July 2020 COLORADO CHESS INFORMANT
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Volume 47, Number 3 COLORADO STATE CHESS ASSOCIATION July 2020 COLORADO CHESS INFORMANT When the Grim Reaper Decides to Play Volume 47, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2020 From the Editor I do hope everyone is well and this pandemic has not hit you too hard. Amazing that I never thought I would experience this in my lifetime. Well, here we are today dealing with this as best we all can. For the time being there will be changes in chess competition The Colorado State Chess Association, Incorporated, is a both here in Colorado and all over the world, so stay tuned. Section 501(C)(3) tax exempt, non-profit educational corpora- It is with sadness that longtime Colorado player Dr. Mikhail tion formed to promote chess in Colorado. Contributions are Ponomarev has passed away. “Buck” Buchanan has submitted an tax deductible. overview of his life along with games from his time in Colorado. Dues are $15 a year. Youth (under 20) and Senior (65 or older) Dr. Ponomarev’s passing comes not long after the death of an- memberships are $10. Family memberships are available to other Colorado stalwart, NM Imre Barley. May they both rest in additional family members for $3 off the regular dues. Scholas- peace. tic tournament membership is available for $3. May Caissa be with you. ● Send address changes to Ann Davies. ● Send pay renewals & memberships to Dean Brown. Fred Eric Spell ● See back cover for EZ renewal form. k The Colorado Chess Informant (CCI) is the official publication of the CSCA, published four times a year in January, April, July and October. In This Issue Articles in the CCI do not necessarily reflect the views of the CSCA Board of Directors or its membership. 3. President’s Notes CSCA President Paul Covington 4. 4th CSCA Board Meeting CSCA Board of Directors CSCA Appointees 5. Checkmate COVID-19 President: USCF Delegates: Paul Covington Richard “Buck” Buchanan 7. When the Grim Reaper Decides to Play [email protected] [email protected] Fred Eric Spell Vice President: Paul Covington 9. Dr. Mikhail Ponomarev Brad Lundstrom [email protected] Richard “Buck” Buchanan [email protected] 21. Colorado Chess Club Directory CCI Editor: Secretary: Fred Eric Spell Ann Davies [email protected] 22. My Games With Rudolf Petters [email protected] Curtis Carlson Correspondence Chess: 30. A Perfect Win for White in Komodo 14.1? Treasurer: Klaus Johnson Colin James III Dean Brown [email protected] 32. A Perfect Draw for Black on 1.e4 in 12 Moves [email protected] Scholastic Chess: Colin James III Junior Representative: Lior Lapid 33. Practical Review of Komodo 14.1 With Switches Griffin McConnell [email protected] Colin James III [email protected] 34. The Chess Detective ® Webmaster & Tournament NM Todd Bardwick Members at Large: Clearinghouse: 36. Tactics Time! Lior Lapid Dean Clow Tim Brennan [email protected] [email protected] 38. Tactics Time! (Bonus) Gracie Salazar CSCA Historian: Tim Brennan [email protected] Todd Bardwick [email protected] Informant Article Submission Deadlines: January issue - December 21 / April issue - March 21 On the cover: July issue - June 21 / October issue - September 21 “Death is Only a Game” (Email articles to [email protected]) by Wyldraven www.deviantart.com/wyldraven © 2020 Colorado State Chess Association Page 2 www.ColoradoChess.com Volume 47, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2020 President’s Notes: We have several items of interest to share. And as much as we want to get back to normal over the board chess, we believe it is more important to put player safety first. This causes a ripple effect for a host of decisions. First, the Board faced a very difficult decision, what to do about the Colorado Open Extravaganza we had planned for this September 4-6. After much discussion, it was clear that as much as we love our chess family and playing chess it was just not worth the risk of conducting an Over-The-Board event when the stakes to human life are so high. So the OTB event and the Induction into the Colorado Hall of Fame’s second group of inductees are postponed until next year. We will have an online Colorado Open Championship 2020. It will be held on the same weekend (Sept 4-6, 2020) and we are working on the details. Brad is working with me on the details. Our starting point is: Event will be held on Chess.com; the games will be Friday night 7:00pm, Saturday and Sunday 10:00am and 6:00pm. These times may change so watch this webpage for updates. Entry fees prize funds, instructions on how to register and login, and other details will be posted soon. I am extremely disappointed that taking this action is necessary, however, our members’ safety is even more important! I believe you understand. Second is the Membership meeting. We may be forced to violate our By-Laws this year by not have an in- person membership meeting. Most of the item that would normally be in that meeting can be accomplished on our website. However, Board election is not one of those. If you are interested in a particular board position please submit your name to me and I will post on the website. Include your qualifications and speech that you would normally make at the meeting. I know this is irregular, but I don’t know what else to do. The AAUW Grant for “Colorado All Girls After School Chess Club” was awarded to CSCA because of Ann Davies’ efforts. This $5,700.00 grant will start in January 2021 not September 2020 as previously advertised due to the uncertainity of how the school districts will be operating this Fall. The women who instruct these classes will receive payment for their work. Equipment will be provided. Any Denver area ladies interested? CSCA will need volunteers (our grant does not cover this program) for the Denver Chess league reorganization and management. This is primarily coordinating with chess coaches at the schools about their playing schedules (can be done from anywhere). My goal for this is to be an on-line program so travel is reduced AND acceptibility is increased. Additionally, I want to expand this program to statewide, possibly into districts or zones where the winners of each area could have a playoff sometime after Spring-break each year. Contact me at (719) 310-7542 or by email at [email protected] for additional information and to volunteer! Paul Covington CSCA President www.ColoradoChess.com Page 3 Volume 47, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2020 4th CSCA Board Meeting / May 4, 2020 Board Members: Paul Covington, Brad Lundstrom, Ann Davies, Dean Brown, Lior lapid; Absent: Gracie Salazar & Griffin McConnell (these were excused absences). Members in attendance: Shirley Herman Meeting called to order: After informal discussion, the following decisions and motions were made. Reopening Colorado Chess: • Class 2020: Canceled • Colorado Online Championship 2020 - a fundraiser for COVID-19 through The Salvation Army food bank. Additional information on website. • Southern Colorado Open, July 25-26, 5 round Swiss, Dean and Paul are putting this on in Colorado Springs to restart OTB chess Governor allowing ... details on website. • Colorado Open 2020, Festival to celebrate Colorado Chess September 4, 5, &6. Hall of Fame induction, Fischer 960, CO-2020 5SS, Membership meeting. Details on website. AAUW (American Association of University Women) grant: Ann wrote a grant request and Kevin polished the words in the request: result—CSCA will be receiving a grant for Chess training for girls in Title 1 schools. Stipulations on how to operate the program, funds for chess equipment and pay for lady instructors. (Grant amount $ 5,700.00). • Ordered 200 chess sets for this program to supplement previous chess sets ordered. The Templeton Fund (Ann’s charity), Scholastic, and general fund ordered 80 chess sets. Some are to replace/supplement the worn scholastic sets, most were for Title 1 program Ann started and use in another tuition free program that is ongoing. • The 80 sets were ordered from US Chess on reduced price when the US Chess National Elementary tournament was canceled. Cost: $ 460.00 (40 for scholastic, 20 for title 1, and 20 for CSCA reserves. All were $5.75 each). • The 200 sets were ordered from US Chess on reduced price when the US Chess National Junior High School tournament was canceled. Cost: $ 1,175.81 (included sets & boards at $ 5.25 each & shipping $ 125.81). These sets support the AAUW grant. FIDE World Championship for Disabled Scholastic players: Coming to Denver July 2021. This is a major event which will feature chess teams from all over the world. CSCA is working with Chess Educators of America who will host this event. Kevin McConnell worked diligently to bring this event to Denver. CSCA will be asking Colorado chess players to volunteer time and effort to support this special event. Treasurer’s report: Before the expenditures mentioned above, CSCA’s accounts were: • Main: $ 14,474.96 • Scholastic: $ 20, 013.99 • Scholarship: $ 838.19 (this account includes funds designated for special overseas invitational events for scholastic players ($478.19), facebook donations, and other ear marked funds (George Mikhailavich’s Memorial event for his Grandfather - $360)). Special thanks to Lior for setting up this Zoom meeting, Ann for her dedicated work on the AAUW grant and board members for participation, ideas, and support! Board approved two resolutions: 1. The COOF-2020 was declared a one time tournament membership event with free membership for June 20, 2020 to all who sign up to play. 2. The Board voted to extend All Standard memberships for six months as compensation for the schedule changes due to COVID-19.