another. Teams of 2 or 3 players allowed, but are at a disadvantage. Online entry fee at chessaction.com, all sections: $44 by 2/19, $54 2/20-3/5, $60 3/6 to 3/11. Entry fee at site, all sections: $70. High School Championship, open to grades K-12 born after 9/1/96. Entry fee $48.20 mailed by 2/19. Top NYS Grade 9-12 qualifies for Denker Tournament of HS Champions in Indianapolis and $400 NYSCA stipend), top NYS grade K-12 Girl qualifies for National Girls Invitational Tournament and $400 NYSCA stipend. High School Reserve, open to K-12 under 1200 or unrated. EF $48 mailed by 2/19. Junior High Championship, open to all in grades K-9 . EF $47.90 mailed by 2/19. Top NYS grade K-8 born after 9/1/00 qualifies for Barber tournament of K-8 Champions and $400 NYSCA stipend. Middle School Reserve, open to K-8 under 1000 or unrated. EF $47.80 mailed by 2/19. Elementary Championship, open to all in grades K-6. EF $47.60 mailed by 2/19. Elementary Intermediate, open to grades K-6 under 1200 or unrated. EF $47.50 mailed by 2/19. Elementary Reserve, open to grades K-5 under 800 or unrated. EF $47.40 mailed by 2/19. Primary Championship, open to grades K-3. EF $47.30 mailed by 2/19. Primary Reserve, open to grades K-3 under 600 or unrated. EF: $47.20 mailed by 2/19. K-1 Championship, open to grades K-1. EF $47.10 mailed by 2/19. Postmarked 2/20-3/2: All EF $10 more. Do not mail entry after 3/2. Special 1 year USCF dues with magazine if paid with entry. Online at chessaction.com, Young Adult $22, Scholastic $15. Mailed or paid at site, Young Adult $25, Scholastic $17. Trophies to top 15 players and top 7 teams each section, top 3 unrated in K-1 and each Reserve section, and top U1600, U1400, U1200 (HS), U900, U700 (HS Reserve & Elem Intermediate), U1400, U1200, U1000 (JHS), U700, U500 (MS Reserve), U1300, U1100 (Elem), U500, U300 (Elem Reserve), U500 (Primary), U200 (Primary Reserve, K-1). Speed playoff if perfect score tie. Free entry to NY State Championship, Labor Day weekend 2016 (Albany), to top player each section, if not already qualified for free entry from another event. Schedule: Late registration ends Sat 10 am (not necessary for advance entrants), rounds begin Saturday 11 am, 2 pm and 5 pm, Sunday 9 am, 12 noon and 3 pm, awards Sunday 5:30 pm. Half point byes OK all, limit 2, must commit before rd 2. Hotel rates: $129-129 at either hotel, Courtyard 866-210-9325, Hilton 888-999-4711, 518-584-4000, two nights minimum, reserve by 2/6 or rate may increase; hotels often sell out a few months before the deadline. Free parking at Courtyard; free parking for overnight guests at Hilton. 7 days notice required for room cancellation. Special car rentals: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #657633.Online entry: www.chessaction.com. Mail entry: Continental Chess, PO Box 249, Salisbury Mills, NY 12577. Include name, rating, US Chess ID, USCF expiration (non-members enclose dues), section, school, grade, birth date, address of each player. Checks payable to Continental Chess. $15 per player service charge for refunds. $10 extra to switch sections, all substitutions from advance list charged $70.Questions: DirectorAtChess.US (At = @)), 347-201-2260. Bring set, board, clock if possible- none supplied. March official ratings used (except unoffical web ratings usually used if otherwise unrated). Director reserves right to assign estimated rating to players with non-USCF rating.

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