Wilhelm Steinitz First World Chess Champion
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Evans Gambit and Giuoco Piano
Chapter Three Evans Gambit and Giuoco Piano d Introduction d Evans Gambit d Giuoco Piano Evans Gambit and Giuoco Piano Introduction These two openings arise after Black develops his bishop to the active-looking c5- square. In both cases White challenges the bishop and aims to gain time to con- struct his centre and prepare an attack. In the Evans Gambit (Games 17-19) White does this directly with 4 b4, already bar- ing his teeth and announcing to his opponent that there won’t be a comfortable ride in the opening. In the Giuoco Piano (Games 20-24) White instead plays c2-c3 and d2-d4, creating tension in the central arena before the players have had time to castle. We will examine Black’s main options in the illustrative games that follow. My impression is that if Black is serious about challenging White’s central aspirations, then he has to be willing to enter complications. The other main option, 4 d3, leading to quieter play, was dealt with separately in Chapter One. Evans Gambit 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 b4 (Diagram 1) The Evans used to be considered as a swashbuckling attempt to attack at all costs. Nowadays this view has moderated, but few would argue with the premise that it is still a risky attempt to seize the initiative. Strategy White opens lines while gaining time against the c5-bishop and, as a result, is able to create some early threats with Black’s king still in the centre. Naturally there is a price to pay for all this action: a pawn or two for a start, plus a compromised queenside, so if Black survives the early assault he may obtain the advantage. -
Computer Analysis of World Chess Champions 65
Computer Analysis of World Chess Champions 65 COMPUTER ANALYSIS OF WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONS1 Matej Guid2 and Ivan Bratko2 Ljubljana, Slovenia ABSTRACT Who is the best chess player of all time? Chess players are often interested in this question that has never been answered authoritatively, because it requires a comparison between chess players of different eras who never met across the board. In this contribution, we attempt to make such a comparison. It is based on the evaluation of the games played by the World Chess Champions in their championship matches. The evaluation is performed by the chess-playing program CRAFTY. For this purpose we slightly adapted CRAFTY. Our analysis takes into account the differences in players' styles to compensate the fact that calm positional players in their typical games have less chance to commit gross tactical errors than aggressive tactical players. Therefore, we designed a method to assess the difculty of positions. Some of the results of this computer analysis might be quite surprising. Overall, the results can be nicely interpreted by a chess expert. 1. INTRODUCTION Who is the best chess player of all time? This is a frequently posed and interesting question, to which there is no well founded, objective answer, because it requires a comparison between chess players of different eras who never met across the board. With the emergence of high-quality chess programs a possibility of such an objective comparison arises. However, so far computers were mostly used as a tool for statistical analysis of the players' results. Such statistical analyses often do neither reect the true strengths of the players, nor do they reect their quality of play. -
Taming Wild Chess Openings
Taming Wild Chess Openings How to deal with the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly over the chess board By International Master John Watson & FIDE Master Eric Schiller New In Chess 2015 1 Contents Explanation of Symbols ���������������������������������������������������������������� 8 Icons ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 9 Introduction �������������������������������������������������������������������������� 10 BAD WHITE OPENINGS ��������������������������������������������������������������� 18 Halloween Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.♘f3 ♘c6 3.♘c3 ♘f6 4.♘xe5 ♘xe5 5.d4 . 18 Grünfeld Defense: The Gibbon: 1.d4 ♘f6 2.c4 g6 3.♘c3 d5 4.g4 . 20 Grob Attack: 1.g4 . 21 English Wing Gambit: 1.c4 c5 2.b4 . 25 French Defense: Orthoschnapp Gambit: 1.e4 e6 2.c4 d5 3.cxd5 exd5 4.♕b3 . 27 Benko Gambit: The Mutkin: 1.d4 ♘f6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g4 . 28 Zilbermints - Benoni Gambit: 1.d4 c5 2.b4 . 29 Boden-Kieseritzky Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.♘f3 ♘c6 3.♗c4 ♘f6 4.♘c3 ♘xe4 5.0-0 . 31 Drunken Hippo Formation: 1.a3 e5 2.b3 d5 3.c3 c5 4.d3 ♘c6 5.e3 ♘e7 6.f3 g6 7.g3 . 33 Kadas Opening: 1.h4 . 35 Cochrane Gambit 1: 5.♗c4 and 5.♘c3 . 37 Cochrane Gambit 2: 5.d4 Main Line: 1.e4 e5 2.♘f3 ♘f6 3.♘xe5 d6 4.♘xf7 ♔xf7 5.d4 . 40 Nimzowitsch Defense: Wheeler Gambit: 1.e4 ♘c6 2.b4 . 43 BAD BLACK OPENINGS ��������������������������������������������������������������� 44 Khan Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.♗c4 d5 . 44 King’s Gambit: Nordwalde Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 ♕f6 . 45 King’s Gambit: Sénéchaud Countergambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 ♗c5 3.♘f3 g5 . -
FM ALISA MELEKHINA Is Currently Balancing Her Law and Chess Careers. Inside, She Interviews Three Other Lifelong Chess Players Wrestling with a Similar Dilemma
NAKAMURA WINS GIBRALTAR / SO FINISHES SECOND AT TATA STEEL APRIL 2015 Career Crossroads FM ALISA MELEKHINA is currently balancing her law and chess careers. Inside, she interviews three other lifelong chess players wrestling with a similar dilemma. IFC_Layout 1 3/11/2015 6:02 PM Page 1 OIFC_pg1_Layout 1 3/11/2015 7:11 PM Page 1 World’s biggest open tournament! 43rd annual WORLD OPEN Hyatt Regency Crystal City, near D.C. 9rounds,June30-July5,July1-5,2-5or3-5 $210,000 Guaranteed Prizes! Master class prizes raised by $10,000 GM & IM norms possible, mixed doubles prizes, GM lectures & analysis! VISIT OUR NATION’S CAPITAL SPECIAL FEATURES! 4) Provisional (under 26 games) prize The World Open completes a three 1) Schedule options. 5-day is most limits in U2000 & below. year run in the Washington area before popular, 4-day and 3-day save time & 5) Unrated not allowed in U1200 returning to Philadelphia in 2016. money.New,leisurely6-dayhas three1- though U1800;$1000 limit in U2000. $99 rooms, valet parking $6 (if full, round days. Open plays 5-day only. 6) Mixed Doubles: $3000-1500-700- about $7-15 nearby), free airport shuttle. 2) GM & IM norms possible in Open. 500-300 for male/female teams. Fr e e s hutt l e to DC Metro, minutes NOTECHANGE:Mas ters can now play for 7) International 6/26-30: FIDE norms from Washington’s historic attractions! both norms & large class prizes! possible, warm up for main event. Als o 8sections:Open,U2200,U2000, 3) Prize limit $2000 if post-event manyside events. -
2009 U.S. Tournament.Our.Beginnings
Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis Presents the 2009 U.S. Championship Saint Louis, Missouri May 7-17, 2009 History of U.S. Championship “pride and soul of chess,” Paul It has also been a truly national Morphy, was only the fourth true championship. For many years No series of tournaments or chess tournament ever held in the the title tournament was identi- matches enjoys the same rich, world. fied with New York. But it has turbulent history as that of the also been held in towns as small United States Chess Championship. In its first century and a half plus, as South Fallsburg, New York, It is in many ways unique – and, up the United States Championship Mentor, Ohio, and Greenville, to recently, unappreciated. has provided all kinds of entertain- Pennsylvania. ment. It has introduced new In Europe and elsewhere, the idea heroes exactly one hundred years Fans have witnessed of choosing a national champion apart in Paul Morphy (1857) and championship play in Boston, and came slowly. The first Russian Bobby Fischer (1957) and honored Las Vegas, Baltimore and Los championship tournament, for remarkable veterans such as Angeles, Lexington, Kentucky, example, was held in 1889. The Sammy Reshevsky in his late 60s. and El Paso, Texas. The title has Germans did not get around to There have been stunning upsets been decided in sites as varied naming a champion until 1879. (Arnold Denker in 1944 and John as the Sazerac Coffee House in The first official Hungarian champi- Grefe in 1973) and marvelous 1845 to the Cincinnati Literary onship occurred in 1906, and the achievements (Fischer’s winning Club, the Automobile Club of first Dutch, three years later. -
Anything but Average Chess Classics and Off-Beat Problems by Chris Jones
06/140 Book review Werner Keym: Anything but Average Chess Classics and Off-beat Problems By Chris Jones Werner Keym’s book ‘Anything but Average – Chess Classics and Off-beat Problems’ was published in Goettingen (Germany) earlier this year. On 198 pages, it has 375 games, studies, problems, puzzles by 240 authors, 120 related problems, 180 additional diagrams. And it’s in English! For details see <http://www.berlinthema.de> and www.nightrider-unlimited.de. This is a book to gladden the hearts of all chess lovers, even those who usually have little or no interest in composed chess positions. A large part of the book is devoted to ‘The Classics’, beginning with classic games and then going on to classic studies and classic problems. The emphasis is on crowd-pleasers. Amongst the famous (and some not so famous) problems there are some sensational, unexpected key moves, and a lot of surprising and paradoxical continuations. You will pick Amongst the famous up some strategic concepts of problem (and some not so famous) composers along the way, but the emphasis problems there are some is on entertainment rather than instruction. (Often a really surprising move in a sensational, unexpected key solution leads you into exploring why this moves, and a lot of surprising move is the only way to achieve the aim of and paradoxical continuations the problem, and gaining an understanding of problems in this auto-didactic fashion is much the most enjoyable way!) There are also sections on ‘Special Moves’ and ‘Problems Out of the Box’, which The text is very readable (in excellent show how composers have exercised their English), and in studies and longer ingenuity to seek out optimal achievements problems liberally sprinkled with diagrams in showing promotions, e.p. -
MICROCOSM: Portrait of a European City by Norman Davies (Pp
communicated his desire to the Bishop, in inimitable fashion: MICROCOSM: Portrait of a European City by Norman Davies (pp. 224-266) The Holy Ghost and I are agreed that Prelate Schaffgotsch should be coadjutor of [Bresslau] and that those of your canons who resist him shall be regarded as persons who have surrendered to the Court in Vienna and to the Devil, and, having resisted the Holy Prussia annexed Silesia in the early phase of the Enlightenment. Europe was Ghost, deserve the highest degree of damnation. turning its back on the religious bigotry of the preceding period and was entering the so-called 'Age of Reason'. What is more, Prussia was one of the The Bishop replied in kind: more tolerant of the German states. It did not permit the same degree of religious liberty that had been practised in neighbouring Poland until the late The great understanding between the Holy Ghost and Your Majesty is news to me; I was seventeenth century, but equally it did not profess the same sort of religious unaware that the acquaintance had been made. I hope that He will send the Pope and the partisanship that surrounded the Habsburgs. The Hohenzollerns of Berlin had canons the inspiration appropriate to our wishes. welcomed Huguenot refugees from France and had found a modus vivendi between Lutherans and Calvinists. In this case, the King was unsuccessful. A compromise solution had to be Yet religious life in Prussian Silesia would not lack controversy. The found whereby the papal nuncio in Warsaw was charged with Silesian affairs. annexation of a predominantly Catholic province by a predominantly But, in 1747, the King tried again and Schaffgotsch, aged only thirty-one, was Protestant kingdom was to bring special problems. -
American Chess-Nuts
AMERICAN CHESS-NUTS A COLLECTION OF PROBLEMS BY COMPOSERS OF THE WESTERN WORLD. EDITED BY E. B. COOK, W. R. HENRY, AND C. A. GILBERG. [ 1868 ] “Sweetest nut hath sourest rind.” An Electronic Edition Anders Thulin, Malmö · preliminary version AMERICAN CHESS-NUTS INTRODUCTION he most appropriate prelude to an opening of the Nuts, seems to be an account of how these leaves have grown and borne their fruit. T In February, 1859, the writer received a very interesting anonymous letter, calculated to excite the desire of becoming better acquainted with its author. “I do not know,” said the unknown, “whether you are a collector of Chess Curiosities. I hope you are not. And yet, I inconsis- tently enclose title and specimen pages of a Chess book that was neither printed nor published, and of which the only copy is to be found in my Chess library (eighty volumes, with prospects of a speedy increase to one hundred and thirty—all modern works of practical value.) This work is intended to consist of a pretty complete collection of such problems as have appeared in newspapers, etc. It now contains about four thousand positions; but whether I shall have the patience to make any great addition to this number, I cannot undertake to say, although my notation is concise enough to enable me to copy in one evening sometimes as many as a hundred problems and their solutions.” The title page referred to was in print, and read : “Chess-Nuts; a Collection of Problems and End Games.” In the Correspondence of the Problem Department of the Chess Monthly was inserted a notice to “Cryptograph, New York,” in which he was told that the writer “would be delighted to see —— at his residence.” This led to a second missive, signed by the real name of the mysterious correspondent. -
A Semiotic Analysis on Signs of the English Chess Game
1 A Semiotic Analysis on Signs of the English Chess Game M. I. Andi Purnomo, Drs. Wisasongko, M.A., Hat Pujiati, S.S., M.A. English Department, Faculty of Letter, Jember University Jln. Kalimantan 37, Jember 68121 E-mail: [email protected] Abstract This thesis discusses about English Chess Game through Roland Barthes's Myth. In this thesis, I use documentary technique as method of analysis. The analysis is done by the observation of the rules, colors, and images of the English chess game. In addition, chessman and chess formation are analyzed using syntagmatic and paradigmatic relation theory to explore the correlation between symbols of the English chess game with the existence of Christian in the middle age of England. The result of this thesis shows the relation of English chess game with the history of England in the middle age where Christian ideology influences the social, military, and government political life of the English empire. Keywords: chessman, chess piece, bishops, king, knights, pawns, queen, rooks. Introduction Then, the game spread into Europe. Around 1200, the game was established in Britain and the name of “Chess” begins Game is an activity that is done by people for some (Shenk, 2006:51). It means chess spread to English during purposes. Some people use the game as a medium of the Middle Ages. The Middle Age of English begins around interaction with other people. Others use the game as the 1066 – 1485 (www.middle-ages.org.uk). At that time, the activity of spending leisure time. Others use the game as the Christian dominated the whole empire and automatically the major activity for professional. -
Newsletter A.S.I.A.S. N° 13 - Ottobre 2015
Associazione Scacchistica Italiana Amici Sumus www.asias.it Newsletter A.S.I.A.S. N° 13 - ottobre 2015 1 Sommario 1. Editoriale P. 3 2. Meeting Amici Sumus P. 4 3. Attività Agonistica Nazionale P. 11 4. Attività Agonistica Internazionale P. 14 5. In ricordo del M.I. Barreras P. 15 6. Games at the lods P. 17 7. Tornei di Studi P. 30 8. Porta Portese P. 38 9. In margine al problema Cheating P. 39 10. Il libro P. 41 11. L’angolo dello Studio P. 44 12. L’angolo del Problema P. 45 13. Elenco Soci P. 47 14. Albo d’oro - Soluzioni P. 55 Redazione e grafica: Pasquale Colucci Logo A.S.I.A.S.: Valerio Fiore ed Enzo Martino Copertina: “UBUNTU ” (*) di Claudio Daffra (*): ”Umanità verso gli altri ” Hanno collaborato a questo numero: Marco Campioli Gianfelice Ferlito Giampaolo Carnemolla Mario Leoncini Pasquale Colucci Vito Rallo Claudio Daffra Nicola Santangelo Mauro Denozza Salvatore Tramacere Invitiamo tutti i soci ed i lettori a collaborare alla realizzazione della rivista, inviando I loro contributi redazionali all’indirizzo: [email protected] La presente rivista rappresenta l’Organo Ufficiale dell’ Associazione Scacchistica Italiana Amici Sumus e viene inviata gratuitamente ai soci. Per non ricevere più la Newsletter ASIAS inviare il messaggio “RIMUOVI ” all’indirizzo: [email protected] 2 Editoriale Verso gli altri Un noto proverbio russo recita: “ Si impara a conoscere bene la gente viaggiandoci insieme e giocandoci a scacchi ”. Uno dei principali scopi della nostra Associazione, che ha fatto suo l’universale motto “ Amici Sumus! ”, è quello di consentire ai propri associati di giocare e corrispondere da casa con scacchisti italiani e stranieri. -
Life Cycle Patterns of Cognitive Performance Over the Long
Life cycle patterns of cognitive performance over the long run Anthony Strittmattera,1 , Uwe Sundeb,1,2, and Dainis Zegnersc,1 aCenter for Research in Economics and Statistics (CREST)/Ecole´ nationale de la statistique et de l’administration economique´ Paris (ENSAE), Institut Polytechnique Paris, 91764 Palaiseau Cedex, France; bEconomics Department, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat¨ Munchen,¨ 80539 Munchen,¨ Germany; and cRotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, 3062 PA Rotterdam, The Netherlands Edited by Robert Moffit, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, and accepted by Editorial Board Member Jose A. Scheinkman September 21, 2020 (received for review April 8, 2020) Little is known about how the age pattern in individual perfor- demanding tasks, however, and are limited in terms of compara- mance in cognitively demanding tasks changed over the past bility, technological work environment, labor market institutions, century. The main difficulty for measuring such life cycle per- and demand factors, which all exhibit variation over time and formance patterns and their dynamics over time is related to across skill groups (1, 19). Investigations that account for changes the construction of a reliable measure that is comparable across in skill demand have found evidence for a peak in performance individuals and over time and not affected by changes in technol- potential around ages of 35 to 44 y (20) but are limited to short ogy or other environmental factors. This study presents evidence observation periods that prevent an analysis of the dynamics for the dynamics of life cycle patterns of cognitive performance of the age–performance profile over time and across cohorts. over the past 125 y based on an analysis of data from profes- An additional problem is related to measuring productivity or sional chess tournaments. -
Amateur Champion
• U. S . AMATEUR CHAMPION (S('c P. 135) • ;::. UNITED STATES VoLume XlX June, 1964 EDITOR: J . F. Reinhardt * * OFFICIAL NOTICE '" " ELECTION OF USCF STATE DIRECTORS CHESS FEDERATION Attention of aU officials of slate chess associations is directed to Article V of the USCF By-Laws, stating that " ... the State Directors shaD be certified PRESIDENT in writing to the USCF Secretary by the authorized state offiCt' r before June 30th ••." Major Edmund B. Edmondson, Jr. The number of State DirC<!tors to which each State is entitled for the year VICE·PRESIDENT beginning July 1 fo llows: David Hoffmann N.Y . ....... ...... .. ...23 FLA. .. ... ... ... ....... 4 IOWA ................ 2 KY." ... ............. 1 CALIF . .............. 23 ARIZ.- ....... ....... 4 NEBR. - ............ 2 ~IISS ................. 1 REGIONAL VICE·PRESIDENTS PENNA. ............ 11 IND.- . ......... ...... 3 MO .· .... ..... ..... .... 2 PUERTO RICO~ 1 NEW ENGLAND ILL. ...... ... ........ 10 COLO.· .. .......... 3 KANS. ~ ............ 2 N. DAK." ........ 1 N.J . .. ..... ...... ....... 9 WASH. ........... 3 OKLA. ;' ............ 2 S. DAK. ............ 1 EASTERN Donald Schultz TEXAS ... ........... 8 VA. ............... ..... 3 N. MEX ." ..... ... 2 \\'YO.- .. ............ 1 Charln KeYltlr Peter Berlo.,.. OHIO ................ 8 LA. ..... ............ ... 3 NEV........ .... ..... 2 .lI O;"""I' ." ............ 1 MleR ......... ....... 7 D.C. ' ...... ... ... ...... 2 UTAH8 ............ 2 ARK. ...... ... ....... 1 MID·ATLANTIC MASS." ............ 6 W. VA ............. 2 MAINE"