R ank & File

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2008 VOLUME XXXI, NO. 6 $3.00 Southern California Open

IM Enrico Sevillano Tired of high entry fees? Play in the

10th Annual Joseph Ileto Memorial

December 13-14 5-SS, rds. 1-3 30/85, SD/30, rds 4-5 40/2, SD/1 SIERRA VISTA PARK 311 N RURAL DR. at E. Emerson, Monterey Park, CA 91755

Prize Fund $300-200-100

U2300 $100 U1500 $100 U2100 $100 U1300 $75 U1900 $100 U1100 $75 U1700 $100 Unrated $50

Entry fee: $30 if received by 12/11, $40 at door. Special Entry Fee: Juniors not eligible for cash prizes $10 (trophies to top 5). Full details on page 23.

A State Championship Qualifier

Entries: SCCF, P.O. Box 205, Monterey Park CA 91754

2 RANK & FILE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2008 AroundAround thethe NNationation

44th Annual the flyer in this issue, and on our SPICE Cup webpage (www.americanopen.org). American Open The site also includes a list of the This 10-player round robin, held luminaries who have won the tour- at Texas Tech University in Lubbock Since 1965, the American Open nament, including Gata Kamsky, September 19 through 28, ended in has been a Southern California fix- Yasser Seirawan, Pal Benko, Rob- a 4-way tie among GMs Varuzhan ture over Thanksgiving weekend. ert Byrne, and Walter Browne. Akobian, Alexander Onischuk, Leo- This year, the beautiful LAX Re- Organizer Randy Hough is nid Kritz and Harikrishna Pentala, naissance Montura Hotel will again happy to answer your questions all with 5½-3½. The all-GM event host the event. ([email protected]). We reached Category 15, making it the The American Open offers a look forward to seeing you at this strongest such tournament held in number of features lacking in other special event! the U.S. in at least three decades. tournaments. These include dem- onstration boards, lectures (IM Jer- emy Silman, a perennial favorite, will be speaking Sunday afternoon, November 30), and videos and CONTENTSONTENTS DVDs. The (http://www. thechesspiece.com/) will be provid- ing beautiful wood sets and boards AROUNDAROUND THETHCE NATIONNONTENTSATION ...... 3 for the top ten boards in the Open section, with one to be auctioned off 30TH3A0ROUNDTH AANNUALN NTHEUAL NATION ...... 3 after the tournament. 21 SOUTHERNSSTOU ATHNNUALERN CCALIFORN U.S.ALIFO ARNMATEURIAIA OOPENPE NT ...... EAM 5 The prize fund, with a mini- mum of $18,000 guaranteed, is the TTACTICS A WCTESTICS ...... 5 largest in the state. There are also BYBY TIMIM HANKSANKS ...... 9 $1,400 in special prizes in memory WESTERN CLASS CHAMPIONSHIPS ...... 10 of the late Joyce Jillson, including TTHEHE LLONGONG VIEWVIEW TACTICS $400 for biggest rating gain by a BYBY JOHNOHN HILLERYILLERY ...... 1212 female player, and $200 for biggest by Tim Hanks ...... 12 gain by a player under age 13. HEREHERE & THERETHERE Players may choose between H ClubCERElub news,n &ew s,T localloHEREcal tournaments,tournaments, the four-day (two rounds a day at 40/2) and three-day (beginning the scholsc h Clubolaasticstic eevents vnews,ents andan dlocal moremore ...... tournaments, 1 4 day after Thanksgiving, with the scholasticPINIONPINION CHESSCH EeventsSS BBLINDNESSLIN D. . .N . .E . .S . S. . .& . . . BLUB. . .L . U. . .NNDERS . .D . .E . .R . .S . . . . . 15 first four rounds at Game/1) sched- O : BYBY HUCKHUCK NSEYNSEY ...... ules. Chess Palace will be offering a S TATE C C EHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS ...... 191717 full selection of books, DVDs, and ...... equipment, as well as special Amer- SSTATEGTAMESATE CHAMPIONSHIPC FHROMAMP IRONECENTSHIP QEUUALIFIERSVENTSALIFIE. R. . .S ...... 211818 ican Open T-shirts. TINTERNATIONALINHETE RLNIGHTERATIONA SL IDENEWSNE.W . . .S ...... 24191 9 Side events include a scholastic in four sections (Saturday, Novem- UPCOMINGUPPCOMINGCOMING EEVENVVENTSENTSTS ...... 262 2 ber 29), a Quick rated tournament Saturday night, and an Action CCHESSHHESSESS QQUIZQUUIZIZ ...... 242 4 (Game/30) event on Sunday after- noon. Full details can be found in

3 RANKANK & FILEILE NOVEMBEROVEMBER-D-DECEMBERECEMBER 20082008 The tournament was organized 28. Qg5 g6 29. Re7 Qd8 30. Rae1 by the Susan Polgar Institute for Kh8 31. Nd6 Kg8 32. Ne8 1–0 Southern California Chess Chess Excellence. Final standings: Federation 1-4. GMs Harikrishna Pentala, GM Hannes Stefansson (2598) President Elliot Landaw IND 2668, Alexander Onischuk, – GM Varuzhan Akobian (2656) Vice President Ron Rezendes USA 2670 5½, Leonid Kritz, GER SPICE Cup, Lubbock 2008 Secretary Chuck Ensey 2610 and Varuzhan Akobian, USA D34 ’S DECLINED, Treasurer John Hillery 2610 5½-3½ Tarrasch Defense Executive Board 5. GM Julio Becerra, USA 2598 5- 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 Randy Hough 4 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 Mike Nagaran 6. GM Victor Mikhalevski, ISR Be7 8. 0–0 0–0 9. Bg5 c4 10. Ne5 Rick Aeria 2592 4½-4½ Be6 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. e3 Nd7 13. Jim Bullock 7. GM Eugene Perelshteyn, USA Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Na4 Rab8 15. Qc2 Mick Bighamian Jerry Yee 2555 4-5 Rb4 16. b3 Rfb8 17. Rfd1 g6 18. Qc1 Anthony Ong Qd6 19. Rd2 Bf5 20. Nc3 cxb3 21. 8-9. GMs Gregory Kaidanov, USA Takashi Iwamoto axb3 Rxb3 22. Rda2 Qb4 23. Ra3 2605 and Kamil Miton, POL 2580 3½-5½ Rb2 24. Ra4 Qb3 25. R4a3 Rc2 26. Rank & File 10. GM Hannes Stefansson, ISL Qe1 Qb4 27. Bf3 Rb7 28. g4 Be6 29. Editor John Hillery 2566 2½-6½ Na4 Qe7 30. Be2 h5 31. Bd3 835 N. Wilton Pl. # XIIIIIIIIY Los Angeles CA 90038 GM Victor Mikhalevski (2673) [email protected] – GM Kamil Miton (2702) 9-+-+-+k+0 SPICE Cup, Lubbock 2008 9zpr+nwqp+-0 Publisher David Argall D47 QUEEN’S GAMBIT DECLINED, 9-+p+l+p+0 Contributing Editors Semi- Jack Peters 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. 9+-+p+-+p0 Tim Hanks Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. 9N+-zP-+P+0 Al Pena Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Bb7 9. a3 b4 10. Ne4 9tR-+LzP-+-0 Contributors bxa3 11. 0–0 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 Bd6 13. Chuck Ensey Nd2 0–0 14. b3 Ba6 15. Re1 Bb5 16. 9-+r+-zP-zP0 Randy Hough Cyrus Lakdawala Bf3 a6 17. Nc4 Bb4 18. Bd2 Qe7 19. 9tR-+-wQ-mK-0 Anthony Ong Qc1 Bxd2 20. Qxd2 e5 21. Qa5 exd4 xiiiiiiiiy Chris Roberts 22. exd4 Qd8 23. Qxa3 Nf6 24. Nd6 Ra7 25. Qc5 Qb8 26. Nf5 Nd7 27. 31. ... Qh4 32. Bxc2 Qxg4+ 33. Subscriptions/Address Changes Qc1 Rc7 Kf1 Qf3 34. Qa5 Nb6 35. Ke1 Nc4 Randy Hough, Membership Secretary 36. Qd8+ Kg7 37. Qg5 Bg4 0–1 P.O. Box 205 XIIIIIIIIY Monterey Park CA 9754 9-wq-+-trk+0 (626) 282-742 9+-trn+pzpp0 [email protected] 9p+p+-+-+0 Rank & File — ISSN 8750-964 USPS 738-230, published bimonthly by the 9+l+-+N+-0 Southern California Chess Federation, 300 9-+-zP-+-+0 Ballista, La Puente CA 9744. Periodical Photos: Cover, p. 4: John Hillery. P. 13: postage paid at Industry, CA. POST- 9+P+-+L+-0 Randy Hough. P. 14: Anthiony Ong. MASTER: Send changes of address to 9-+-+-zPPzP0 Pp. 15, 16, 17: Ric Aeria. Pp. 19, 20: SCCF, PO Box 205, Monterey Park CA 9tR-wQ-tR-mK-0 chessbase.com. 9754. Subscriptions: $8 adult, $0 . Copyright © SCCF 2008. One-time only xiiiiiiiiy publication rights have been obtained from signed contributors. All other rights are Advertising Rates: Full page $80, half page hereby assigned to the authors. The opinions $45, 1/4 page $25, 1/8 page $15, back cover (3/4 SCCF Online expressed are strictly those of the contribu- page) $80. (All rates are for camera-ready copy.) tors and do not necessarily reflect the views Flyer insert $50 (advertiser must supply flyers). The SCCF Web 50% discount for tournaments requiring SCCF of the SCCF, its officers or members. membership. Display ads should be sent to the page is located at: Editor, flyers to the Publisher (addresses at right). Payment should be sent with order to the Editor. www.scchess.com SCCF reserves the right to reject any advertising.

4 RANK & FILE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2008 30th Annual Southern California Open

he 30th Annual Southern California Open, held at the Shera- ter 12. ... Nxc6 13. Bf4! e5 14. axb6 Tton Pasadena Hotel from August 30 through September 1, Qxb6 15. Bxc6 Qxc6 16. Bxe5. ended in a 4-way tie among GM Melikset Khachiyan (2561), IMs Andranik Matikozyan and Enrico Sevillano, and Tatev Abraha- 13. Nd4 Bxa3 myan, all with 5-1. Sevillano took the championship trophy on Maybe 13. ... Rd8, preparing ... e6-e5, improves. tiebreak, adding another to the state invitational championship 14. 0-0 Bc5 15. Rxa5 bxa5 16. trophy he took home the week before. Bxf6 gxf6 17. f4 f5 Next at 4½-1½ were masters Alexandre Kretchetov and Garush Ma- Not 17. ... Bxd4? 18. Qxd4 Nxc6 nukyan and experts Vadim Kudryavtsev, Lawrence Stevens and Christian because 19. Bxc6 Qxc6 20. Qxf6 Tanaka. David Leinbach (4-2) took the Class A prize. sets up Rf1-f3-g3, but 17. ... Kh8 is In the Amateur (U1800) section, Jeffrey Ding and Gonzalo Roberts Cer- reasonable. vantes tied for first with 5-1. Class prizes went to Benjamin Rosenfeld, Der- 18. Rf3 f6? rick Lee Sia, Vartan Shamirian, Jonathan Meaglia and James Norwood. XIIIIIIIIY Sean Manross topped the Scholastic Open, and Arissa Jad Torres the Scholastic Reserve. First in the Action (G/30_ tournament went to Henry 9-snl+-trk+0 Castro, while Elston He headed the Hexes (G/90. 9+-wq-+-+p0 The new site saw good turnouts of turnout of 147 for the main event (the 9-+P+pzp-+0 best in four years), and 112 more competed in the scholastics. John Hillery and Elie Hsiao directed. 9zpLvlp+p+-0 9-+-sN-zP-+0 GM Melikset Khachiyan (2561) 7. e3 0-0 9+-sN-zPR+-0 -- Eugene Yanayt (2302) Threatening 8. ... b6 9. c6 Bxb4. Southern California Open, Pasa- Yanayt had already used more than 9-+P+-+PzP0 dena 2008 an hour. 9+-+Q+-mK-0 D01 VERESOV OPENING 8. a3 a5 9. Bb5 Qc7 10. Nge2 xiiiiiiiiy [Notes by Los Angeles Times b6 chess columnist Jack Peters] Expecting plenty of compensa- Time pressure. Only 18. ... Kh8 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bg5 tion from 11. cxb6 Nxb6. resists. The Veresov Opening. 11. c6!? 19. Nxf5! 3. … Nbd7 4. f3 c5 5. dxc5 Strong or weak, this ’s fu- Counting on 19. ... exf5 20 Or 5. e4 cxd4, with about even ture decides the game. Qxd5+. chances. 11. … Nb8 19. … Bb4 20. Rg3+ Kh8 21. 5. … e6 6. b4!? Equally obscure is 11. ... Ne5 12. Nh6! e5 Much sharper than 6. e4. bxa5 Rxa5 13. Nd4 Bxa3 14. 0-0 Else 22. Qg4 mates at g8 or g7. 6. … Be7 Bb4. 22. Qxd5!, Black Resigns. Also wild is 6. ... b6 7. c6 Ne5 8. 12. bxa5 Rxa5 b5 Bb4. White safely pockets a pawn af-

5 RANK & FILE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2008 Tim Thompson (1928) – IM Jack 18. ... Nexg4 19. fxg4 Nxe4 20. Peters (2415) Bxe7 Nxc3+ 21. Kb2 Nxd1+ 22. Southern California Open, Pasa- Rxd1 Bxg4 23. Rd2 Be5 24. c3 Re8 dena 2008 25. Bh4 a6 26. Rf2 Be6 27. Nxe6 B11 CARO-KANN DEFENSE fxe6 28. Bf6 Bxf6 29. Rxf6 d5 30. 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. Kc2 Kg7 31. Rf2 Rf8 32. Rxf8 Kxf8 h3 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 Nf6 6. exd5 cxd5 33. Kd3 Ke7 34. Ke3 Kd6 35. Kf4 7. Bb5+ Nc6 8. 0–0 e6 9. d4 Be7 10. e5+ 36. Ke3 Kc5 37. Kd3 a5 38. Bd1 Bf4 0–0 11. Rfd1 Qb6 12. Qd3 Rfc8 h5 39. Be2 b4 40. cxb4+ Kxb4 41. 13. Ba4 Na5 14. Bb3 Rc6 15. Ba4 Bd1 h4 42. Bg4 Kc5 43. Bd7 e4+ 44. Rcc8 16. Bb3 a6 17. f3 Qc6 18. Rac1 Ke3 Kd6 45. Bg4 Ke5 46. Bd7 g5 47. Nc4 19. Bxc4 dxc4 20. Qe3 Rd8 21. Bc8 d4+ 48. Kf2 Kf4 49. Bh3 g4 50. Be5 b5 22. Ne4 Nd5 23. Qd2 f6 24. Bf1 h3 51. a3 g3+ 52. Kg1 d3 53. a4 Bg3 f5 25. Nc3 Bf6 g2 0–1 XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-tr-+k+0 GM Melikset Khachiyan (2561) 9+-+-+-zpp0 (2504) – Tianye He (2149) 9p+q+pvl-+0 Southern California Open, Pasa- dena 2008 9+p+n+p+-0 B23 SICILIAN DEFENSE, Rossolimo

9-+pzP-+-+0 Variation THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT—Jeffrey 9+-sN-+PvLP0 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Ding and Gonzalo Roberts Cervantes Bxc6 bxc6 5. f4 Bg7 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. (the tall one) tied for first in the Ama- 9PzPPwQ-+P+0 d3 0–0 8. 0–0 d5 9. e5 Nd7 10. Qe1 teur section, with Roberts Cervantes 9+-tRR+-mK-0 Nb6 11. b3 c4 12. Ba3 Ba6 13. Qe3 taking the trophy on tiebreak. xiiiiiiiiy Rc8 14. Rfd1 cxd3 15. cxd3 Re8 16. Rac1 f6 17. d4 Nd7 18. Na4 Bb5 19. Mike Zaloznyy (2096) – IM Jack 26. Nxd5 (26. Ne2) 26. ... Rxd5 27. e6 Nb8 20. Nc5 Na6 21. Bb2 Nxc5 Peters (2415) Qe3 Rad8 28. c3 e5 29. Re1 f4 0–1 22. dxc5 Qc7 23. Nd4 Ba6 24. h4 Southern California Open, Pasa- Bh6 25. g3 Kh8 26. Kf2 Rg8 27. Rh1 dena 2008 Robert Xue (1911) – Larry Stevens Rg7 28. Kf3 Rcg8 29. Rcd1 Rc8 30. B40 SICILIAN DEFENSE, Taimanov (2092) Bc3 Rgg8 31. h5 g5 32. Nf5 gxf4 33. Variation Southern California Open, Pasa- gxf4 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. dena 2008 XIIIIIIIIY Nxd4 Nf6 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Nb3 d5 7. B79 SICILIAN DEFENSE, Dragon exd5 Nxd5 8. 0–0 Be7 9. a3 0–0 10. Variation 9-+r+-+rmk0 c4 Nf6 11. Nc3 Qc7 12. Qe2 Bd7 13. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. 9zp-wq-zp-+p0 Be3 Ne5 14. Bf4 Bd6 15. c5 Nf3+ 16. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. 9l+p+Pzp-vl0 Qxf3 Bxf4 17. g3 Be5 18. Rac1 Rad8 Bc4 Nc6 8. f3 0–0 9. Bb3 Bd7 10. 19. Qe2 Bxc3 20. Rxc3 e5 21. Re1 Qd2 Qa5 11. 0–0–0 Rfc8 12. Kb1 9+-zPp+N+P0 Rfe8 22. Bb5 Bxb5 23. Qxb5 Rd5 24. Ne5 13. h4 b5 14. h5 Nxh5 15. g4 9-+-+-zP-+0 Na5 a6 25. Qb4 Rb8 26. Rec1 h5 27. Nf6 16. Bg5 Rxc3 17. Qxc3 Qxc3 18. 9+PvL-wQK+-0 Rb3 b6 28. Rc4 b5 29. c6 bxc3 9P+-+-+-+0 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+R+-+R0 9-tr-+-+k+0 9r+-+-+k+0 xiiiiiiiiy 9+-wq-+pzp-0 9zp-+lzppvlp0 9p+P+-sn-+0 9-+-zp-snp+0 33. ... Bxf4 34. Qxf4 Be2+ 35. Ke3 Qxf4+ 36. Kxf4 Rg4+ 37. Ke3 9sNp+rzp-+p0 9+p+-+-vL-0 Re4+ 38. Kd2 Bxd1 39. Rxd1 Rxe6 9-wQR+-+-+0 9-+-sNP+n+0 40. Nxe7 Re8 41. Nf5 Re2+ 42. Kd3 9zPR+-+-zP-0 9+LzP-+P+-0 Rxa2 43. Rg1 Rf8 44. Bd4 h6 45. Rg6 Rh2 46. Bxf6+ Kh7 47. Rg7+ 9-zP-+-zP-zP0 9P+P+-+-+0 Kh8 48. Rf7+ 1–0 9+-+-+-mK-0 9+K+R+-+R0 xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy

6 RANK & FILE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2008 29. ... Rd1+ 30. Kg2 Nd5 0–1 15. d5 Ng6 16. Qh5 f4 Rxg5 35. fxg5+ Ke7 36. Kf4 Bg6 37. [16. ... Bd7 17. Ng5 h6 (17. ... Nf8 Be4 Bxe4 38. Kxe4 Rd8 39. Rf1 Ra8 40. Rf6 a5 41. bxa5 Rxa5 42. Rh6 David Matson (2019) - 18. Qxf7+ Kh8 19. dxe6) 18. Nxf7 Ra3 43. Rxh5 Rxc3 44. Rh8 Rg3 45. Lagemann,N (1901) Kxf7 19. dxe6+ Bxe6 20. exf5] Rb8 Rg4+ 46. Ke5 Rxh4 47. Rxb7+ Southern California Open, Pasa- 17. dxc6 fxe3 18. Ng5 1–0 Kf8 48. g6 fxg6 49. Rc7 Rh5+ 50. dena 2008 Kxe6 Rd5 51. Rd7 1–0 B26 SICILIAN DEFENSE, Closed Randel Eng (1922) – Eugene Variation Yanayt (2303) 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 Southern California Open, Pasa- Vanessa West (2011) – Mike Za- g6 5. d3 e6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. Qd2 Nge7 dena 2008 loznyy (2096) 8. Bh6 0–0 9. Bxg7 Kxg7 10. f4 d5 B87 SICILIAN DEFENSE, Najdorf Southern California Open, Pasa- 11. e5 Nd4 12. Nd1 b5 13. c3 Ndc6 Variation dena 2008 14. Nf3 c4 15. d4 a5 16. g4 Rh8 17. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. B31 SICILIAN DEFENSE, Rosolimo Ne3 h5 18. h3 hxg4 19. hxg4 Rxh1+ Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 Variation 20. Bxh1 b4 21. Bg2 bxc3 22. bxc3 Be7 8. 0–0 b5 9. Qf3 Qc7 10. Re1 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Rb8 23. Ke2 Qb6 24. Rh1 Bd7 25. f5 Nc6 11. Nxc6 Qxc6 12. Qg3 0–0 13. 0–0 Bg7 5. Re1 e5 6. c3 Nge7 7. d3 exf5 f3 Rd8 14. Bh6 Ne8 15. Rad1 Bb7 0–0 8. Be3 d6 9. d4 b6 10. a4 Bg4 11. XIIIIIIIIY 16. Rd3 Bf6 17. Red1 a5 18. a4 b4 d5 Nb8 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 f5 14. 19. Nb5 Ba6 20. Bg5 Bxb5 21. axb5 Bd3 f4 15. Bd2 Nd7 16. Na3 Nf6 17. 9-tr-+-+-+0 Qc5+ 22. Be3 Qxb5 23. Bd4 Bxd4+ a5 g5 18. axb6 axb6 19. Nb5 Rxa1 9+-+lsnpmk-0 24. Rxd4 a4 25. Bc4 Qc5 26. f4 a3 20. Rxa1 h5 21. Be2 g4 22. Qd3 Ng6 9-wqn+-+p+0 27. bxa3 bxa3 28. Qf2 a2 29. Ra1 23. b4 Nh4 24. f3 gxh3 25. gxh3 Ra4 30. Rxa2 Rxc4 31. Ra4 Rxc2 32. XIIIIIIIIY 9zp-+pzPp+-0 Qe3 Rb8 33. h3 e5 34. fxe5 Rb1+ 35. 9-+pzP-+P+0 Kh2 Qxe5+ 36. Qg3 Rh1+ 0–1 9-+-wq-trk+0 9+-zP-sNN+-0 9+-+-+-vl-0 Larry Stevens (2092) – Craig 9-zp-zp-sn-+0 9P+-wQK+L+0 Faber (2226) 9+-+-+-+R0 Southern California Open, Pasa- 9+NzpPzp-+p0 xiiiiiiiiy dena 2008 9-zP-+Pzp-sn0 B01 CENTER COUNTER DEFENSE 9+-zPQ+P+P0 26. Nxc4 Nxe5 27. Qh6+ Kf6 28. 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nf3 c6 dxe5+ Ke6 29. Ng5# 1–0 4. Be2 Nf6 5. 0–0 Bf5 6. d4 e6 7. c4 9-+-vLL+-+0 Qd8 8. Nc3 Bd6 9. Qb3 Qb6 10. Bg5 9tR-+-+-mK-0 GM Melikset Khachiyan (2561) Qxb3 11. axb3 Nbd7 12. c5 Be7 13. xiiiiiiiiy – David Portwood (1928) b4 Ne4 14. Bf4 g5 15. Be3 Nxc3 16. Southern California Open, Pasa- bxc3 g4 17. Nd2 a6 18. Bf4 0–0 19. 25. ... Nxe4 26. Qxe4 Qg5+ 27. dena 2008 Nc4 h5 20. Na5 Ra7 21. Bc7 Bd8 Kf1 Qg2+ 28. Ke1 Qh1+ 29. Bf1 B23 SICILIAN DEFENSE, Rossolimo 22. Bxd8 Rxd8 23. Nc4 Nf6 24. Nd6 Nxf3+ 30. Kf2 Qg1+ 31. Kxf3 Qh1+ Variation Ne4 25. Nxe4 Bxe4 26. f3 gxf3 27. 32. Bg2 Qxa1 33. Ke2 Rf6 34. Nc7 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. f4 Nc6 4. gxf3 Bg6 28. f4 Raa8 29. Kf2 Kg7 Qg1 35. Ne8 Rf8 36. Nxd6 Qh2 37. Nf3 g6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. 0–0 Bg7 7. 30. Ke3 Kf6 31. h4 Rh8 32. Bf3 Qf3 cxb4 38. cxb4 Qg1 39. Bc3 Ra8 d3 e6 8. Bxc6 Bxc6 9. Be3 b6 10. XIIIIIIIIY 40. Ne4 Ra2+ 41. Bd2 Ra1 42. Nf2 Qe1 Ne7 11. d4 0–0 12. Rd1 Qc7 e4 43. Qxe4 f3+ 44. Qxf3 Bd4 45. 13. Qh4 Rfd8 14. f5 gxf5 9r+-+-+-tr0 Qg3+ Kh8 46. Qb8+ Kg7 47. Qc7+ XIIIIIIIIY 9+p+-+p+-0 Kg8 48. Qd8+ Kf7 49. Qd7+ Kf8 9p+p+pmk-+0 50. Qf5+ Kg8 51. Qg5+ Bg7 52. d6 9r+-tr-+k+0 Ra8 1–0 9zp-wq-snpvlp0 9+-zP-+l+p0 9-zplzpp+-+0 9-zP-zP-zP-zP0 9+-zp-+p+-0 9+-zP-mKL+-0 9-+-zPP+-wQ0 9-+-+-+-+0 9+-sN-vLN+-0 9tR-+-+R+-0 9PzPP+-+PzP0 xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+R+RmK-0 32. ... Bf5 33. Rg1 Rag8 34. Rg5 xiiiiiiiiy 7 RANK & FILE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2008 TacticsTactics by NM Tim Hanks h3 which is okay, however, better may be 5. c3 with plans to exploit Black’s early and somewhat prema- ture deployment as White strategies aimed at winning mate- will already be threatening Qb3. rial. How this is accomplished is Back to the game: Black replied 5. buried in the lines to create imbal- … Bh5?! and this is now simply bad ances and in the many variations for Black. The problem is … White of the opening. Most beginners and does not see or understand how to even people who have played for de- exploit this move order. This is a here is no quick or easy way to cades don’t know this. All it takes classic example where tactical op- Tlearn chess tactics. It takes time, is one of two moves to deviate from portunities are missed simply be- lots of practice and hard work. It’s the basic opening “theory” and sud- cause the basic ideas of a particular important you constantly study and denly the player seems lost on what opening are not understood. By the learn tactical themes and motifs, to do or how to proceed. way, better, and probably forced for of which there are dozens, such as Take the following example Black was 5. … Bd7. Now White in pins, forks, deflections, double-at- played in a local club tournament. 1. unfamiliar territory, misses a bet- tacks, etc., so you will become more e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 d6, which ter continuation and plays 6. g4?! proficient with executing chess tac- is a kind of Hungarian Defense. Better may be 6. d5! since if Nd4?! tics. White was “hoping” for either 3. … (the very move White feared) then In contrast, you can study a book Nf6 (leading to the Two Knights 7. g4! Nxf3+ 8. Qxf3 Bg6 9. Bb5+ on a particular opening and within Defense) or 3. … Bc5 (Giuoco Pia- with a clear (and almost winning) a few hours of practice and review no), in both of which he knows the advantage for White. you may be able to play the opening opening move sequences fairly well. moves “pretty well.” Even with rel- Play continued 4. d4 which is fine Position No. 2. Black to move. atively little understanding of what and now Black played 4. … Bg4!?, XIIIIIIIIY the strategic purpose may be of a which threatens 5. … Nxd4. particular opening many players 9r+-wqkvlntr0 are able to progress to the middle- Position No. 1. White to move. 9zppzp-+pzpp0 game before their true knowledge, XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-zp-+l+0 or lack thereof, of chess begins to show. For example many beginners 9r+-wqkvlntr0 9+L+Pzp-+-0 learn to play chess with moves such 9zppzp-+pzpp0 9-+-+P+P+0 as 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 9-+nzp-+-+0 9+-+-+Q+P0 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3, etc. This is the that many beginners 9+-+-zp-+-0 9PzPP+-zP-+0 may, at first, typically like to play. 9-+LzPP+l+0 9tRNvL-mK-+R0 Often they don’t know what the 9+-+-+N+-0 xiiiiiiiiy purpose of the moves are as they are simply copying what they’ve 9PzPP+-zPPzP0 The game continued 6. … Bg6 seen others play and have never 9tRNvLQmK-+R0 7. Nc3 Be7 8. Be3 Nf6 9. dxe5?! had a review session or read any xiiiiiiiiy Nxe4 10. Nxe4 Bxe4 and Black books on the opening. As experi- emerged from the opening with the enced players know, most openings White is not familiar with this better game and a clear advantage are a basic fight for time, a definite line of play and is now forced to even though his moves were weak strife for an advantage in territory figure out what to do as his clock and not the best. This kind of open- and moves that introduce specific ticks down. The game continued 5. ing misplay happens all the time.

8 RANK & FILE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2008 Club players are notorious for get- those days. It was all about having play soundly, building on solid fun- ting into routines and when some- the right attitude. I always recom- damentals and don’t hope your op- one new comes along with a new mend that you play soundly and ponent will or play weak in move order or opening system they that you play the board. You should order for you to win. seem lost on what to do even if their never underestimate your opponent One of the critical phases of any opponent is playing unsoundly. and realize that ratings especially game is the opening. Many open- can be very deceiving. Some people ings are rich with traps and tactics. In a recent tournament the pair- even think that if a player is un-rat- Being practical and cunning is one ings put a total beginner, who bare- ed he must be weak. This is a very of the best ways to strive for an ad- Tactics ly knew how to move the pieces or bad assumption. vantage and to take advantage of by NM Tim Hanks even how to keep score, with a very One of the best examples of how complacent and unwary opponents. experienced 1800+ player. Neither to play someone you don’t know Often the opening establishes the player was aware of the other’ level is demonstrated when you watch pace of the game and it is here, dur- or chess experience. The beginner GMs perform simultaneous exhibi- ing the first few moves, that ex- had White. The game started 1. e4 tions. They may have no idea if they treme care must always be taken. and Black responded 1. … Nf6. The are playing a beginner or a Master. Here’s a fascinating game that I beginner not being familiar with They play sound moves and build enjoy playing over which paired this move responded with 2. Nf3, on the position with precise strate- Jan Timman vs Judith Polgar in since this is what he always plays. gic principles. There moves are not Malmo, Sweden 2000. I chose this Of course Black continued 2. … wild, arrogant or unsound attacks. game based on the premise of this Nxe4 winning the pawn. The game In another related example, with article that right from the start the continued for many more moves a twist, there was a player rated opening moves require precision to with the inexperienced player drop- about 1550 who was paired with, strive for an advantage. Watch and ping more and more material until he thought, was a 1300 strength enjoy as two of the best in the World finally being checkmated, as he did opponent. From the start he felt battle it out. not know anything about resigning. confident he was going to win as What was interesting was how the he was higher rated. In the open- J. Timman – J. Polgar experienced player took quite some ing and through to the middlegame Malmo, Sweden, 2000 time to finally realize he was play- he played hard but lost a pawn and E15 QUEEN’S INDIAN DEFENSE ing someone who hardly knew any- then the . He kept think- 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. d4 e6 thing about chess. If he had known ing his opponent was simply lucky. So here we have the Queen’s In- his opponent was a total beginner he He was down considerable materiel dian Defense more or less by trans- probably would not have played the and knew he was lost but since he position. This is a classic example of Alekhine’s Defense and would have was playing someone “lower rated” the flexible nature of playing Nf3 to selected more direct and threaten- he kept fighting and looking for a start. The opening moves can lead ing moves to quickly his chance to win, expecting his oppo- to Pawn or Queen Pawn Open- opponent. nent to eventually blunder away the ings so players must be on-guard to Many tournament players are game. The game lasted for many understand subtle sub-variations very anxious to see what the rating moves but in the end he lost. The that may transition them into lines is of their opponent when paired be- most fascinating part of this story they are not familiar with. fore a round starts. For some their is that after the game both players 4. g3 Ba6 selection of opening or even style decided to go over the moves as the of play may differ depending on 1550 player really felt bad that he Position No. 3. White to move. How the rating of their opponent. I re- had lost. In the course of analysis do you protect the c4 pawn? member when I first started to play the 1550 strength player discov- XIIIIIIIIY USCF rated chess and my first rat- ered, to his amazement, that his op- ing was in the 1200’s. I had no idea ponent was a Master! His attitude 9rsn-wqkvl-tr0 what the so called “rating numbers” towards winning at the beginning 9zp-zpp+pzpp0 really meant. I just wanted to beat of the game was built with confi- 9lzp-+psn-+0 everyone I played and was never dence since he thought he had the intimidated by so called “higher higher rating. Can you imagine 9+-+-+-+-0 ranked” players. Many stronger how he would have felt had he won 9-+PzP-+-+0 players totally underestimated my or even drawn the game? 9+-+-+NzP-0 strength and played unsound moves Some tournament players make thinking not much effort would be it a point not to know their oppo- 9PzP-+PzP-zP0 needed to beat me. Let me just say… nents’ rating. This should not make 9tRNvLQmKL+R0 I enjoyed some big upsets back in a difference to you as well. Always xiiiiiiiiy

9 RANK & FILE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2008 This move (Ba6) may seem threats and even now is still faced strong central pressure, especially somewhat unorthodox to the inex- with difficulties. Black now threat- on White’s d4 pawn. White must perience player. In fact when Aron ens … Nxd4. seek counterplay on the c-file or Nimzowitsch introduced this stra- 7. Bc3 Ne4 face a quick loss of material (and tegic concept back in the 1920’s or Black immediately goes after probably the game). so it was ridiculed. But in recent the White Bishop and sets up some 14. ... f5!? decades and today, this is a totally other nasty threats. Let’s watch as Perhaps the following improves: acceptable method of play by Black play develops. 14. ... Bf6 15. b4 Qa4 16. Qc3 Bxd4 against the White opening setup. 8. a3 17. Nxd4 Rxd4 18. b5 Rxe4+ 19. White must take care on the meth- If instead White played 8. Bg2, Nxe4 Qxe4+ 20. Kd2 Qxh1 21. bxc6 od to defend the c-pawn without then 8. … Nxc3 9. Nxc3 (Not 9. Qd5+ 22. Ke1 Ba8 23. f3 Rd8 24. either losing the pawn or suffering Qxc3?? in view of 9. ... Bb4 winning Be2 Qd4 25. Ba6+ Kb8 26. Qxd4 positional weaknesses. the White Queen and the game ends Rxd4 27. Kf2 Rd6 28. Bb5 a6 29. 5. Qb3 quickly) 9. ... Nxd4 10. Qd1 Nxf3+ Bxa6 Rxc6. Back to the game, as Notice how quickly White can 11. Bxf3 Bxf3 12. exf3. Black has play continued: get into trouble with inaccurate a large advantage and probably a 15. b4 fxe4 16. Qc3 Qd5 17. play. For example if 5. b3 then 5. won game at the GM level. Ne5 e3 18. Ndf3 … Bb4+ 6. Nbd2 (if instead White 8. ... Nxc3 9. Qxc3 plays 6. Bd2, then 6. … Be7 7. Nc3 So White has managed to avoid Position No. 6. Black to move. Can d5 8. cxd5 exd5. In this sub-varia- devastating traps and is not that you find the winning sequence? tion Black has equalized and cre- far behind in development. Black XIIIIIIIIY ated imbalances in the White posi- created threats and has emerged tion. For example the White pawn with the Bishop pair with potential 9-+ktr-+-tr0 on b3 is now clearly out of place. ) threats along the h1–a8 diagonal. 9zplzp-vl-zpp0 6. ... Bc3 7. Rb1 Bb7 8. e3 Be4 and 9. ... Be7 10. Qd3 d5 11. cxd5 9-zpn+p+-+0 Black is probably winning already Qxd5 12. e4 – as shown in Position No. 4. 9+-+qsN-+-0 Position No. 5. Black has a strong 9-zP-zP-+-+0 Position No. 4. White to move. advantage and is on move. How 9zP-wQ-zpNzP-0 Black Bishops are rather comically would you continue? 9-+-+-zP-zP0 controlling the board. XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-+k+-tr0 9+-tR-mKL+R0 9rsn-wqk+-tr0 9zplzp-vlpzpp0 xiiiiiiiiy 9zp-zpp+pzpp0 9-zpn+p+-+0 18. … exf2+? 9-zp-+psn-+0 Better was simply 18. ... Bf6 9+-+q+-+-0 19. Nxc6 Qxf3 20. Nxa7+ Kb8 21. 9+-+-+-+-0 9-+-zPP+-+0 fxe3 Qxh1. Another improved re- 9-+PzPl+-+0 9zP-+Q+NzP-0 sponse was 18. ... Rhf8 19. Be2 Rd7 9+Pvl-zPNzP-0 20. Nxc6 Rxf3 21. Bxf3 Qxf3 22. 9-zP-+-zP-zP0 Rf1 exf2+ 23. Rxf2 Qh1+ 24. Kd2 9P+-sN-zP-zP0 9tRN+-mKL+R0 Bg5+–+ with Black forcing resig- 9+RvLQmKL+R0 xiiiiiiiiy nation. With this mistake White is xiiiiiiiiy back in the game. 12. … Qa5+ 19. Kxf2 Rhf8 20. Kg2! g5?? Returning to the game: Perhaps better was 12. ... Qh5! Black loses her way and blun- 5. ... Nc6 6. Bd2 13. Bg2 Bf6 14. Nc3 0–0–0 15. Ne2 ders away a winning position. Cor- Or 6. Bg2 Na5 7. Qa4 Bxc4 8. Qa5+ 16. Qc3 Nxd4 17. Nexd4 Bxd4 rect was 20. ... Rxf3 21. Nxf3 b5!! Bd2 Bd5 9. Bxa5 bxa5 10. Qxa5 c5 18. Qxa5 bxa5 19. Nxd4 Rxd4 20. This subtle move, although not ap- 11. Qxd8+ Rxd8 12. dxc5 Bxc5. Rd1 Rhd8 21. Rxd4 Rxd4 22. f3 Kd7 pearing very tactical in nature, is 6. ... Bb7 23. Ke2 Ba6, and Black is clearly actually a winning move as it neu- The Black Bishop has completed better if not outright winning. tralizes all of White’s threats, while his assignment to disrupt the fluid 13. Nbd2 0–0–0 14. Rc1 introducing very hard to meet development of the White forces This is the right move as White threats for Black. For example if and now returns to it’s best diago- is clearly behind in development 22. Be2 Rd7 23. Rhd1 Bf6 24. Qc5 nal. Notice that all along the way, which usually spells trouble in Nxd4 25. Qxd5 Bxd5 26. Kf2 Nxe2 White was forced to parry subtle the opening. Black is establishing 27. Kxe2 Rf7 28. Rb1 Be4 29. Rbc1

10 RANK & FILE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2008 Bxf3+ 30. Kxf3 Bg5+ 31. Ke4 Bxc1 Kf1 Rf2+ 41. Ke1 gxh4 42. Rxh4 . Good luck and happy solv- 32. Rxc1 Rf2, and Black will easily Bg3 43. Rhe4 Ra2+ 44. Kd1 Rxa3 ing! Solutions on page 21. win the ending. So now White 45. Rxe3 Rxe3 46. Rxe3 Bf4 47. Rf3 can perhaps win or at least stifle Be5, with a drawn ending. Black’s attack! 37. ... Rd4 38. Rxd4 cxd4 39. Problem No. 1. White to move. 21. Nxc6 Rd7 22. g4? Kg2 d3 40. Kf3 e2 XIIIIIIIIY This may have been time pres- The Black pawns cannot be sure. Better was 22. Nxa7+ Kb8 stopped. Thus White resigned. 9-trlwq-trk+0 23. Nc6+ Kc8 24. h3 h5÷ Although 9+-+-zppvlp0 Black still has threats, at least This was a very entertaining and 9p+-zp-snp+0 White is still in the game. The game enjoyable game. There were mis- has become very double-edged with takes on both sides and each player 9snpzpP+-+-0 chances for both sides. overlooked subtle counter-attack- 9-+P+P+-+0 22. ... Bc5! 23. Bb5 Bxc6 24. ing moves causing the advantage 9+-sNQ+NzP-0 Bxc6 Qxc6 25. Rhf1? to swing back and forth. Most im- White misses the chance to win. pressive was the opening sequence, 9PzP-+-zPLzP0 Better was 25. bxc5 Qe4 26. Rhf1 which Judith played super accu- 9+RvL-+RmK-0 Qxg4+ 27. Kh1 Qe4 28. Rce1 Qc6 rately to emerge with a clear advan- xiiiiiiiiy 29. Kg1 Rdf7 30. Nd2 Rxf1+ 31. tage in the early middlegame. Jan Nxf1, and White is winning as the did not lose hope and introduced a) 1. b3 is correct Black attack has fizzled out. his own level of complexities offer- b) 1. b3 is incorrect 25. ... h5! 26. Kg1 Rxf3 27. ing chances to stay in the game so Prove your answer with Qxf3 Qxf3 28. Rxf3 hxg4 29. Rg3 much so that he went from losing analysis and a variation. Bxd4+ 30. Kh1 Be5 31. Rxg4 Bf4 to actually winning. This game 32. Rc2?! demonstrates the power of the pins Problem No. 2. Black has played I suspect both sides were in time and especially Queen-Bishop bat- unsoundly in the opening and is pressure and the final moves are tery pins on the long diagonal. The down material. It’s White to move. littered with mistakes (better was is probably the most frequent- How would you proceed? 32. Rc3). ly encountered tactical theme. It XIIIIIIIIY 32. ... e5 33. Rc3 e4 34. Rc4 e3 usually represents a piece that is 35. Re4 c5? immobilized since it is shielding a 9r+-wqk+-tr0 Better was 35. ... Rd1+ 36. Kg2 more valuable piece behind it. You 9zppzp-+pzp-0 Rd2+ 37. Kf1 Rf2+ 38. Ke1 Rxh2 should always work to get out of 9-+nzp-+-+0 39. a4 Rf2 40. Re7 a6 41. Rf7 Ra2. a pin (or avoid one) as quickly as and Black will win. possible. Improving your ability 9+-vl-zp-+n0 36. bxc5 bxc5 to calculate and visualize tactical 9-+L+P+N+0 combinations takes practice. Tac- 9+-+P+-+-0 Position No. 7. White to move and tical problem solving will help in . What would you do? this development. Avoid moving the 9PzPP+-zPP+0 XIIIIIIIIY pieces when solving problems so as 9tRNvLQ+RmK-0 to strengthen your over-the-board xiiiiiiiiy 9-+k+-+-+0 play. Be alert, play sharp and al- 9zp-+r+-+-0 ways remember to do your safety 9-+-+-+-+0 9+-zp-+-zp-0 9-+-+RvlR+0 44th Annual 9zP-+-zp-+-0 9-+-+-+-zP0 American Open 9+-+-+-+K0 LAX Renaissance Hotel xiiiiiiiiy 37. h4? November 27-30 The final mistake. Better and $$36,000 b/400, $18,000 guaranteed! most likely drawing was 37. Re8+ see page 22 for full details Kc7 38. h4 Rd5 39. Kg2 Rd2+ 40.

11 RANK & FILE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2008 a) 1. Be3 is incorrect by 29. ... Rxc5, which White meets b) 1. Be3 is correct as all The Long View by a counterattack on the b7 pawn. Black play is neutralized by John Hillery Validate your choice with 28. Rgb1 b6 29. Ba3 g6 30. analysis. any of ’s Rb5 Ra6 31. Bc1 Nd8 32. Ra1 Mideas were well ohead of his Nf7 33. Rbb1 Nd6 34. f3 Nf7 35. Problem No. 3. Black to move. time, and were not fully appreci- Ra3 g5 36. Ke2 gxf4 37. e4 Nf6 XIIIIIIIIY ated for another half-century. It 38. Bxf4 Nh5 39. Be3 f4 was his misfortune to be surpassed XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-wqkvl-tr0 in his own era first by Steinitz and, 9+-zp-snpzpp0 later, Lasker. Here he shows the su- 9-+-+-+k+0 9p+nzp-+-+0 periority of Knights over Bishops in 9zp-+r+n+p0 9+p+Nzp-+-0 a closed position. 9rzp-+p+-+0 9-+-+P+l+0 Lasker – Chigorin 9+-+-+-+n0 9+LzP-+N+-0 Hastings 1895 9P+pzPPzp-+0 D07 QUEEN’S GAMBIT DECLINED, 9tR-zP-vLP+-0 9PzP-zP-zPPzP0 Chigorin’s Defense 9tR-vLQmK-+R0 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Bg4 3. c4 Bxf3 9-+L+K+-zP0 xiiiiiiiiy 4. gxf3 Nc6 5. Nc3 e6 6. e3 Bb4 9+R+-+-+-0 By , we have reached xiiiiiiiiy one of the main lines of Chigorin’s a) 1. … Na5 is correct Defense (the usual move order is 1. An echo of the maneuver at move b) 1. … Na5 is incorrect d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nf3 Bg4). Fore- 18 — now Black will use his Knights Prove your answer with a shadowing the ideas of Reti and on the dark squares (d6 or e5). variation. Gruenfeld a generation later, Black 40. Bf2 Ra5 41. Rg1+ Kf8 42. pits rapid development and active Raa1 e5 43. Rab1 Ng7 44. Rb4 Problem No. 4. piece play against White’s pawn cen- Rc7 45. Bb1 The position below is reached after: ter and two Bishops. Apparently hoping to win the 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Ne4 7. cxd5 Qxd5 8. Bd2 Bxc3 9. c4 pawn, but this fails tactically. Nf6 5. Ng3 h5 6. Bg5 h4 7. Bxf6 hxg6 bxc3 Nge7 10. Rg1 Qh5 11. Qb3 White should maintain the position 8. Be5 Of course not 11. Rxg7? Ng6, and await developments. It’s Black to move. What would you trapping the Rook. 45. ... Ne6 46. Rd1 Ned8 47. do? 11. ... Nd8 12. Qb5+ Rd2 Nc6 48. Rb5 XIIIIIIIIY Exchanging Queens reduces Not 48. Rxc4? Nd6, winning the the danger to the uncastled White Exchange. Perhaps White thought 9rsnlwqkvl-tr0 King, but the Black Knights will be he could undermine the Black 9zpp+-zppzp-0 very active. Knights, but Black strikes first. 9-+p+-+-+0 12. ... Qxb5 13. Bxb5+ c6 14. 48. ... Rxa4 49. dxe5 Nfxe5 50. Bd3 Ng6 15. f4 0-0 16. Ke2 Rc8 Bh4 Rg7 51. Kf2 Rg6 52. Rdd5 9+-+-vL-+-0 17. Rg3 c5 18. Rag1 c4 Ra1 53. Bd8 Nd3+ 54. Bxd3 9-+-zP-+-+0 A surprising and strong idea. Neither 54. Ke2 (... Rg2+ 55. 9+-+-+-zp-0 Black foregoes prressure on the Kf1 Rb7) nor 54. Kf1 (... Ncb4 55. center pawns to obtain a pawn ma- cxb4 Rxb1+ 56. Ke2 Rg2 mate) was 9PzPP+-zPPzP0 jority on the Queenside and use of any better. 9tR-+QmKLsNR0 the light squares for his Knights. 54. ... cxd3 55. Rxd3 Rag1 56. xiiiiiiiiy 19. Bc2 f5 20. Bc1 Rf7 21. Ba3 Rf5+ Ke8 57. Bg5 Rc6 22. Bc5 Ra6 23. a4 Nc6 24. Or 57. Rxf4 R6g2+ 58. Ke3 Re1 Rb1 Rd7 25. Rgg1 Nge7 26. Rb2 mate. a) White is slightly better. Nd5 27. Kd2 Ra5 57. ... R6xg5, White resigns b) The position offers chanc- Threatening 28. ... Nxf4 followed es for both sides c) Black is better. Prove your answer with a variation.

12 RANK & FILE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2008 Miguel, and Taylor McCreary of Pasadena San Luis Obispo. Sanya Bykovt- Tianyi He continued his club sev of Goleta took the U/1000 prize. tournament winning streak, but The annual tournament was direct- gave up draws to Ron Jabali and ed by Barbara McCaleb of San Luis Gregg Fritchle enroute to a 5-1 win Obispo. – Barbara McCaleb in the 39-player San Gabriel Val- ley Championship. Fritchle, John Wright, and Robert Xue were a half- Diversity Educational point behind. Other winners includ- ed Jerry Harrison (Under 1800), Center Dave Galfond and David Minasyan On September 28, Aaron House- (Under 1600), Bonifacio Lara and Exposition Park holder, Evan Anthopoulos, Sebas- Jared Ogassian (Under 1400), and Chess Club tien Whetsel, Abraham Niu, Anna Craig Clark (Unrated). Qiu, Alfred Zhang, Justin Yang and On September 7, Mark Mehlert Gore Badikyan won sections in the and Uldarico Celestial topped sec- Fall Quads, a 34-player tournament tions in the monthly free tourna- at Diversity Educational Center in ment at the Exposition Park Chess Arcadia. For the club’s schedule, vis- Club. On October 5, winners wre it diversityeducationalcenter.com. Uldarico Celestial, Vartan Ghaz- arian, Luis Moreno, Jose Quiroz and Miguel Martinez. For photos of Westwood Fall Open the club, see chess.expoparkla.com. Turnout at the Westwood Fall The club meets every Sunday after- Open, held at the Los Angeles Chess noon in the public library at 3900 S. Club October 12, was a slightly dis- Western Ave. in Los Angeles. appointing 35. Top-rated IM Enrico Sevillano took clear first with 4½ out of 5, followed stepson John Dan- San Luis Obispo iel Bryant with 4 and Joel Banawa County Championship (3½). Juan Paul Rodriguez scored Sandy He displays his USCF Master 4½ to take clear first in the Reserve certificate after a surprise presentation The September 13 S.L.O. Coun- (U1800). John Hillery directed. at the Pasadena Club. ty Championship saw a three-way The Pasadena Club meets Friday tie for first place by Vadim Kudry- Prize winners: nights at the Senior Center, 85 E. avtsev of Ivine, Robert Reynolds of Open: 1st: IM Enrico Sevillano, Holly St. For club information call Santa Ynez, and Warren William- 4½-½; 2nd: John Daniel Bryant, 4; Neil Hultgren at (818) 243-3809. son of Morro Bay, all scoring 3-1. 3rd: Joel Banawa, 3½-1½; U2200: – Randy Hough Robert Reynolds was the qualifier Show Kitagami, Garnik Bagh- for next year’s State Championship. dasaryan, 3; U2000: David Cody Warren Williamson became the Oldham, Austin Hughes, 3. La Palma Chess Club San Luis Obispo County cham- Reserve: 1st: Juan Paul Rodri- Chris Roberts won the Superno- pion. Zach Lindsay of Atascadero guez, 4½-½; 2nd/U16000/U1400- va section of La Palma Chess Club’s won the prize for U/1500 in the 12- unrated: Mitchell Jayson, Numen “Undisputed Chess Championship player Open Section. The 12-player Adbul-Mujeeb, Shaunak P. Tivedi, of the Universe,” which ended Sep- U/1400 Reserve Section saw a three 3½-1½; U1200: Jonah Blume- tember 26th. Roberts was undefeat- way tie for first place by Stephan Kemkes, Yechiel Goldberger, 2½- ed, won the 1st place trophy on tie Bosch of L.A., Tim Forney of San 2½. breaks, and will reign as the club’s

13 RANK & FILE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2008 2008 Undisputed Chess Champi- our big monthly event. IM on of the Universe. Master Craig Cyrus Lakdawala won First Faber came in 2nd after downing Place ($125) with 3½, allowing five others and losing only to Rob- a draw only to Expert Carey erts. Other prizewinners were Meh- Milton, who according to Cy, rdad Miralaie, Robert Hatfield and “easily drew”. Carey seems to Michael Brown, 3rd place; and Yo- be getting smarter and tough- shio Dupree, Best Under 1700. The er lately. Rick Aeria, Roberto 23-player 6-round Swiss was held Aeillo and Jorge Balares all at La Palma’s Central Park. In the tied for 2nd Place, U2400 and 19-player “Black Hole” section, fast U2200 for $75 each. Leon- improving Christopher Kao won ard Sussman was 2nd U2400. clear first place with a fine unde- Then there was a three way tie feated score of 5½ points. Other for U2000, 2nd U2200 and 2nd prizewinners are Zheng Zhu, 2nd U2000 between Varun Krish- ing in the tournament. Attendants Place; Andrew Kao (Trophy on tie nan, Chuck Ensey and David Del- included well-known chess players, breaks), David Yang, and Carmen gadillo. In the Reserve Section, Pej- Enrico Sevillano, Randy Hough and Childress, 3rd Place; David Yang, man Sagart won First Place with a Jerry Hanken, all of whom added to Best Under 1500; and Mike Searcy, score of 3½. Kyron Griffith, Roger the energy of the event. Best U1300. Mehrdad Miralaie, Dooc and Ken Hopper tied for Sec- Christopher Kao, and Zheng Zhu The G/30 tourna- ond Place. The partially blind Mon shared the Dark Matter / Dark En- ment led to some exciting battles Roi enthusiast and part time blog- ergy Prize (best score with Black) and head-to-head blitz style finish- ger Jessica Lauser won BU1600. with three points. For complete es. Undefeated, IM Enrico Sevilla- We were very sad to hear that she standings, games, and a schedule no took home the 1st prize, followed is moving back to Northern Cali- of events, see the club’s website at by Rey Del Pilar, Craig Faber, and fornia. Scott Householder was 2nd http://www.lapalmachess.741.com. Joshua Gutman who all tied for the U1600. Jessica also won the Best – Chris Roberts 2nd place. In the three under-class Game Prize in the Reserve Section prizes: Dr. Alex Bykovtsev won and Roberto Aiello was the Open Arcadia Chess Club the U1900, Winston Zeng won the Section Best Game winner. U1600 and Timmy Chou won the The October Super Gambito Tianyi (Sandy) He, not yet 15, U1300, while, rookie Marcos Ferrer, had another nice turnout of 34 followed up his 6-0 score in Pasa- scored 3-2 to top the Unrated prize players. Cyrus Lakdawala tied for dena’s Liberty Open with another group. First Place/U2400 with Carey Mil- clean sweep in the Bill Smith Me- The six-hour USCF rated tour- ton, both players won three in a morial, becoming America’s newest nament also included lunch and row and then drew with each other master. Trailing a respectful point raffle drawings. Lunchtime offered in the last round for a score of 3½. behind were Konstantin Kavutskiy an extra time to converse with oth- Bruce Baker was Second Place with (first A) and Jeffrey Ding (top B). er chess players while enjoying the 3. Also scoring 3 points was Ryan Theo Wu won C honors and Kevin food and refreshments provided for Richardson, picking up the BU2200 Qian topped the other D players. the annual event. And, in between prize of $80 and also Kyron Griffith, The turnout was 47 players. rounds, raffle prizes such as event who won BU2000. Kyron has been The Arcadia Club meets Monday and merchandise was a roll lately. Eric Smith (Mr. Juice) nights at the Senior Building, 400 awarded. The raffle grand prize, a was 2nd U2400. Five players tied S. Santa Anita Avenue. The Rich- custom-painted Chronos, went to for 2nd U2200/2000: Jesse Orlows- ard Morris Memorial, another six- Andrew Kao of Irvine. ki, Varun Krishnan, Chuck Ensey, round swiss, begins November 10. Special thanks also go out to Roberto Aiello and Chris Wonnell. Longtime club mainstay Fred Brock Mrs. Gunawan for her assistance In the Reserve Section, newcom- continues his recovery from a stroke. throughout the day and to all the er Paul Agron scored 3½ and vault- For club information call Mel Clark participants for their support of ed his rating over 1800 (based on at (626) 447-9355. – Randy Hough chess and Chess Palace. – Anthony only 6 games). It is rare for a brand Ong new player to do so well. John Huey and Scott Householder tied for Chess Palace BU1600 with 3 points. Jason Arbe- Chess Palace celebrated its 18th Gambito Open News iter, Gene Arnaiz, Nestor Dagamat Anniversary with the enthusiastic The September Super Gambito and Pejman Sagart tied for Second support of 40 players participat- had 33 players, a nice turnout for Place. The Best Game Prize in the

14 RANK & FILE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2008 Reserves was won by Scott House- Qc7 17. Rc1 Bh6 a6 pawn. holder while Cyrus Lakdawala won 17. ... f5 18. b4 f4 19. Qd3 Bh6 35. Rxa6 Nf3+ 36. Bxf3 exf3 the Open. – Chuck Ensey 20. Rc2 Rf7 21. c5 is also good for 37. Ra1 Rd4 White. Or 37. ... Rd3 38. Re1+ Kf6 39. IM Cyrus Lakdawala (2504) 18. Rc2 Rac8 19. b4 b6 20. Re3. – Ryan Richardson (2127) axb6 Qxb6 38. Re1+ Kf6 39. Re3 g5 40. Gambito 390, San Diego 2008 XIIIIIIIIY Rxf3 h5 41. Kg2 h4 42. Re3 hxg3 B50 SICILIAN DEFENSE 43. hxg3 f4 44. gxf4 gxf4 [Notes by IM Cyrus Lakdawala] 9-+r+-trk+0 Or 44. ... Rxf4 45. Rf3. 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 d6 4. 9+-+nsnp+p0 45. Re4 Rxe4 46. Nxe4+ Kf5 g3 Nc6 5. Bg2 g6?! 9pwq-zp-+pvl0 47. Kf3 Ke5 48. Ng5 1–0 Black is convinced that it is a Closed Sicilian, but since d3 has 9+-+Pzp-+-0 not been played by White he can 9-zPP+-+-+0 San Diego Chess Club transpose to a favorable Open Sicil- 9vL-+-+-zP-0 In July and August 71 players, ian now. not including house players, par- 6. d4! 9-+R+NzPLzP0 ticipated in the six round Jerry Now d6 becomes a worry for 9+-+Q+RmK-0 Soelberg Open. Jerry is one of our Black. xiiiiiiiiy longest standing club members 6. ... cxd4 7. Nxd4 Nf6 8. 0–0 and since we had already honored I thought about the line 8. Nxc6 21. c5! the octogenarians Fred Borges and bxc6 9. e5 Nd5 10. exd6 Bxd6 11. Even though Black has 4 pieces Robert Samuel earlier in the year, Ne4, with a clear plus for White. on the square White can get in the the club felt it was time to also honor But I wanted an even more favor- thematic break with the help of Jerry Soelberg, who is a bit younger, able version, waiting for Black to some tactics. but still vastly more experienced throw in . ... a6 first. 21. ... dxc5 than most club members. All three 8. ... e5! 21. ... Qa7 22. c6 is also very bad of these players are still playing Black’s best try. The alterna- for Black. pretty strong chess - Jerry’s rating tives are worse. For example: 8. ... 22. bxc5 Nxc5 bounces around just under and over a6 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. e5 Nd5 11. exd6 22. ... Qa5 23. Rc3 Nxc5 24. d6 the 1800 level. Previously The Jer- Bxd6 12. Ne4 is also quite bad for Nf5 25. d7 doesn’t change anything, ry Soelberg Open had been known Black; 8. ... Bg7 9. Ndb5; 8. ... Be7 nor does 22. ... Rxc5 23. Bxc5 Nxc5 as The Summer Swiss. It was split 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. e5 Nd5 11. exd6 24. d6 Nf5 25. Qd5 Nd7 26. Rc6 Qb2 into 2 sections, a Fast (G/90) and Bxd6 12. Ne4 and White gains a 27. Nc3 Nd4 28. Rc7. a Slow (40/90, because Black moved his 23. d6 Nf5 SD/60) section. dark-squared Bishop twice. On 23. ... Rfd8 I had planned to The Fast Sec- 9. Nde2 Be6 10. b3 a6 give up my Queen for a lot of pieces tion was won by 10. ... Bg7 11. Nb5 d5?? 12. exd5 with 24. dxe7! Rxd1 25. Rxd1 Bg5 NM David Hart Nxd5 13. Bxd5 Bxd5 14. Qxd5 is 26. Rxc5 Re8 27. Rxe5. with 5 points. winning for White. . 24. d7 Nxd7 25. Rxc8 FM Felix Vil- 11. Nd5 Bxd5 12. exd5 Ne7 Or 25. Bxf8 Rxc2 26. Bxh6. larreal was MANUEL HERRERA White has the Bishop pair and 25. … Rxc8 26. Qxd7 Rd8 27. Second Place the faster, more potent pawn major- Bc5! with 4½. Carey Milton was BU2200 ity on the Queenside. Lastly, White Using a trick to keep an eye on and Alejandrino Baluran was 2nd is ahead in development. the d4 square and improve the posi- U2200. Jason Qu won BU2000 13. a4 Bg7 tioning of my Bishop. and another Better is 13. ... a5! He should 27. … Qf6 28. Qc7 youngster, Va- have given up the b5 square to slow Watching a5, d8, e5 and also the run Krishnan White’s progress on the Queenside e7 square for a potential of was 2nd U2000. with 14. Nc3 Bg7 15. Nb5 0–0 16. c4 Queen and Rook. Chris Calbat b6 17. Ba3 Ne8 and White’s advan- 28. … Bf8 29. Bxf8 Kxf8 30. outperformed tage is not as large as it is in the Nc3 Nd4 31. Ne4 to win BU1800 game. Even better was 31. Re1! Re8 32. while Mark 14. a5! Nd5. GEORGE ZEIGLER L a w l e s s Now the pawn break c4, b4, c5 is 31. … Qe7 32. Qxe7+ Kxe7 33. and Pejman just a matter of time. Ra1 f5 34. Nc3 e4 Sagart tied for 2nd U1800. BU1600 14. ... 0–0 15. c4 Nd7 16. Ba3 If 34. ... Rd6, 35. Bb7 wins the was won by Club Treasurer Tom

15 RANK & FILE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2008 Kuhn. In the Slow Section, Expert Jim Humphrey tied Opinion: Chess for First Place with Class A Blindness and player Tom Fries, both scor- ing 5 points. Experts George Blunders Zeigler and Manuel Herrera by Chuck Ensey tied for Second Place with 4½. Tom Fries also picked up hess blindness is where a player the BU2000 prize (besides Cmisses an “obvious” crushing tying for First), while Buddy move. This can be due to many fac- Morris and Jamieson Pryor tors, the most common being time tied for 2nd U2000. Robert pressure. But often time is not a Draper and Joel Batchelor factor and it is more a problem of tied for BU1800. Fred Borg- the player having “tunnel vision”, es and Damani Fair tied for or focusing on just one part of the third U1800. Donald Klaas board or one idea and missing “the tied with Morgan Fox for big picture”. Or the player might BU1600 while Ryan Nich- FRED BORGES AND ROCIO MURRA be thinking about lots of things but ols and Karen Kaufman tied for not the most important ideas on the third U1600. The two sisters the Sniper Section, Donald Klaas . Recently in one of my Maria Elena Villarreal and Caro- was undefeated and allowed only games, I missed a mate in two, in- lina Villarreal tied for BU1400. We 1 draw (to Steve Perry) to clinch stead settling for a . have yet to convince the third sister, First Place. Jerry Soelberg was The worst part is I had 10 ten min- Sara, to play (or her mother, it is a Second Place, redeeming himself utes left on my clock and I didn’t five player family!) but we are still after a poor showing in his name- take the time to look for something working on it. sake event last month. Steve Perry better. It seems obvious that if you In August and September the was BU1600, while Ryan Nichols, have a perpetual check in hand that SDCC hosted the San Diego Shoot- Robert Samuel and Jerry Kavanau will clearly end the game, why not out with 63 paid participants. In tied for 2nd U1600. Carolina Villar- take the extra time to look for some- this event, all the players played at real was BU1500 and Maria Elena thing better? Maybe there is a forced the fast time control of G/90, but Villarreal was 2nd U1500. In the win there! In my case the tension of with a 10 second delay to soften Bounty Hunter Section, David Sil- the game was so great I just wanted the blow a bit. We like to do this va scored the best with 5 points but to end it, plus I was playing a higher once a year for two reasons: one, had to settle for a book prize as he rated player, so I was happy with the to get people more familiar with was unrated going in. First Place draw. But when a spectator pointed faster time controls, which are the was won by Victor Delgadillo with out the obvious win, I was amazed way trends are going, and second, 4½. Monica Ness was Second Place that I had missed this move, like a to give the directors a chance to with 3½. Third Place was split be- huge “blind spot”. And I remem- get home before midnight at least tween Tom Lavoy and John Huey. bered doing the same thing a few for a few weeks out of the year. In The SDCC is open every day for years ago, settling for a draw when the Shootout, there were four sec- casual play and has tournaments on a mate was there. Even painful les- tions based on rating levels. In the Wednesday nights starting at 7 p.m. sons sometimes have to be repeated top Gunslinger Section, Lennart and on Saturday at 10 AM. Call before they are truly burned into Mathe tied for First Place with Fe- our Club Manager Bruce Baker at your psyche. lix Villarreal with 4½ points. Lenn- 619-239-7166 for more information. In every game there are things art thereby broke into the rank of You can read also read all about it that you don’t see and only notice Experts for the first time with his on our website at http://groups.msn. after the game, usually with the rating soaring to 2028. Tying for com/sandiegochess. – Chuck Ensey help of a computer. But sometimes Second Place/BU2100 were Mario there are glaringly obvious moves Amodeo and Ignacio Sainz with 4 that players miss and this was the points. Jason Qu and Alejandrino case in ALL of my games in a re- Baluran tied for 2nd U2100. In cent event. I missed the mate in the Sharpshooter Section, Damani two and then in my next game my Fair dominated with 5 points, well opponent missed a crushing move ahead of Second Place Marty Lower that I saw, of course, only right af- with 4 and Third Place Robert De- ter I had moved. And my opponent fore and Robert Draper with 3½. In thought for several minutes while I

16 RANK & FILE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2008 was sitting there sweating bullets! I for weeks about what a stupid move al computer program shows you the had made a strong mate threat, but I had made, or maybe a brilliant move later on when you get home, in the process I overlooked that I move I had missed. All this helped it seems incredibly obvious and you had moved my Queen off a critical because from this effort I developed just can’t believe that you missed file, thereby leaving my King com- a check list that I try to use before it. It is like the sun bursts through pletely unprotected. So now he sud- every move. Sort of like a pilot on the clouds and suddenly, “I see the denly had a Rook check that wasn’t the runway before he takes off goes light!!” there before and it would force me through a safety check So the big ques- to lose my Queen to avoid mate! list. I would check to tion is, “What can Ouch! I just sat there, waiting for see if there were any I do to increase my my death sentence, when suddenly I surprising pawn moves tactical vision?” I was reprieved! A last second pardon I had overlooked, or have tried to gather had spared me. Chess blindness had any checks I wasn’t ex- lots of advice over struck, only this time in my favor. pecting, or if I had any the years, but it He hadn’t seen the deadly check and pieces that were less seems that hard instead was focused on defending protected and vulnera- work and study are my threat. I am so thankful that he ble to attack. Or anoth- the real answers. didn’t notice the look of horror on my er good one is “What How mundane, darn face after I had blundered. Or may- am I un-protecting by it, I was looking be I was able to keep up a good poker making this move?” for an easy button! face, but honestly, it felt like I was It is hard to stick to “The Quick Road being roasted on spit inside! Maybe a routine of running To Chess Mastery”, he only thought for 30 seconds, I am through a checklist on that will be the title not sure, but it seemed like an eter- every single move, but of my book when I nity! And they say there is no luck it will really cut down on blunders if figure it all out. But don’t hold your in chess? Ha! Nine times out of ten you try it. breath. .. Let’s get real, in this world this very good Class A player would It is amazing to me how many it takes a lot of hard work to gain have seen this move, but this time good moves I miss that my trusty anything of real value. Masters and he just flat out missed it. Fritz program points out to me af- Experts can more easily find those It really got me thinking about ter the game. I had a Rook hidden moves because they have why people make these types of that would have easily won earlier years of study and hard experience head-slapping blunders. The stron- on in the game where I missed the burned into their memory banks so ger players make fewer of them, mate in two, but I missed that win- they can more easily recognize pat- but even Grandmasters have been ning move too. And I was looking terns of play that have worked for known to get distracted for various hard for some way to break through, them in the past. reasons and then miss moves that but in this game I just didn’t seem The mind of a good chess player a rank beginner might find. Why is to have a clue. Even though I played has to be so flexible, so adaptive and this? It is very strange. It is one of a good positional game, my tactical open to hidden resources even in the great mysteries of chess and of vision is sometimes rather weak. It hopeless situations... The mysteries the human mind itself as to why this is a version of chess blindness. Re- of the Royal Game and the lessons happens. I guess it is just the nature ally good players have this magical it teaches us about our minds and of the game - hey, chess is hard! The ability to see moves that the average attitudes are very valuable things. stress of coming up with the right player cannot, and often these un- The greatness of the fighting spirit move time after time in a long game seen moves are quite beautiful. To is shown to beautiful effect in the can be overwhelming. And one care- me this is one of the great mysteries world of chess. At a minimum chess less move can ruin hours of hard of chess that makes it so alluring: is just the most interesting game by work and spoil that beautiful win there are moves on the board that far, and most other games are trivial you were hoping for. not everyone can see! The board is in comparison. I am sorry but that Blunders can be very annoying. right there in front of you, but one is the truth. Some people go further I used to make a lot more blunders player may stare at it for a very long and say that chess is one of the most when I was lowered rated. One of time and still not see the winning interesting things out there, period. the ways I started weeding them move, while a better player will find For me, there is very little in this out was by categorizing all the blun- it rather quickly. How do they do world that can match the satisfac- ders that I made and saving them that? And another thing – when you tion of a well played game and I re- in a notebook. I also bought a wall miss the winning move and then a ally want to spread the word about chart and would post the offending rude spectator points it out to you how exciting, fascinating and fulfill- position in my study to remind me after the game, or a more imperson- ing chess can be.

17 RANK & FILE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2008 Solutions to Chess Quiz (see page 24) Zakaria -- Andin, Kuala Lumpur 2008: The Black is overloaded after 1. Bxh7+ Nxh7 (or 1. … Kh8 Nf7+) 2. Qxe6+ 1–0 (2. … Kf8 3. Qf7#, or 2. … Kh8 3. Ng6# Korostenski – Schalla, Bohemia 2008: Surprisingly, Black must lose a piece after the harmless-looking 1. Ne5, for his Queen is nearly trapped: 1. … Qh5 2. Be2 Qh4 (or 2. ... Qf5 3. g4 Qe4 4.Bf3) 3. g3 Qxh3 (3. … Qe4 4. Bf3 Qf5 5. g4) 4.Nxd7 1–0 E. Holm, “Hvar 8 Dag,” 1923: A clever . White has three passed pawns, but Black’s h-pawn is poised to promote. But 1. Ng3 Kg2 2. Nh1 Kxh1 3. Kf1! creates a position, and after 3. … Bd3+ 4. Kf2, one of the White pawns must Queen. But not 3. Kf2?? Bd3, and it is White who falls into zugzwang.

2008-2009 State Championship

eeded into the Championship are 2008 co-champions Enrico Sevillano Sand Alexandre Kretchetov, two players selected on the basis of rating, and four from the 2009 .

June 28-29 My Kingdom For A Horse Enrico Sevillano Joshua Gutman July 4-6 Pacific Southwest Open Tim Taylor Gregg Small July 17-20 Pacific Coast Open Melikset Khachiyan Joel Banawa John Daniel Bryant Eugene Yanayt July 27 Westwood Summer Open Andranik Matikozyan August 9-10 San Diego County Open Peter Graves Craig Faber Bruce Baker Romeo Ignacio Michael Yee August 16-24 State Championship Jack Peters Cyrus Lakdawala Julian Landaw Christian Tanaka Danyul Lawrence Aug. 30- Sept. 1 Southern California Open Tatev Abrahamyan Vadim Kudryavtsev Garush Manukyan Lawrence Stevens September 13 San Luis Obispo Cty Open Robert Reynolds October 12 Westwood Fall Open Show Kitagami

Upcoming Oct. 31-Nov. 2 Los Angeles Open LAX November 27-30 American Open LAX December 13-14 Joseph Ileto Memorial Monterey Park January 16-19 Western Class Championships Agoura Hills January 25 Westwood Winter Open West LA

Each event qualifies two players (highest scoring Southern California residents not previously qualified) except that 1) In the event of a tie, all tied players will advance; 2) A score of 60% is required to qualify; 3) The SCCF Amateur, SCCF High School and any one-day event will each have one qualifying spot; and 4) All one-day tournaments shall require a 75% score and only one player shall qualify on tiebreak.

18 RANKANK & FILEILE NOVEMBEROVEMBER-D-DECEMBERECEMBER 20082008 International News

XIIIIIIIIY World Championship 9-+ktr-+-tr0 9zp-+-+-zp-0 FIDE has taken a long step to- wards repairing the breach which 9l+p+psn-+0 has marred the World Champion- 9+-+-+-+p0 ship for the past fifteen years. From 9-vLP+P+n+0 October 14 to 20, GMs and met 9zP-+-+NmKP0 in a 12-game match for the champi- 9-+-+-+P+0 onship in Bonn, Germany. 9tRL+-+-+R0 Reigning champion Anand won the title in September 2007 at the XIIIIIIIIY xiiiiiiiiy FIDE-organized tournament in 9-+r+-+k+0 23. ... h4+ 24. Nxh4 Ne5 25. Nf3 Mexico City. Kramnik, who finished 9+-+-+-zpp0 Nh5+ 26. Kf2 Nxf3 27. Kxf3 e5 28. second in the tournament, was enti- Rc1 Nf4 29. Ra2 Nd3 30. Rc3 Nf4 31. tled under the rules to a rematch. 9-+r+pzpl+0 Bc2 Ne6 32. Kg3 Rd4 ½–½ As for the chess – Anand domi- 9zp-+p+-+-0 nated the match, going three up by 9-+-zP-vL-+0 GM Vladimir Kramnik (2772) - game 6. Kramnik finally notched a GM Viswanathan Anand (2783) win in game 10, but to come back 9+P+-zPP+-0 World Championship (3), Bonn from -3 in a 12-game match was 9P+-+-+PzP0 2008 just too much. It is to be hoped that 9tR-+-tR-mK-0 D49 SEMI-SLAV DEFENSE, Meran FIDE will return to the tested 24- Variation game format in future cycles. xiiiiiiiiy 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 The next stage in the cycle is sup- 21. e4 dxe4 22. fxe4 Rd8 23. Rad1 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 posed to be the selection of a chal- Rc2 24. e5 fxe5 25. Bxe5 Rxa2 26. b5 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5 10. e5 cxd4 11. lenger to Anand through a match Ra1 Rxa1 27. Rxa1 Rd5 28. Rc1 Rd7 Nxb5 axb5 12. exf6 gxf6 13. 0–0 between Veselin Topalov and Gata 29. Rc5 Ra7 30. Rc7 Rxc7 31. Bxc7 Qb6 14. Qe2 Bb7 15. Bxb5 Bd6 16. Kamsky. Unfortunately, although Bc2 32. Bxa5 Bxb3 ½–½ Rd1 Rg8 17. g3 Rg4 18. Bf4 Bxf4 19. the match is scheduled for Novem- Nxd4 h5 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Rxd7 Kf8 ber, details have yet to be finalized. GM Viswanathan Anand (2783) 22. Qd3 Rg7 23. Rxg7 Kxg7 24. gxf4 - GM Vladimir Kramnik (2772) Rd8 25. Qe2 Kh6 26. Kf1 Rg8 GM Vladimir Kramnik (2772) - World Championship (2), Bonn XIIIIIIIIY GM Viswanathan Anand (2783) 2008 World Championship (1), Bonn E25 NIMZ)-INDIAN DEFENSE, Sae- 9-+-+-+r+0 2008 misch Variation 9+l+-+-+-0 D14 SLAV DEFENSE, Exchange 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. 9-wq-+pzp-mk0 Variation f3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nxd5 8. dxc5 f5 9. Qc2 Nd7 10. e4 9+L+-+-+p0 cxd5 cxd5 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 Bf5 7. fxe4 11. fxe4 N5f6 12. c6 bxc6 13. 9-+-+-zP-+0 Nf3 e6 8. Qb3 Bb4 9. Bb5 0–0 10. Nf3 Qa5 14. Bd2 Ba6 15. c4 Qc5 9+-+-+-+-0 Bxc6 Bxc3+ 11. Qxc3 Rc8 12. Ne5 16. Bd3 Ng4 17. Bb4 Qe3+ 18. Qe2 Ng4 13. Nxg4 Bxg4 14. Qb4 Rxc6 15. 0–0–0 19. Qxe3 Nxe3 20. Kf2 Ng4+ 9PzP-+QzP-zP0 Qxb7 Qc8 16. Qxc8 Rfxc8 17. 0–0 a5 21. Kg3 Ndf6 22. Bb1 h5 23. h3 9tR-+-+K+-0 18. f3 Bf5 19. Rfe1 Bg6 20. b3 f6 xiiiiiiiiy

19 RANK & FILE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2008 27. a4 Bg2+ 28. Ke1 Bh3 29. Ra3 20. a4 Bxh4 21. Nxh4 Ke7 22. Ra3 Rd3 Ndb6 43. Bh6 Nxe5 44. Nf6+ Rg1+ 30. Kd2 Qd4+ 31. Kc2 Bg4 32. Rac8 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Ra1 Qc5 25. Kf7 45. Rc3 Rxc3 46. g8Q+ Kxf6 f3 Bf5+ 33. Bd3 Bh3 34. a5 Rg2 35. Qg4 Qe5 26. Nf3 Qf6 27. Re1 Rc5 47. Bg7+ 1–0 a6 Rxe2+ 36. Bxe2 Bf5+ 37. Kb3 28. b4 Rc3 29. Nxd4 Qxd4 30. Rd1 Nf6 31. Rxd4 Nxg4 32. Rd7+ Kf6 Qe3+ 38. Ka2 Qxe2 39. a7 Qc4+ 40. GM Viswanathan Anand (2783) 33. Rxb7 Ka1 Qf1+ 41. Ka2 Bb1+ 0–1 - GM Vladimir Kramnik (2772) XIIIIIIIIY World Championship (7), Bonn GM Viswanathan Anand (2783) 9-+-+-+-+0 2008 - GM Vladimir Kramnik (2772) D19 SLAV DEFENSE World Championship (4), Bonn 9+R+-+p+p0 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 2008 9-+-+pmk-+0 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 D37 QUEEN’S GAMBIT DECLINED 9+L+-+-+-0 8. 0–0 Nbd7 9. Qe2 Bg6 10. e4 0–0 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. 11. Bd3 Bh5 12. e5 Nd5 13. Nxd5 Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 0–0 6. e3 Nbd7 7. 9PzP-+-zpn+0 cxd5 14. Qe3 Re8 15. Ne1 Bg6 16. a3 c5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. 9+-tr-+-+-0 Bxg6 hxg6 17. Nd3 Qb6 18. Nxb4 dxc5 Nxc5 11. Be5 Bf5 12. Be2 Bf6 9-+-+-zPPzP0 Qxb4 19. b3 Rac8 20. Ba3 Qc3 21. 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. Nd4 Ne6 15. Nxf5 Rac1 Qxe3 22. fxe3 f6 23. Bd6 g5 24. Qxf5 16. 0–0 Rfd8 17. Bg4 Qe5 18. 9+-+-+-mK-0 h3 Kf7 25. Kf2 Kg6 26. Ke2 fxe5 27. Qb3 Nc5 19. Qb5 b6 20. Rfd1 Rd6 xiiiiiiiiy dxe5 b6 21. Rd4 a6 22. Qb4 h5 23. Bh3 Rad8 33. ... Rc1+ 34. Bf1 Ne3 35. fxe3 XIIIIIIIIY 24. g3 g5 fxe3 0–1 XIIIIIIIIY 9-+r+r+-+0 9-+-tr-+k+0 GM Viswanathan Anand (2783) 9zp-+n+-zp-0 - GM Vladimir Kramnik (2772) 9-zp-vLp+k+0 9+-+-+p+-0 World Championship (6), Bonn 9+-+pzP-zp-0 9pzp-tr-+-+0 2008 9+-snpwq-zpp0 E34 NIMZO-INDIAN DEFENSE, 9P+-+-+-+0 Classical Variation 9+P+-zP-+P0 9-wQ-tR-+-+0 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. 9zP-+-zP-zPL0 Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. Nf3 Qf5 7. 9-+-+K+P+0 Qb3 Nc6 8. Bd2 0–0 9. h3 b6 10. g4 9+-tR-+R+-0 9-zP-+-zP-zP0 Qa5 11. Rc1 Bb7 12. a3 Bxc3 13. Bxc3 xiiiiiiiiy 9tR-+-+-mK-0 Qd5 14. Qxd5 Nxd5 15. Bd2 Nf6 16. xiiiiiiiiy Rg1 Rac8 17. Bg2 Ne7 18. Bb4 c5 19. 28. b4 Rc4 29. Rxc4 dxc4 30. Rc1 dxc5 Rfd8 20. Ne5 Bxg2 21. Rxg2 Rc8 31. g4 a5 32. b5 c3 33. Rc2 Kf7 25. Rad1 g4 26. Bg2 Ne6 27. bxc5 22. Rxc5 Ne4 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 34. Kd3 Nc5+ 35. Bxc5 Rxc5 36. R4d3 d4 28. exd4 Rxd4 29. Rxd4 24. Nd3 Nd5 25. Bd2 Rc2 26. Bc1 f5 Rxc3 Rxc3+ ½–½ Rxd4 ½–½ 27. Kd1 Rc8 28. f3 Nd6 29. Ke1 a5 30. e3 e5 GM Vladimir Kramnik (2772) - GM Vladimir Kramnik (2772) - XIIIIIIIIY GM Viswanathan Anand (2783) GM Viswanathan Anand (2783) World Championship (8), Bonn World Championship (5), Bonn 9-+r+-+k+0 2008 2008 9+-+-+-zpp0 D39 QUEEN’S GAMBIT DECLINED D49 SEMI-SLAV DEFENSE, Meran 9-+-sn-+-+0 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Variation Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bxc4 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 9zp-+nzpp+-0 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qa5 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10. e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 9-+-+-+P+0 Bxf6 Bxb5 11. Ndxb5 gxf6 12. 0–0 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 9zP-+NzPP+P0 Nc6 13. a3 Bxc3 14. Nxc3 Rg8 15. f4 c5 10. e5 cxd4 Rd8 16. Qe1 Qb6+ 17. Rf2 Rd3 18. 11. Nxb5 axb5 9-zP-+-+R+0 Qe2 Qd4 19. Re1 a6 20. Kh1 Kf8 21. 12. exf6 gxf6 9+-vL-mK-+-0 Ref1 Rg6 22. g3 Kg7 23. Rd1 Rxd1+ 13. 0–0 Qb6 xiiiiiiiiy 24. Nxd1 Kh8 25. Nc3 Rg8 26. Kg2 14. Qe2 Bb7 Rd8 27. Qh5 Kg7 15. Bxb5 Rg8 31. gxf5 e4 32. fxe4 Nxe4 33. 16. Bf4 Bd6 17. Bd2 a4 34. Nf2 Nd6 35. Rg4 Nc4 36. Bg3 f5 18. Rfc1 e4 Nf6 37. Rg3 Nxb2 38. e5 Nd5 39. f4 19. Bh4 Be7 f6 Kf7 40. Ne4 Nc4 41. fxg7 Kg8 42.

20 RANK & FILE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2008 XIIIIIIIIY GM Vladimir Kramnik (2772) - XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-tr-+-+0 GM Viswanathan Anand (2783) 9-+r+-mkr+0 World Championship (10), Bonn 9+p+-+pmkp0 2008 9+p+-snpvlp0 9p+n+pzp-+0 E21 NIMZO-INDIAN DEFENSE, 9p+-+-+-+0 9+-+-+-+Q0 Variation 9+-+R+p+-0 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. 9-+-wqPzP-+0 Nf3 c5 5. g3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 0–0 7. Bg2 9-+-+-wQ-+0 9zP-sN-+-zP-0 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Qb3 Qa5 10. Bd2 9+-+-+-+-0 9-zP-+-tRKzP0 Nc6 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. 0–0 Bxc3 13. 9PzPP+-+PzP0 bxc3 Ba6 14. Rfd1 Qc5 15. e4 Bc4 9+-+-+-+-0 16. Qa4 Nb6 17. Qb4 Qh5 18. Re1 c5 9+KsN-wqL+R0 xiiiiiiiiy 19. Qa5 Rfc8 20. Be3 Be2 21. Bf4 e5 xiiiiiiiiy 28. Qg4+ Kh8 29. Qh5 Kg7 30. 22. Be3 Bg4 23. Qa6 f6 24. a4 22. Qd2 Qxd2 23. Rxd2 Bh6 24. Qg4+ Kh8 31. Qh4 Kg7 32. e5 f5 33. XIIIIIIIIY Rf2 Be3 ½–½ Qf6+ Kg8 34. Qg5+ Kh8 35. Qf6+ Kg8 36. Re2 Qc4 37. Qg5+ Kh8 38. 9r+r+-+k+0 Qf6+ Kg8 39. Qg5+ Kh8 ½–½ 9zp-+-+-zpp0 Solutions to Tactics 9Qsn-+-zp-+0 GM Viswanathan Anand (2783) by Hanks 9+-zp-zp-+q0 - GM Vladimir Kramnik (2772) (see page 12) World Championship (9), Bonn 9P+-+P+l+0 2008 9+-zP-vL-zP-0 Problem no. 1: b. 1. b3 is in- D43 SEMI-SLAV DEFENSE, Anti- correct. The main line is 1. b3? Meran Variation 9-+-+-zPLzP0 b4! 2. Ne2 Nxe4 3. Qxe4? (bet- 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. 9tR-+-tR-mK-0 ter is to accept the loss of the pawn Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 xiiiiiiiiy with 3. Nh4) Bf5 4. Qh4 Bxb1 5. g5 8. Bg3 b5 9. Be2 Bb7 10. Qc2 Bg5 Bxa2 6. Bxe7 Qc7, and Black Nbd7 11. Rd1 Bb4 12. Ne5 Qe7 13. 24. ... Qf7 25. Bf1 Be6 26. Rab1 is winning. 0–0 Nxe5 14. Bxe5 0–0 15. Bxf6 c4 27. a5 Na4 28. Rb7 Qe8 29. Qd6 Qxf6 16. f4 Qg7 17. e5 c5 18. Nxb5 1–0 Problem no. 2: a. 1. Be3 is cxd4 19. Qxc4 a5 20. Kh1 Rac8 21. incorrect. The main line goes 1. Qxd4 gxf4 22. Bf3 Ba6 23. a4 Rc5 GM Viswanathan Anand (2783) Be3? (much better is 1. Nh6!) Qh4! 24. Qxf4 Rxe5 25. b3 Bxb5 26. axb5 – GM Vladimir Kramnik (2772) 2. Bxc5??? Qh1+ 3. Kxh1 Ng3+ Rxb5 27. Be4 Bc3 28. Bc2 Be5 29. World Championship (11), Bonn 4. Kg1 Rh1#. Qf2 Bb8 30. Qf3 Rc5 31. Bd3 Rc3 2008 32. g3 Kh8 B96 SICILIAN DEFENSE, Najdorf Problem no. 3: a. 1. … Na5 XIIIIIIIIY Variation is correct. The main line goes 1. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. … Na5 2. Nxe5! dxe5! (not 2. … 9-vl-+-tr-mk0 Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Bxd1?? (nor 2. … Nxb3 since then 3. 9+-+-+pwq-0 Qc7 8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. f5 Qc5 10. Qd3 Nxg4 Nxa1 4. Ngf6+ gxf6 5. Nf6#), 9-+-+p+-zp0 Nc6 11. Nb3 Qe5 12. 0–0–0 exf5 13. as 3. Nf6+ gxf6 4. Bxf7#) 3. Qxg4 Qe3 Bg7 14. Rd5 Qe7 15. Qg3 Rg8 Nxb3 4. axb3 Nxd5 5. exd5 Qxd5 9zp-+-+-+-0 16. Qf4 fxe4 17. Nxe4 f5 18. Nxd6+ and White maintains only a slight 9-+-+-+-+0 Kf8 19. Nxc8 Rxc8 20. Kb1 Qe1+ 21. advantage. 9+PtrL+QzP-0 Nc1 Ne7 Problem no. 4: c. Black is 9-+-+-+-zP0 better. The main line goes 1. … 9+-+R+R+K0 Rxh2 2. Rxh2 Qa5+! 3. c3 Qxe5+ xiiiiiiiiy (there’s that wonderful gotcha!) 4. dxe5 gxh2 and Black will regain 33. Qb7 f5 34. Qb6 Qe5 35. Qb7 his Queen and is clearly better. Rec- Qc7 36. Qxc7 Bxc7 37. Bc4 Re8 38. ognize that Black took advantage of Rd7 a4 39. Rxc7 axb3 40. Rf2 Rb8 White’s inaccurate opening move 41. Rb2 h5 42. Kg2 h4 43. Rc6 hxg3 sequence, as 6. Bg5 was incorrect 44. hxg3 Rg8 45. Rxe6 Rxc4 ½–½ and the ugly 7. N3e2 (instead of 7. Bxf6?) was forced.

21 RANK & FILE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2008 Upcoming Events

November 16 700-300. U1600: $2400-1200-500- K-12: trophies top 5, 2 each grades AMATEUR OPEN. 4-SS, G/45. Chess 300. U1400/Unr: $2000-1000-500, 9-12, 1 each K-8. K-8: trophies top Palace, 12872 Valley View St. U1200 $900-450 (not a separate sec- 5, 2 each K-8. K-6: trophies top 5, Suite 5, CA 92845.In two sections: tion; U1200s also eligible for U1400 2 each K-6. K-3: trophies top 4, 2 Amateur: $70-$35 (based on 10 prizes), Unrated: $300-150 (Unrat- each K-3. EF: $16 received by 11/25, players). U1500 1st-2nd Trophy. eds in this section eligible for these $20 at door. Reg: 9-9:45. Rounds: Premier: 1st and 2nd for U1200, prizes only). Special prizes $1400 in 10-11:30-1-3-4:30. Ent: www.ameri- U900, and U500. EF: $17 regu- memory of Joyce Jillson: Best tacti- canopen.org or American Open, PO lar and $12 club memebers. SCCF cal games 200-100, best positional Box 205, Monterey Park, CA 91754. memb. $2 less. Reg: 11:45-12:15 games 200-100, best tactical game Info: Randy Hough (626) 282-7412, p.m. Rds: 12:30-2-3:30-5 p.m. Free non-Master 200, biggest rating gain [email protected]. parking. Ent: Chess Palace, 12872 by woman 400, biggest rating gain Valley View St. Suite 5, CA 92845. under age 13 200 (established rat- November 29 Phone (714) 899-3421. Email ent: ings over 1000). EF: Open, U2200, AMERICAN OPEN QUICK CHESS [email protected], Info: U2000, U1800, U1600, U1400 $120 CHAMPIONSHIP. 5-SS (double round), [email protected]. www. if rec’d by 11/25, $50 more for players G/10. LAX Renaissance Hotel, 9620 chesspalace.com. Phone: 1-888-34- rated under 2000 playing in Open, Airport Bl, Los Angeles, CA 90045. CHESS. Unrated $40. All: $30 more at door. $1000: $250-150; U2200, U2000, SCCF membership req’d, $18, $10 U1800, U1600, Unr. each $100 November 22 jrs under 19 includes Rank & File (Unrated eligible only for Open OCHO. 3-SS, 30/90 SD/30. ChessPal- magazine, OSA. No checks at door and Unr. prize). EF: $30 received ace is located at12872 Valley View St. – cash, credit card or money order by 11/25, $35 at site. Reg closes 8 Suite 5, Garden Grove, CA, 92845. only. 4-day schedule: Reg. closes pm. Rounds: 8:15-9-9:45-10:30- Format: 8-player section by rating. noon 11/27, Rds. 12:30-7:30, 12:30- 11:15. Double bye (1 pt) available Prizes: 1st: $70 cash, 2nd: $25 Gift 7:30, 10:30-5, 10-4:30. 3-day sched- for round 1. Ent: www.americano- Card for each section, 3rd: added ule: Reg. closes 11:30 a.m. 11/28, pen.org or American Open, PO based on large rating difference. Rds. 12-2:30-5-8 (G/1), schedules Box 205, Monterey Park, CA 91754. EF: $15 members, $22 non-mem- merge in Rd 5 and compete for com- Info: Randy Hough (626) 282-7412, bers. Reg. 11-11:25 a.m. Rds: 11:30- mon prizes. Byes (2 max) with ad- [email protected]. GP: 6 3:30-7:30. Free parking. Ent: Chess vance notice. CCA minimum ratings Palace, 12872 Valley View St. Suite and TD discretion used to protect November 30 5, CA 92845. Phone (714)899-3421. you from improperly rated players. AMERICAN OPEN ACTION. 5-SS, G/30. Email ent: events@chesspalace. November Rating Supplement used. LAX Renaissance Hotel, 9620 Air- com. Info: events@chesspalace. Lectures and videos. HR: $99, (310) port Bl, Los Angeles, CA 90045. EF: com, www.chesspalace.com. Phone: 337-2800, mention chess. Parking $20 received by 11/25; $25 at door. (714) 899-3421. $6. Info: Randy Hough (626) 282- 80% of entry fees returned in priz- 7412, [email protected]. es Reg: 11-11:45 a.m. Rounds: 12- November 27 – 30 Ent: American Open, PO Box 205, 1:15-3-4:15-5:30. Ent: www.ameri- 44TH ANNUAL AMERICAN OPEN. 8SS, Monterey Park, CA 91754 or www. canopen.org or American Open, PO 40/2, SD/1. LAX Renaissance Ho- americanopen.org. NS, W, F. WCL Box 205, Monterey Park, CA 91754. tel, 9620 Airport Bl, Los Angeles, JGP. GP: 80. State Champion- Info: Randy Hough (626) 282-7412, CA 90045. $$36,000 b/o 400 en- ship Qualifier. [email protected]. tries, 50% of each prize gtd. In 6 sections (Unr. must play in Unr. November 29 December 5 or Open). Open: $3600-1800-800- AMERICAN OPEN SCHOLASTIC. 5-SS, SUPER BLITZ CHAMPIONSHIP. 5-Dou- 600-500-400, U2450/Unr. $800- G/45. LAX Renaissance Hotel, 9620 ble SS, G/5. 10 Games total. Chess- 400, U2300/Unr. $600-300. U2200, Airport Bl, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Palace, 12872 Valley View St #5 U2000, U1800: Each $3000-1500- Open to HS/below. In 4 sections Garden Grove, CA 92845. $750 Prize fund guaranteed! Prizes Palace, 12872 Valley View St. Suite Reg. Sat to 10 a.m., rds Sat 11-6, $200-150-100, U2000 $100, U1800 5, CA 92845. Phone (714) 899-3421. Sun 11-6, Mon 10-4:30. Class E & $100, U1600 $100. All with trophy. Email ent: events@chesspalace. U1000 schedule: Reg Sat to 9:30 Higher of USCF ratings or Chess- com a.m., rds Sat 10-1-4-7, Sun 9-12-3. Palace Blitz rating will be used. All schedules: Byes OK all, limit Handicapped time controls may January 16-19 3, must commit before rd 3 and apply (time odds). EF $40 CP mem- WESTERN CLASS CHAMPIONSHIPS. have under 2 pts. HR: $87-87, 818- bers, $50 regular if paid before 12/2 7SS, 40/2, SD/1 (3-day option, rds. 707-1220, reserve by Jan 2 or rate Wed. $45 and $60 if after. Regis- 1-2 G/75; Class E & U1000 play 1/17- may increase. Car rental: Avis, 800- tration ends at 7:45 p.m, Rds 8:00- 18 only, G/65). Renaissance Agoura 331-1600, use AWD #D657633. Inf: 8:30-9:00-9:30-10:00. Visit www. Hills Hotel, 30100 Agoura Road, chesstour.com, 845-496-9658. Ent: chesspalace.com to register online, Agoura Hills CA 91301 (US-101 Continental Chess, c/o Goichberg, call 714-899-.3421, or send by mail. to Reyes Adobe Road exit). Free Box 661776, Arcadia CA 91066. $15 A customized Chronos clock will be parking. $$20,000 based on 230 service charge for withdrawals. Ad- raffled off at the tournament. paid entries (re-entries, E, U1000 vance entries posted at chesstour. count as half entries), minimum com. F. WCL JGP. GP: 80. State December 13-14 $16,000 (80% each prize) guaran- Championship Qualifier. 10TH ANNUAL JOSEPH ILETO ME- teed. In 8 sections. Master (over MORIAL. 5-SS, 30/85, SD/30 (1st 3 2199): $1600-900-500-300, clear or January 25 rounds), 40/2, SD/1 (last 2 rounds). tiebreak winner $100, top U2300 2009 WESTWOOD WINTER OPEN. 5- Sierra Vista Rec Center, 311 N $800-400. FIDE. Expert (2000- SS, G/40. Los Angeles Chess Club, Rural Drive, Monterey Park, CA 2199): $1400-700-400-200. Class 11514 Santa Monica Blvd, LA, CA 91755. $1300 guaranteed: $300- A (1800-1999): $1400-700-400-200. 90025, 2nd floor (4 blocks West 200-100, U2300, U2100, U1900, Class B (1600-1799): $1400-700- of 405 Fwy). $$1500 b/50, 80% of U1700, U1500 each $100, U1300, 400-200. Class C (1400-1599): each prize guaranteed. In two sec- U1100 each $75, Unrated $50. EF: $1300-700-400-200. Class D (1200- tions: Open: $400-200-50, U2200 $30 if rec’d by 12/11, $40 at door. 1399): $1200-600-300-200. Class 125, U2000 125. Reserve (U1800) Special option for HS/below: $10, 5 E (1000-1199): $600-300-200-100. $$200-125, U1600 $100, Under trophies only. SCCF membership Under 1000: $600-300-200-100. 1400/unrated $100, U1200 $75. req’d of So. Californians: $18, $10 Rated players may play up one sec- EF: $47 if received by 1/24, $55 jrs. Reg.: 9-9:40 am, Rds.: 10-2-6, tion. Unrated must play in A or be- at site. SCCF memb. ($18, under 10-4. Info: Randy Hough (626) 282- low with maximum prize A $600, 18 $10) req. for rated S. CA resi- 7412, [email protected]. B $500, C $400, D $300, E $200, dents. No checks or credit cards at Ent: SCCF, PO Box 205, Monterey U1000 $100; balance goes to next site. Half point byes: limit 1, must Park, CA 91754. State Champion- player(s) in line. Top 6 sections be req. w/entry. Reg: 9-9:45 a.m. ship Qualifier. WCL JGP. GP: 10. EF: 4-day $114, 3-day $113 mailed Rds: 10-11:30-1:30-3:15-4:45. 2 State Championship Qualifier. by 1/9, all $115 online at chesstour. Free Parking lots on the SW cor- com by 1/13, $120 phoned to 406-896- ner of Santa Monica & Purdue, December 13 2038 by 1/13 (entry only, no ques- or in the building basement ($3). SUPER DOUBLE (2X) QUAD “SEMI- tions), $130 at site. Class E, Under Inf: [email protected]. SWISS”. ChessPalace, 12872 Valley 1000 Sections EF: $52 mailed by Ent: SCCF, c/o John Hillery, 835 View St #5 Garden Grove, CA 92845. 1/9, $55 online at chesstour.com by N. Wilton Place #1, Los Angeles, First 3 rounds based on Quad for- 1/13 (entry only, no questions), $60 CA 90038. On-line entry: www. mat, then optional “Championship phoned to 406-896-2038 by 1/13, westernchess.com. GP: 10. State Round” for 4th game. Prizes (based $70 at site. All: free to unrated. Un- Championship Qualifier. on performance): Score 4 points - official uschess.org ratings based $100. 3.5 points - $65. 3 points - $45. on 4 or more games usually used $2.5 points – free entry to regular if otherwise unrated. Special 1 yr event (6-pak, Ocho, Quad). Regis- USCF dues with if paid tration starts at 11am. Round 1 with entry: online at chesstour.com 11:30 a.m. Time Control: Game/60 $30, mailed, phoned or paid at site minutes for the first three rounds $40. Re-entry (except Master) $60. and G/75 for the Championship SCCF memb. ($18, jr $10) required round. EF: $30 members, $35 regu- for rated Southern CA residents. 4- lar. Info: [email protected]. day schedule: Reg. Fri to 6:30 www.chesspalace.com. Phone: 714- p.m., rds Fri 7, Sat 11-6, Sun 11- 899-3421. Free parking. Ent: Chess 6, Mon 10-4:30. 3-day schedule: XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-wqrsnk+0 9r+-+-trk+0 9-+-+-+-+0 9+l+nvl-zpp0 9zpp+n+pvlp0 9+-+-+-+-0 9pzp-+pzp-+0 9-+p+psnp+0 9-+-+-+-+0 9+-+psN-+-0 9+-+-+q+-0 9zP-+-+-zPN0 9-+pzP-vL-+0 9-+LzP-+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0 9+-zP-zPN+Q0 9+-zP-+N+P0 9+-+-+-+-0 9PzPL+-zPPzP0 9PzP-+-zPP+0 9-+lzPK+-zp0 9tR-+-+RmK-0 9tR-vLQtR-mK-0 9+-+-+-mk-0 xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy ZAKARIA – ANDIN KOROSTENSKI – SCHALLA E. HOLM KUALA LUMPUR, 2008 BOHEMIA, 2008 “HVAR 8 DAG,” 1923 WHITE TO MOVE WHITE TO MOVE WHITE TO MOVE AND WIN

Solutions on page 18

SCCF PO BOX 205 MONTEREY PARK CA 9754