Where Organized Chess in America Began EMPIRE CHESS Spring 2017 Volume XL, No

Where Organized Chess in America Began EMPIRE CHESS Spring 2017 Volume XL, No. 1 $5.00

Checa Leads List of State Scholastic Champions

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

President Bill Goichberg PO Box 249 Salisbury Mills, NY 12577 Thousands of Players [email protected]

Vice President The Winter Issue had glitches with the names and proofreading for two of the Polly Wright articles. I apologize for the errors. A corrected version of the Winter Issue 57 Joyce Road Eastchester, NY 10709 will be available by email at [email protected] or on the [email protected] www.nysca.net website. We have revised our proofreading protocol to ensure articles don’t fall through the cracks in the future. Treasurer Karl Heck th 177 Broad Street #C The amazing 50 anniversary New York State Scholastics drew over 1,100 Catskill, NY 12414 players to Saratoga Springs, a record for the event anywhere and likely the [email protected] largest chess tournament ever held in Upstate New York. The headline in the Membership Secretary local newspaper said it all, “Chess Players Take Over Spa City.” It was a Phyllis Benjamin friendly takeover on a cold weekend, but chess was everywhere to be seen in P.O. Box 340969 Brooklyn, NY 11234-0511 mid-March in Saratoga. [email protected] Along with quantity, the New York State Scholastics have always been Board of Directors Upstate Downstate second to none in terms of player quality among State tournaments. Former William Townsend Phyllis Benjamin champion GM Joel Benjamin was back at the tournament as a coach. IM Bill Goichberg Dr. Frank Brady Nicolas de Checa swept the High School section and has a rating of over Shelby Lohrman Margarita Lanides Karl Heck Lenny Chipkin 2500. As Checa is a ninth-grader and former New York State Champion as Ron Lohrman Ed Frumkin well as Scholastic Champion, he will be a formidable road-block to others Brenda Goichberg Polly Wright seeking the title for three more years. He wasn’t even the highest-rated player Steve Immitt Dolly Teasley in the tournament. FM Olivier Chiku-Ratte was with a 2531 Quebec rating Sophia Rohde entering the tournament. He tied for 10th. Harold Stenzel Carol Jarecki Joe Felber Checa is the designated representative of New York for the Denker Sunil Weeramantry Tournament of High School Champions, which will be held this year in

Norfolk, VA.

Tournament Clearinghouses WFM Martha Samadashvili was the top Girl in the Championship section as a Zip Codes under 12000 (downstate) Bill Goichberg seventh-grader with five points, tying for second overall one point behind [email protected] Checa, and is the designated representative of New York to the Girls’

NYS Zip Codes over 11999 (upstate) Tournament of Champions, also held in Norfolk at the same time as the US Karl Heck Open. [email protected] While younger than much of the competition, both Checa and Samadashvili Deadlines December 15 for the Winter Issue are seasoned tournament veterans with substantial amounts of international March 15 for the Spring Issue experience that makes them formidable competitors at the National June 15 for the Summer Issue September 15 for the Fall Issue Invitationals. Nine National Masters competed in the High School Championship section this year, an impressive number for this type of event. Advertising Manager Contact the Editor.

EMPIRE CHESS Where organized chess began in America Volume XL, Number 1 Spring 2017

Cover: The sweatshirt at the State Scholastics says it all about the record-setting tournament in Saratoga Springs, which drew over 1,100 players . Photo by Karl Heck

From the Editor 2 Table of Contents 3 Golden Anniversary State Scholastics Smashes Previous Records by Bill Townsend 4 51st Greater NY Scholastics Set Records by Colonel David Hater and Danny Rohde 12 The Closed Catalan by Neal Bellon 15 Over 200 Players Participate at NYS Girls Championship by Vanessa Sun 16 Isolated Queen Pawn by Zachary Calderon 19 Kratzat and Prieto Tie for First in Watertown Blitz Champiouship by Don Klug 20 Open Lines by Karl Heck 21 Notes from the Marshall from staff reports 24 Queens Chess Club Roundup: Bonin Wins Them All by Ed Frumkin 24 TRM 221 at Riverside by Brother John McManus 26 Evans Gambit: Normal Position by Richard Moody 27 New York Tournaments 29

Editor: Karl Heck, [email protected]. Webmaster: Daniel Heck, www.nysca.net.

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Empire Chess accepts articles, games, tournament reports, art work and photos. No responsibility is assumed for unsolicited material. All material submitted for publication becomes the property of Empire Chess, and will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Letters received by Empire Chess are accepted & subject to editing. Please send to: Karl Heck, [email protected]. Membership in the NYSCA: $20/year with four printed Empire Chess; $12/year with online Empire Chess (two printed). To join, write to: Phyllis Benjamin, P.O. Box 340969, Brooklyn, NY 11234. NYSCA membership now gets you discounts at Continental Chess Association events in New York State and all New York State Championship tournaments.

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. Golden Anniversary NY State Scholastics Smashes Previous Records Nicolas Checa and Justin Chen win HS and JHS championships with perfect 6-0 scores by Bill Townsend

The 50th Annual New York State Scholastic if he hadn’t won his last-round game the finish could Championships took place March 11 and 12 in have looked quite different. Saratoga Springs. For years, the tournament has been flirting with breaking into four digits, and this year it Below: The new champion playing Lev finally did it, and how! My count is that 1,117 Paciorkowski in the last round. players competed in the 11 sections. Obviously this crushes last year’s total of 925 and 2015’s record of 921. Not only that, it smashes the previous NYS Scholastic Championship record of 990, set in 2000 at Pleasantville in Westchester County.

This is the 11th consecutive that the tournament has been anchored at Saratoga, and it continues to mutate as it grows. Initially the tournament was based at the Saratoga Hilton, but had problems expanding into the City Center next door because of competing events being held there. To resolve this issue, last year the event was moved from February to mid-March and more sections were moved to the City Center. This year there were actually no sections in the Hilton at all, only team rooms. The sections were all in the City Center, except for the two High School sections, played a half mile down the road at the Courtyard Marriott.

The winner of the 106-player High School

Championship section was IM Nicolas Checa. This is the first time he has won the State Scholastics, but Top seed Canadian FM Olivier Chikku-Ratte lost his not the first time he has been a New York State fifth round game to NM Lev Paciorkowski, who in Champion – he was the top New Yorker at the 2013 turn lost to Checa in the final round. Besides the overall tournament, when he was just 11 years old. championship trophy, Checa wins free admission to By the same token, he’s not the first person to win the overall championship in Albany over Labor Day both championships in the reverse of the expected weekend, and is the New York entry to the Denker order: IM Alex Ostrovskiy was overall State Tournament of High School Champions held in champion in 2010, 2015 and 2016, but won the State Norfolk, Virginia this summer. Scholastics in 2014. Eight players placed second through ninth with 5-1. In hindsight, Checa’s 6-0 result seems like an scores. In tiebreak order they were NM William inevitable march to victory, but it didn’t seem that Graif, NM Lev Paciorkowski, NM Warren Wang, way while the tournament was going on. He didn’t WFM Martha Samadashvili, Derek Chen, FM Shawn play on the top board until the final round, and while Rodrigue-Lemieux, Max Li and FM Ethan Li. With he was the only player with 5-0 at the end of round 5, her fifth-place finish WFM Martha Samadashvili is 4

the designated New York entry to the National Girls 17½ points. Edward R. Murrow was third on Tournament of Champions held in Norfolk this tiebreaks, also with 17½. East Side Community High summer. Tenth and eleventh with 4½ were: FM School was fourth with 16 points while Pioneer High Olivier Chikku-Ratte and WIM Maili-Jade Ouellette. School was fifth with 15½.

Finishing twelfth through twenty-eighth with 4-2 There was a Mixed Doubles prize, only open to male were: NM Jacob Chen, Webster Kehoe, Gus Huston, and female two-player teams from the two High Brian Arthur, Ella Papanek, Mubassar Uddin, Diante School sections. The clear winner here was Renee Davis, Nicholas Lombardi, Nathaniel Shuman, Scorcia and FM Olivier Chiku-Ratte with 8½ points. Ananda Saha, Patrick Chernjavsky, Jack Wen, Wang There were no fewer than five teams tied for second Chen, Li Heng Wang, Anthony Saquisili, Patrick with 7-5 and their places were determined by Shiels, and Danielle Sharp. Among these players tiebreaks. In order they were: Katherine Qi and Lombardi was Top player Under 1900 while Henry Qi; Samantha Dong and Brian Arthur; Ella Chernjavsky was second. Sharp was Top player Papanek and Matthieu Johnson-Constantin; Janell Under 1700 while Jonathan D’Alonzo was second Warner and Louis Rivera; Phunstok Kyizom and with 3½. Ryan Chang (3-3) was Top player Under James Figueroa. 1500 while Malik Williams (2½) was second. Ashton Keith (2½) was Top player Under 1300 while Amier It’s somewhat uncommon to have a lot of 6-0 results Hassan (2) was second. in these big Swiss System sections, but shockingly eight of the eleven sections finished that way. There In the team standings, Edgemont Junior/Senior High was another perfect score at the top of the 113-player School was clear first with 17½ points while Edward Junior High Championship as NM Justin Chen won R. Murrow was second with 16. NEST+m was third all his games to take clear first place. Justin came in with 15, Dalton School was fourth with 14½ beating second in last year’s Junior High School out Jericho High School on tiebreaks championship. Like Nicolas Checa, he is the New Last year the High School and Junior High York representative to national Barber K-8 Championships were held at the same place but this Championship, the Barber tournament, also played year only the two High School sections were at the concurrently with the U.S. Open. Courtyard Marriot. The 114-player High School Reserve section, for players rated under 1200, NM Vincent Tsay was clear second with 5½ points. finished with two perfect scores as James Lisowski Seven players tied for third through ninth, their and Jia Wei Tang both finished with 6-0, with places decided by tiebreaks. In order they were: NM Lisowski getting the trophy after a winning a playoff Wesley Wang (the second seed, who lost to Chen in game. Under New York State Scholastic rules, the final round), Justin Dalhouse, Katherine Davis, perfect score ties are broken through a playoff game. Sophie Morris-Suzuki, Ethan Gu, Daniel Levkov, and Sam Santora. Third through eighth with 5-1 were: Carson Feero, Dakota Amar, Dash Jaynes, Sakura Bellamy, Reanna Tenth and eleventh with 4½ were Nico Chasin and Phillips, and James Figueroa, Ninth through Liran Zhou. Another thing these two players had in fourteenth with 4½ were: Takanori Underwood, common is that they both were playing up a section: Joshua Abbey, Jason Wu, Nathan Schiener, Chasin is in fourth grade and Zhou is in third. If they Giovanny Vicento, and William Wu. From that list had both played in the Elementary championship Schiener was Top player Under 1000. Daniel Chasin would have been first seed and Zhou would Brucker was second Under 1000 while Seylon have been third. Gaspard was Top player Under 800 – both scored 4- 2. Jesus Muniz (3½) was second Under 800. Harold The other prize winners here were: Hugh Chapin (4- Bandouveris was Top player Under 600 while 2), Top Under 1800, Lavon Sykes (also 4-2), second Matthew Lynch was second – both scored 3-3. Under 1800, Alex Paiva (4), Top Under 1600, Andrew Vickery and Zachary Barkman were first and Malcolm Whites (4), second Under 1600, Bally second Unrated, both with 3-3 scores. Sissoko (3½), Top Under 1400, James Adams (3), second Under 1400. In this section Brooklyn’s IS 318 was top team with 18½ points while Success Academy was second, with There was a dead heat for top team with Brooklyn’s 5

IS 318 and NYC Lab Middle School for and Austin Hom (3½), was second Under 1300. Collaborative Studies both finishing with 17 points, with IS 318 winning on tiebreaks. Columbia In this section two teams tied for first at 16½ points Grammar and Preparatory School was third with 16 with Dalton School beating Brooklyn’s IS 318 on points, Success Academy Charter School Bronx 1 tiebreaks. SACCH was third with 14 points while X493 was fourth with 12½, Success Academy SACMW was fourth also with 14 points. Teams five Charter School Harlem East was fifth with 11½, through eight all had 13 points so their positions were decided by tiebreaks. They were, in order: Lower Lab There was yet another 6-0 score at the top of the 94- School PS77, Chelsea Prep PS33, William T. Harris player Middle School Reserve section, for players PS11, and Avenues: The World School. rated Under 1000, as Nicholas Kim won all his games to take clear first. Second through eighth with Below: Elementary players fill one of the big rooms 5-1 were: Quinlan Alday, Nathan Booncharoen, at the Saratoga Springs City Center. Shaan Cheruvu, Ann Goldey, Colin Senat, Aaryan Chitnis, and Michael Korvyakov, Ninth through twelfth with 4½ points were: Ethan Alexander, Quinn Balber, Robert Marshall, and, Aryana Ramos- Vazquez. This last named player won the trophy for Top player rated Under 900. Second Under 900 was Audrey Mallier with 4 points. Other prize winners: Sebastian Stote (3½), Top Under 800, Aidan Puri (3), Second Under 800, Amir Diego (3), Top Under 600, Andrew Brucker, second Under 600, Benjamin Shephard (2½), Top Under 400, Mason Bates (2½), second Under 400, Skylar Gravel (2), Top Unrated player, Komali Kollapudi (2) , second unrated. Top team in this section was Success Academy Rohail Shah won the 115-player Elementary Charter School Union Square M174 with 17½ points. Intermediate section, for players in sixth grade or less SACBX1 was second with 17 while Browning rather less than 1200, with yet another perfect 6-0 School was third with 16½. Pelham Middle School record. Matthew Tai was clear second with 5½. Third was fourth with 14 points, Pioneer Middle School through seventh with 5-1 were: Ethan Striff-Cave, was fifth with 12½, Gabriel Espinal, Dale Janezic, Amenaide Brown, and Simone Morden. Eighth through thirteenth with 4½ Another perfect score won the 134-player Elementary were: Michael Rubinov. Megha Kumar, Emma Championship as Hamilton Shillingford defeated top Adams, Alex Agrawal, Dana Flores-Zeledon, and seed Tyler Tanaka in the final round to finish with 6- Silverio Sencion. 0. It’s a source of amazement to me that there can be players rated over 1800 in Elementary School, but a From this list Argawal won the prize for Top player high rating isn’t a guarantee of victory: Shillingford’s Under 1100. Other prize winners: Jonathan Metzler pre-tournament rating was 1676 and he was seeded (4-2) was second Under 1100, Sicheng Yu (4) was 15th. first Under 1000, Elijah Patterson (4) was second Under 1000, Chellam Kothandaraman (4) was Top Second through tenth with 5-1 scores were: Tyler player Under 900, Rose Morden (3½) was second Tanaka, Leonardo Liu, Yassamin Ehsani, Jonathan Under 900, Orion Caldwell (3½) was first Under 800, Waldorf, Leo Richard, Ellen Wang, Adi Murgescu, Eli Nelson (2½) was second Under 800. Joshua Luo, and Vicky Chen. Eleventh through seventeenth with 4½ were: Toshinori Underwood, The op team in the Elementary Intermediate was Tashi Sherpa, Amy Sun, Nura Baalla, Hwarin Zoh, Chelsea Prep PS33 with 17 points while William T. David Craciun, and Alan Morris-Suzuki. Among Harris PS11 was second with 16. Alexine A. Fenty those players Sherpa and Sun were first and second PS139 was third with 15, Success Academy Charter Under 1700 while Morris-Suzuki was Top player School Union Square M174 was fourth with 14½, Under 1500. Alan Smolansky (4) was second Under Mary Lindley Murray School PS116 was fifth also 1500. Kevin Zhang (3½) was Top player Under 1300, with 14½, 6

The Elementary Reserve section, the largest of the 11 12½. sections with 171 players, was limited to players rated under 800 and it was won by Aliya Saldanha- The 120-pl;ayer Primary Reserve section, for K-3 Suri with (guess what?) a perfect 6-0 score. Second players rated under 600, was won by Dashiell through fourth with 5½ were: Aarush Iyengar, Ryder Messinger with a 6-0 score. Clear second with 5½ Lee, and Christopher Ortiz. Fifth through twelfth was Ari Ghalili. Third through tenth with 5-1 were: with 5-1 were: Mikhail Bilokin, Burke Reynolds, Eli Mandarano, Sophia Ng, George Athanasopoulos, Rachel Prizant, Andrew Carragher, William Fahey, Sabella Faccio, Harper Wallace, Naveen Paruchuri, Jake Van De Kieft, Sami Uyanik, and Marcella Manasvin Sood, and Jack McAuley. Other trophy Reyes-Rivera. The last named player won the prize winners were: Tyler McGowan (4½), first Under 500, for best player Under 700. Levi Leven (4½), second Under 500, Luc Cacciatore (4½), first Under 400, Benjamin Davis (4) second Thirteenth through twenty-third with 4½ were: Under 400, Padraig Scally (3½), first Under 300, Arthur Owens (second Under 700), Madison Olivia Drake Martin 3½) second Under 300, Caleb Wright Shum, Eli Goldstein, Collin Salem, Evan Eisenberg (3), first Under 200, Jacob Moon (3), second Under (first Under 600), Taise Martinez, Ellyssan Park, 200, Henry Dispenza (3½) first Unrated, and Dylan Tristan Perkins, Beckett Tratenberg, Ishaan Bhagat, Lubcker (3½), second Unrated. and Madison Williams. Other prize winners: Jonah Falcon (3½) second Under 700, Dale Cotler (4) first Top team in this section was Browning School with Under 500, Rylan Marinis (3½), second Under 500, 20 points, about as high a point total as it was Ayden Wefer (2) ,first Under 400, Martine McKenzie possible to get, but Columbia Grammar and second Under 400, Mason Paul Riddle (2½), first Preparatory School was right behind them with 19 Under 300, Ana Dokianos second Under 300, Jayden points. Third with 14½ was Beekman Hill Bonilla (2½) first Unrated, and Elijah Robinson (2) International PS59, Packer Collegiate was fourth with second Unrated. 14, William T Harris PS11 was fifth with 13½,

Top team here was Chelsea Prep PS33 with 18 points The string of perfect scores was finally broken in the while Success Academy Charter School Union 33-player K-1 Championship, which finished in a Square M174 was second with 17. SACBX3 was three-way tie for first place at 5-1. First on tiebreaks third with 16½ and Lower Lab School PS77 was was John Moon, followed by Reese Rutkoske and fourth with 16. Fifth through eighth with 15½ were: Aliana Fausto. Fourth through sixth with 4½ were: Alexine A. Fenty PS139, Trinity School, NEST+m Oliver Boydell, Christoffer Lamtan, and David School, and SACBSM. Menzer. Seventh through tenth with 4-2 were: Kabeer Arora, Ranbeer Arora, Ryan Ma, and Milo The 91-player Primary Championship, for players in Kong. Other prize winners: Charles Burton (3), first grades three and below, was won by Liam Putnam Under 800, Amy Burton (3), second Under 800, with a flawless 6-0 score. Second through fifth with Lilian Zhou (2), first Under 600, Henry 5-1 were: Thomas Fini, Romir Mukherjee, Dylan Ma, Nieuwerburgh (2), second Under 600, Mathis Ricaud and Brewington Hardaway. Sixth through twelfth (2), first Under 400, and Max McPeake (1½). Second with 4½ were: Kevin Duong, Jed Sloan, Nathaniel Under 400. Mullodzhanov, Brendan Moran, Royal Buchanan, Johji Nakada, and Jack Yang. All these other prize Among the teams in this section there was a two-way winners scored 4-2: Alex Yan first Under 1400, Boris tie for first with 14½ points. First on tiebreaks was Mccoy second Under 1400, Rohan Krishna first Collegiate School followed by Lower Lab School Under 1200, Aston Roberts second Under 1200, and PS77. Dalton School was third with 10 points, Riya Kanury first Under 1000. George Bugayev was NEST+m School was fourth also with 10, Greenwich second Under 1000 with 3-3. Village PS41 was fifth with 9.

Two teams tied for first place in this section, both The new section in this year’s tournament was the with 16 points. Dalton School edged NEST+m 60-player K-1 Reserve, for players rated under 400. School on tiebreaks. Third with 13½ was Lower Lab Clear first with 5½ was Christopher Meyers. Second School PS77, Avenues: The World School was fourth through fifth with 5-1 were: Alejandro Fernholz. with 12½, William T. Harris PS11 was fifth also with Lucas Achecar, Wyatt Santiago, and Sammy Gordon. 7

Sixth through eighth with 4½ were: Evan Whelchel, In previous years I’ve only gotten a handful of games Loren Rogers, and Perry Sloan. Christopher Williams from this event, but starting last year that began to and Quinn O’Brien were ninth and tenth with 4-2. change and this year I got about 100, which is pretty Other trophy winners: Mark Bragg (4), First Under darn good for such a fast-paced tournament. Because 300, Anthony Rodriguez (4), second Under 300, Tse I was stationed at the hotel where the two high school Jing Lim (3) first Under 200, Nathaniel Chang (3) sections were running, nearly all the games I got are second Under 200, Nathan Eppel (4) first Unrated, from there. I got most of the games from the top and Rayden Wang (3) second Unrated. boards of the High School Championship, but wasn’t nearly as lucky with the High School Reserve – most Among the teams Columbia Grammar and of the top players there were using those hard-bound Preparatory School was clear first with 18½ points scorebooks and were not inclined to turn in their with Avenues The World School second with 17. games. Trinity School was third with 16½, Lower Lab School PS77 was fourth with 11½, Park Slope PS282 As usual, I have to give this warning: the fast time was fifth with 9, control of this tournament (Game in one hour with 10 second delay) means that many games ended in time What would a scholastic tournament be without a scrambles with the final moves not recorded. bughouse tournament? Well, there was a bughouse tournament on Saturday night with fifteen two player Here is the game that decided first place in the High teams. In clear first with a perfect 4-0 score was School section. Throughout the tournament “Chiquitos” consisting of Wang Chen and Anthony Paciorkowski had been playing well, but here he Saquisili. These two must know what they are doing seemed a little hesitant, and that gave Checha the – they won last year’s bughouse tournament as well. opening he needed. Second through fifth with 3-1 were: “Murrow” (Li Wang & Samantha Dong), “Legalize Caruana” (Theo NM Lev Paciorkowski (2343) Kogan & Daniel Levkov), “Hennysippin” (Edwin IM Nicolas Checa (2507) [D15] Slav Lucero & Jacob Correnza), and LOL (Toshi Sherpa NYS Scholastic Championships, Saratoga Springs & Robbie Levin). High School Championship Round 6, March 12, 2017 Finally, on Sunday there was a Parents and Friends 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.e3 Bf5 6.Bd3 tournament for non-scholastic players, like parents Bg6 7.0–0 e6 8.Qe2 Bb4 9.Bd2 0–0 10.a3 Bxc3 and coaches. Timothy Smolinski out-rated his nearest 11.Bxc3 Nbd7 12.Rfd1 Re8 13.a4 competition by over 700 points so unsurprisingly he As we leave the opening, if White has an advantage, finished with a perfect 4-0. Scott Meyers was second it's tiny. Not a single piece has left the board. with 3-1. 13...Bh5 14.h3 Ne4 15.g4 Bg6 16.Be1 White already seems like he's retreating. I think he Running a tournament of this size and running it well should have played Bxg6 at an earlier point. requires a lot of work. Chief tournament director was 16...Qe7 17.Rac1 Rf8 18.Nd2 f5 19.f4 Nxd2 Steve Immitt, assisted by various directors and other 20.Qxd2 fxg4 21.hxg4 Bxd3 22.Qxd3 Qf7 23.Bb4 helpers. Here is an incomplete list: David Hater, Rfd8 24.cxd5 exd5 25.g5 Re8 26.Bd6?! Harold Stenzel, Susan Breeding, Bob Messenger, Al This looks like White taking advantage of Black's LeCours, Jabari McGreen, Hector Rodriguez III, weak dark squares, but he just seems to be Taraqur Rahman, Ron Young, Bill Townsend, Hector misplacing his Bishop. Rodriguez IV, Brother John McManus, Anatoliy 26...Re4 27.b3 Qg6 28.Be5 h6 29.Rc2 Nxe5 30.dxe5 Ostrovskiy, Santhosh Abraham, Karl Heck, Eric hxg5 31.Rg2 Qh5 32.Rxg5 Qf3 33.Rf1 Stenzel, Ernesto Rivera, Jace Jones, Steven Flores, White also loses a pawn after 33.Re1 Rxf4. Jaimie Jones, Harold Scott, Mariah McGreen, Maya 33...Qxe3+ 34.Qxe3 Rxe3 35.Kf2 Re4 36.Rfg1 McGreen, Kofi McGreen, Beena McGreen, Polly Rxf4+ 37.Ke3 Rf7 Wright, Ebony Tyleer, Jessica MacArthur, and Dima White has some pressure, but it's not worth two Teitelman. Tournament webmaster was Nils Grotnes. pawns. Bill Goichberg and the Continental Chess 38.Kd4 Re8 39.Rg6 Rfe7 40.e6 Rd8 41.Rh1 Rde8 Association organized the event for the New York 42.Rhg1 Rd8 43.Rh1 c5+ State Chess Association. Black does not want to repeat moves again, but

43...a5 seems to be better. Below: IM Nicolas Checa with the Championship 44.Ke5?! trophy. 44.Kxc5 d4 45.Rd1 Kh7 46.Rg4 Rxe6 looks better for White than the game. 44...d4 45.Rh2 d3 46.Rg1 Rde8 47.Rg6 b5 Black's Queenside pawn avalanche will win the game for him. 48.axb5 axb5 49.Kd6 c4 50.bxc4 bxc4 51.Rd2 Kh7 52.Rg4 Rxe6+ 53.Kd5 Re2 54.Rd1 Re1 55.Rd2 R8e2 56.Rg2 Rxd2 57.Rxd2 c3 58.Rxd3 c2 0–1

Throughout the tournament I was waiting for the two top seeds to play, FM Olivier Chiku-Ratte and IM Nicolas Checa, but that matchup never happened due to this round five upset.

NM Lev Paciorkowski (2343) FM Olivier Chiku-Ratte (2516) [E75] KID NYS Scholastic Championships High School section Round 5, March 12, 2017 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0–0 6.Bg5 c5 7.d5 e6 8.Nf3 exd5 9.exd5 h6 10.Be3 Bf5 11.0–0 Ne4 12.Nxe4 Bxe4 13.Qd2 g5 14.Bd3 My computer likes 14.h4 then changes its mind after 14...g4 15.Nh2 Qxh4. 14...Bxd3 15.Qxd3 Nd7 16.Rab1 g4 17.Nd2 f5 18.f4 Qf6 19.Rfe1 a6 Black's position seems a bit loose, and attacking ideas aren't easy to come by. This demonstration on Meanwhile, on Board Two, Checa was battling the Queenside winds up giving White an annoying Canadian player NM William Graif. The game pretty passed pawn. quickly turned into a double rook ending, which 20.a4 b6 21.Nf1 Qf7 22.Bf2 b5 23.axb5 axb5 Graif should have been able to draw, technically. 24.cxb5 Ra4 25.b4 Rxb4 26.Rxb4 cxb4 27.Qc4 Nf6 Nevertheless, I think he had the harder position to 28.Re6 Ne4 29.Be3 Qb7 30.b6! play, especially in this short time control. Uh oh, this pawn is going to be a problem. The same can't really be said for Black's pawn on b4. IM Nicolas Checa (2507) 30...Kf7 NMWilliam Graif (2257) [E17] Trying too hard to hold onto the b-pawn leads to NYS Scholastic Championships trouble: 30...Bc3 31.Ng3 Nxg3 32.hxg3. High School section 31.Ng3 Rc8 32.Qd3 Rc3 Round 5, March 12, 2017 This looks strong, but after this Black's position 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.0–0 Be7 quickly unravels. 32...Ra8 is better, but the plain fact 6.d4 0–0 7.Re1 Qc8 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Nc3 is that Black has no good moves. d6 11.Rc1 Nd7 12.e4 Rd8 13.Qd2 a6 14.d5 c5 33.Qb5 Qc8 34.Nxe4 fxe4 35.b7 Rc1+ 36.Kf2 Rc2+ 15.Bh3 Nf8 16.dxe6 Nxe6 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.cxd5 37.Kg3 Qd8 38.Qe8+ Ng5 19.Nxg5 Bxg5 20.Qxg5 hxg5 21.Bxc8 Raxc8 Sure 38.b8Q wins too, but with time growing short Already we've reached a double Rook ending. If White wants a simpler position to play so off come White has an advantage, it's very small. the Queens. 22.Rc3 g4 23.h3 gxh3 24.Kh2 f6 25.Kxh3 Kf7 38...Qxe8 39.Rxe8 b3 40.b8Q b2 41.Re6 Bf6 26.Kg4 Rh8 27.Ra3 Ra8 28.Rc1 Rh2 29.Kf3 Rh5 42.Qe8+ Kg7 43.Rxf6 Kxf6 44.Bd4+ 30.Re3 Re8 31.b4 f5 32.bxc5 fxe4+ It's mate in one so Black gives up.1–0 An improvement for Black was 32...bxc5 and after 33.e5 Rxe5 34.Rxe5 dxe5 35.Rxc5 Rh6 the game

looks pretty close to even. 26...Rxd1 27.Kxd1 Kf8 28.Ke2 Kg7 29.Kf2 Kh6 33.Kg4 Rxd5 34.cxb6 Rb5 35.Rc6 d5 36.a4 Rb4 Another vote against the King-and-pawn ending here 37.Kf5 g6+?! 38.Rxg6 d4 39.Re1 Rxa4 40.Rd6 d3 is the fact that Black has the better pawn structure. 41.Rd7+ Kg8 42.b7 Rb4 43.Rc1 Rf8+ 44.Ke5 This might not be enough to win, but it definitely Re8+? improves Black's chances. The game looks drawn after 44...d2! 45.Rc8 Rxb7 30.a3 a5 31.h4 Kh5 32.Kg3 h6 33.Kh3 g5 34.hxg5 46.Rxf8+ Kxf8 47.Rxd2. hxg5 35.Kg3 gxf4+ 36.Kxf4 Kh4 37.Ke3 45.Kd6 d2 46.Rd1 Rb2? Here is the problem: eventually Black can force The final, irrevocable mistake. It looks like Black can White to play f3–f4 after which Black will find a way still draw after 46...Rb8 47.Kc6 Rb2 48.g4 a5 49.g5 (via h3 and h4) to gain the opposition over the White a4 50.g6 a3 51.g7 Rc2+ but these sorts of tactics are king and stage a fatal invasion. For example: 37.Ke4 hard to navigate with limited time. Kg5 38.Ke3 Kf5 39.f4 Kg4 40.Ke4 Kg3 41.Ke3 b6 47.Kc7 a5 48.R1xd2 Rb1 49.Rd8 42.a4 Kh3! 43.Kf3 Kh4 44.Kf2 Kg4 45.Ke3 Kg3 White wins major material, so Black gives up. 1–0 46.Ke4 Kf2 and Black wins. 37...Kg3 38.f4 Kh4! 39.Kd3 Kh3 40.Kd2 Kg4 While we’re talking about endgames (Oh, let’s!) this 41.Ke3 Kg3 42.a4 b6 43.Ke4 Kf2 game caught my eye. WFM Martha Samadashvili is And just like that, it's over. White must either give up the strongest scholastic player in the Capital District his f-pawn or allow the Black King access to the and this win allowed her to tie for second overall and queenside. White continues to wriggle, but the qualify for the Girl’s Tournament of Champions. outcome is not in doubt. While I was watching the game I was certain that her 44.f5 Kg3 45.fxe6 fxe6 46.Ke3 Kg4 47.Ke4 Kg5 opponent had missed a draw and Martha just 48.Kf3 Kf5 49.Ke2 Kxe5 50.Ke3 Kf5 51.Kf3 e5 bamboozled him. However, the longer I looked at 52.Ke3 e4 53.Ke2 Kf4 54.Kf2 e3+ 55.Ke2 Ke4 the game, the more it seemed that White was indeed 56.Ke1 Kd3 57.Kd1 e2+ 58.Ke1 Ke3 lost which Martha very patiently proved. So very harsh. White is not, in fact, stalemated - he has to allow Black a mate with: 58...Ke3 59.b4 cxb4 , Nathaniel Shuman (2124) etc. 0–1 WFM Martha Samadashvili (2185) [D02] QP Game Before his mishap in round five Canadian player FM NYS Scholastic Championships Olivier Chiku-Ratte played some fine chess. He High School section showed his tactical alertness in this round three game Round 6, March 12, 2017 against Max Jiahua Li. 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 c6 4.Nf3 Qb6 5.b3 Bf5 6.Bd3 Bxd3 7.Qxd3 e6 8.0–0 Nbd7 9.c4 Be7 10.h3 Max Jiahua Li (2124) Ne4 11.Nc3 Nxc3 12.Qxc3 0–0 13.Nd2 Rfe8 14.e4 FM Olivier Chiku-Ratte (2516) [B25] Sicilian dxe4 15.Nxe4 Nf6 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 NYS Scholastic Championships With this I would say that Black has equalized, but High School section perhaps that is White's plan - to drain the dynamism Round 3, March 11, 2017 out of the position and get a draw. 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 d6 5.h3 Bg7 6.g3 e6 17.Be5 Bxe5 18.dxe5 Red8 19.Rfd1 c5 20.f4 Qc6?! 7.d3 Nge7 8.Bg2 0–0 9.0–0 21.Qf3?! Already I would say that Black is a little better - 21.Rd3 looks strong, seizing control of the d-file. perhaps this is not quite the way for White to play the Again, White makes a second-best move aiming for a Closed Sicilian. draw. 9...b6 10.Ne2 Ba6 11.c3 Qd7 12.Qc2 Rac8 13.Rd1 21...Qxf3 22.gxf3 Kf8 23.Kf2 Ke7 24.Ke2 g6 Rfd8 14.Be3 d5 15.Bf2 dxe4 16.dxe4 Bd3! 25.Rxd8 Rxd8 26.Rd1?! Surprise! This unexpected clerical visit somewhat With this White trades off the last pair of pieces, discombobulates White's pieces. therefore achieving his "goal." However it is my 17.Qd2 Qb7 18.Qe3 Qa6 19.Nc1 Bc2 experience that King-and-pawn endings require a lot That darn Bishop just won't buzz off! more caution than Rook and pawn endings and are 20.Rxd8+ Rxd8 21.Bf1 Qa4 22.Nd2 Na5 23.Be1 more often won by one side or the other. If drawing Nec6 was really White's goal, keeping a pair of Rooks was 23...c4 was pretty annoying too. a good idea. 24.Nd3? This allows a nice tactic that Black doesn't miss. 10

24...Bxd3! 25.Bxd3 Nb4! 26.Bb1 The Knight is immune because of 26.cxb4 Bd4. 26...Qd1 27.Kg2 Nc2 28.Bxc2 Qxa1 Black has turned his superior position into a tangible advantage, and White's pieces are still tied in knots. 29.Bb3 Qxb2 30.e5 c4 31.Bd1 Qxa2 32.Be2 Nb3 33.Nxc4 Nc1 34.Nd2 Nxe2 35.Qxe2 Qc2 36.c4 Bf8 37.Kf1 Rc8 38.Qf3 Bb4 39.Qb7 Qd3+ 40.Kf2 Bc5+ Black has a mate in four, so White gives up. 0–1

Like I mentioned before I hardly got any games from the Junior High Championship because I simply wasn’t in the room, but I did get the last round money game, thanks to Alan LeCours. This is really only a Wang-Chen, final position. game fragment, but it’s obvious what happened, Black’s superiority crumbled in time pressure. Here is an example of the play of second place finisher Vincent Tsay, again courtesy of Al LeCours. NM Wesley Wang (2251) NM Justin Chen (2264) [B70] Sicilian Vincent Tsay (2160) NYS Scholastic Championships Francis Durette (2189) [E94] KID Junior High School Championship NYS Scholastic Championships Round 6, March 12, 2017 Junior High School Championship 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 Round 6, March 12, 2017 6.Be2 Nc6 7.Nb3 Bg7 8.0–0 0–0 9.Kh1 Bd7 10.f4 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0–0 a6 11.a4 Na5 12.Nxa5 Qxa5 13.Be3 Rfc8 14.Bd4 For some reason I saw a lot of King's Indians this Bc6 15.Bf3 e5! 16.Be3 Qb4 17.Qd3 Rd8 weekend. Are teenagers experiencing a wave of 17...Qxb2? 18.Rfb1 and the Queen is trapped. 1950s nostalgia in 2017? Okay, probably not. 18.Ra3 exf4 19.Rb3 Qa5 20.Bb6 Qe5 21.Bxd8 6.Be2 e5 7.0–0 exd4 8.Nxd4 Re8 9.f3 Nc6 10.Be3 Rxd8 Nh5 11.Qd2 Nf4 12.Kh1 White has the exchange for a pawn, not a very big A common little tactical trick: if White takes the advantage given the position. apparently loose Knight on f4 he loses his Knight on 22.Rd1 h5 23.Nd5 Ng4 d4: 12.Bxf4 Nxd4. 23...Nd7! with Nd7–c5 on the way is an ugly threat. 12...Nxe2 13.Ncxe2 Ne5 14.Rac1 Qe7 15.Nf4 Be6 24.Qe2 Qg5 25.h3 Ne5 26.Qd2 Nc4 27.Qb4 Ne5 16.b3 a6 17.Rfd1 Rac8 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.cxd5 28.Qe1 Nd7 29.a5 Nc5 30.Rb4 Be5?! Very smooth: White has maneuvered his space Allows White a tactic which the first player doesn't advantage into giving Black a backward pawn on an miss. open file. 31.h4! Qh6 32.Ne7+ Kh8 33.Nxc6 bxc6 34.Rb6 Qf8 19...Rb8 20.Qa5 Rec8 21.Rc2 Qd8 22.b4 Nd7 35.Rxc6 0-1 23.Rdc1 Nb6 24.Nb3 Be5 25.g3 Kg7 26.Kg2 h5? This is all that was recorded. It certainly looks like Black misses a tactic, and it costs him. However, his Black is getting the worst of this game, and it would position is still uncomfortably passive after the have been even more dire if White had played: 35.b4 superior 26...Qd7. Na4 36.Rxc6. However, the plain fact is that Black 27.Rxc7! Nd7 28.Rxc8 Rxc8 29.Qxd8 Rxd8 30.Rc7 won this game. The only clue we have aboutthe final White has an extra pawn, pressure and control of the position that Al LeCours managed to record. only open file. Black is all but lost. 30...b5 31.f4 Bb2 32.Bd4+ Bxd4 33.Nxd4 Nf8 As you can see in the following diagram, the 34.Ne6+ Nxe6 35.dxe6 Kf6 36.exf7 Rf8 37.Kf3 Ke6 situation has totally changed: some pieces have been Black loses quickly after 37...Rxf7 38.Rxf7+ Kxf7 traded and White has lost a bunch of pawns, probably 39.g4. thanks to Black’s marauding Queen. In fact, in this 38.Ke3 d5 39.e5 Rd8 40.Kd4 Rf8 41.Rc6+ Kxf7 position, which is obviously White to move, White 42.Rf6+ Ke7 43.Rxf8 Kxf8 44.Kxd5 Kf7 45.Kd6 can’t avoid the loss of his Bishop no matter where he Ke8 46.e6 Kd8 47.e7+ Ke8 48.a3 1–0 moves his King. For example: 1.Kc4 Qc2+.

51st Greater NY Scholastic Championship Breaks Records by Colonel David A. Hater and Danny Rohde

The 51st Greater New York Scholastic This scholastic tournament draws many of the best Championship, sponsored by the Kasparov Chess players in the region, which is the strongest chess Foundation in association with the Chess Center of region in the United States. This year, there were six New York and Little House of Chess, shattered National Masters participating, including two FIDE previous attendance records with 1,478 players Masters. Part of the reason that the higher-rated participating in 14 separate sections. The attendance players show up is to play for a significant prize: free this year was over two hundred players higher than entry for an entire year into all Continental Chess last year’s attendance of 1,263. This year was a Association (CCA) tournaments that have a resounding success as the organizers made several guaranteed prize fund! This entry is potentially tweaks in terms of staffing and format which led to worth several thousand dollars. The big winner of all rounds starting pretty much on time and a positive CCA free entries was Malcolm Galpern of Brooklyn experience for all the tournament players. The Tech High School. He went 5-0 in the Under 1900 tournament also remains the USCF’s longest-running High School section and won the playoff match, led rated scholastic tournament. We also believe this is his team to the team championship, and took second the largest rated event ever held in New York State. place mixed doubles with his partner Nancy Wang. He has free entries until October 2nd, 2018! Pulling The Kasparov Chess Foundation sponsors several off a three-peat and winning free entries in every events around the country. The Chicago event had available category is impressive. 432 players and the Baltimore event had 250 players. The New York City even enjoyed a visit by former Another big winner was Meghana Kancharla. On World Champion GM Garry Kasparov on both days. Saturday, she scored 4 ½ out of 5 in the High School Garry walked around the tournament room and team Under 1200 section to take Third Place, top Eighth rooms and was a true ambassador of chess giving of grade and below, and four months of free entries to his time to numerous fans and signing lots of CCA tournaments. She came back Sunday and autographs. Garry also made several ceremonial first scored 4-1 to take fifth place and top grade 6 and moves. On Saturday, he made first moves in the below in the Junior High School Under 1300 section. High School Championship and Elementary She tied for fourth. On the third tiebreak system, she Championship. On Sunday, he made first moves in fell short by half a point or she would have won two the Primary Championship and Primary Under 600. more months of free entries! She traveled from New In the Primary Under 600, the lucky player was Hampshire for this tournament and took 113 rating Casey Peckham. This board was chosen because it points back home with her! was her birthday, and she enjoyed a once in a lifetime experience (picture below): The free entries were exactly the motivation for the tournament’s top seed FM Hans Niemann. Hans commented that he has not won a trophy in several years and has not won a state or national scholastic championship because he concentrates his tournament activity on major tournaments that draw titled players, especially events that offer norm opportunities. For players at Niemann’s level, the typical scholastic offers almost no gain.

Hans is only in eighth grade and played in the Junior High School Championship section. While he started on Board One and stayed there the entire tournament, he did face the second, fourth, and fifth seeded players en route to his victory. He started 5-0 and Photo: Vanessa Sun secured clear first with a quick last-round draw. Hans’s fourth round game against second seed NM 12

Justin Chen features a nice sacrificial attack. Can seeds on the way to his clear first-place finish. In the you find the continuation? last round, he faced fourth-seeded NM Dennis Li. Ethan Li only needed a draw for clear first place, but Shown below is the key position for one of the big he clearly wanted more. The game was a poisoned games in the tournament: the battle between National pawn Sicilian and at one point Ethan was up four Master Justin Chen and FIDE Master Hans Niemann. pawns and could have won. However, White did The key position is highlighted, and the full game is have a dangerous attack, and the game eventually shown below. ended in a perpetual check.

{Event: 51st Greater NYC Scholastic Championship] [Round;6] [White NM ;Li, Dennis (2206)] [Black; FM Li, Ethan (2394)] [Result;1/2-1/2] [ECO;B97] 1.e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 8. Qd2 Qxb2 9. Rb1 Qa3 10. f5 Nc6 11. fxe6 fxe6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. e5 dxe5 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Ne4 Qxa2 16. Rd1 Be7 17. Be2 O-O 18. Rf1 Ra7 19. Rf3 Kh8 20. Qh6 Qxc2 21. Rxf6 Rg8 22. Ng5 Bb4+ 23. Kf1 Bd2 24. Rxd2 Qxd2 25. Rf7 Qc1+ 26. Kf2 Qc5+ 27. Kf1 Qc1+ 1/2-1/2

The participants and friends all have a great time – 25…Bg4 ! one even dressed up as a chessboard from head to toe! After 26.hxg4 there are several possible continuations, but Black’s attack is unstoppable.

{Event;51st Greater NYC Scholastic Championship] [Date:2017.02.05] [Round 4] [White: NM Chen, Justin (2264)] [Black: FM Niemann, Hans (2402)] [Result: 0-1] [ECO;A61] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nf3 g6 7. Bf4 a6 8. a4 Bg7 9. h3 O-O 10. e3 Nh5 11. Bh2 f5 12. Be2 f4 13. e4 Nd7 14. O-O Qe7 15. Nd2 Qg5 16. Nc4 Ne5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Qd3 Bd7 19. Kh1 Nf6 20. Rfb1 Rfc8 21. Qf3 h5 22. Ra3 Rc7 23. Bf1 Rf8 24. Na2 c4 25. a5 Bg4 26. hxg4 hxg4 27. Qe2 Rh7 28. Rh3 gxh3 29. f3 hxg2+ 30. Bxg2 Bd4 31. Qxc4 Rxh2+ 0-1

The 51st GNYCC also coincided with the 51st Super Bowl or Super Bowl LI. That must have had special significance as the top three finishers in the High School Championship section were all named Li! The top seeded player was FM Ethan Li, and he lived up to his billing he spent the entire tournament on Board One, facing the second, fourth, and eighth Photo: Vanessa Sun 13

In addition to the tournament activities, there are Event coordinator Danny Rohde started playing in the several other notable events. The US Chess Women’s tournament in Kkindergarten! Committee sets up a booth each year and there are displays from our sponsors such as Chess Stars and book sales from Rochester Chess Center.

A tournament this large and involved is a massive effort to organize and direct, and takes a significant staff to manage Chief TD Steve Immitt, who along with Sophia Rohde is in his 32nd year of running this tournament, assembled an “A” team of 40 personnel including seven National Tournament Directors, one Associate National Tournament Director, four International Arbiters, two FIDE Arbiters and two International Organizers. Two families account for nearly 25% of the staff and have been staffing this event for a number of years.

The Rodriguez family: Hector, Hector, and Steven have been on staff for 13 years.

The McGreen family. Photo: David Hater

After Sunday’s last round, many of the TDs adjourned to a team room lounge to watch the Super Bowl. I wasn’t sure who the majority of the staff was routing for, but all had a great time watching an exciting game.

The Rodriguez family. Photo: David Hater

However, the staffing record goes to the McGreen Photo: David Hater family: Kofi, Beena, Jabari, Maya, and Mariah. They have been on staff for 19 years. This family could For more information, visit the Kasparov Chess even be larger as Najee McGreen has been on staff Foundation Website, the tournament results, and the many years but current professional obligations keep rating report. on uschess.com. The Greater NY him too busy to be on staff in recent years. Scholastics not only grows older, it gets bigger,

stronger and greater with each passing tournament.

The Closed Catalan by Neal Bellon ([email protected]) The Catalan is a popular opening for White at all Support is added to d5 and White's g2 Bishop is levels. The basic idea is that White opens with 1.d4 blunted. Black is a bit cramped but accepts that for a and follows with an early g3 and a fianchetto of his solid position. King’s Bishop, putting pressure on Black’s center. In 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. a4 Nc6 11. Nxc6 Bxc6 a sense it’s a combination of the Reti Opening and Here, as Black, I was Queen’s Gambit. fully equalized with a comfortable position and an open c-file. A typical sequence is 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3, although 12. Bf4 a6 13. the opening can occur through a variety of move Qd3 Bd6 14. Bxd6 Qxd6 15. a5?! orders. Early in my tournament career I always had To me, this is a bit of an overextension and trouble as Black when facing this opening, but that my response was almost automatic. changed when I started playing the Closed Catalan 15...b5 16. Na2 b4! (diagram) variation. Here, Black plays an early ...d5 and does not capture the c4-pawn, and generally chooses ...c6 instead, keeping things closed and bolstering the d5- square. Black’s position ends up somewhat cramped but is very solid.

The game below was played at the Long Island Chess Club in East Meadow, NY back in Oct. 2016. The annotations in italics are mine.

T. Masotti (1862) - N. Bellon (1847) Long Island Chess Club Sept. Open 10/6/16, Round 5 of 5, G/90;d5

1. d4 Nf6 2. g3 b6 3. Bg2 d5 An important move, stopping e4, and blocking the long diagonal. Gaining space on the "correct" side of the board 4. Nf3 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. c4 O-O 7. Nc3 Bb7 8. Ne5 where all the play is while shutting out the knight. This Knight may look 17. Qd2 Rab818. Nc1 Rfc8 annoying for Black but it's not an issue. I felt I was better here as Black, though Fritz has it as 8...c6! (diagram) theoretically equal. 19. Nd3 Ne4! Hitting the Queen with no worries about 20. Bxe4 dxe4 and the doubled pawns. The resulting doubled Black pawn on e4 is excellent. 20. Bxe4 dxe4 21. Nc5 Qd5 A sneaky "tournament" move, setting up the game winning ...e3, attacking the Queen while threatening mate. 22. e3 Bb5 23. Rfc1 Bc4 Threatening ...Rxc5! I was feeling very tactical here, different from my usual stodgy positional style, but the board was allowing me to safely do so. 24. Qc2 Bb5 25. Qd2 Bc4 (continued on page 29)

Over 200 Girls Attend New York State Girls Championships By Vanessa Sun

The First New York State Girls Team and Individual beyond the plaques and trophies usually given out at Championships was full of friendly faces. Girls Scholastics. Sophie, who is a US Chess Expert, also said hello to each other, made jokes, and wanted to be a part of what she called a “historic complimented each other. Camaraderie and event,” and ended up taking down clear first. sportsmanship reigned, even as the girls were about to face off in fierce battles over the board. Here is one of Sophie’s games from the event:

Over 220 girls (226, to be exact) played at the Sophie Morris-Suzuki tournament, dispersed into seven categories: K-12 Katrina Wang Championship, K-12 Under 1200, K-6 Queen’s Indian Defense Championship, 1.d4 e6 2. e4 b6 3. Bd3 Bb7 4. Nf3 f5 5. exf5 Nf6 6. K-6 Under 900,K-3 Championship, K-3 Under 600 fxe6 dxe6 7. O-O Bd6 8. Qe2 Qe7 9. Re1 O-O 10. K-1 Championship Bg5 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 h6 12. Bh4 g5 13. Bg3 Bxg3 14. hxg3 Ng4 15. Qxe6+ Qxe6 16. Rxe6 Rae8 17. This year, trophies and plaques were awarded to top Rae1 Rxe6 18. Rxe6 Ngf6 19. c4 Kf7 20. Re1 Re8 players, but what stood out about the tournament 21. Rxe8 Kxe8 22. Kf1 Ke7 23. Ke2 Ke6 24. d5+ prizes was that the winners of the championship Kd6 25. Ne4+ Nxe4 26. Bxe4 Nc5 27. Bc2 Ba6 28. sections also gained free entries to two Continental b3 b5 29. Bd3 Nxd3 30. Kxd3 bxc4+ 31. bxc4 Kc5 Chess tournaments from a select list, including the 32. Ne5 h5 33. Kc3 g4 34. Nd3+ Kd6 35. Kd4 Bc8 World Open! First introduced at the Greater New 36. c5+ Ke7 37. Nf4 Bf5 38. Nxh5 Bb1 39. a3 Bf5 York Scholastic Chess Championships, these prizes 40. Ke5 Bd3 41. Nf6 Bf1 42. Nxg4 Bxg2 43. f4 Bh3 are “meant to encourage, motivate, and promote girls 44. Nf6 {White wins} 1-0 playing in more serious and open tournaments,” according to Steve Immitt, the chief tournament Some girls had other reasons play in the tournament. director and co-organizer. Amy Sun, the top seed but second place winner in the K-6 Championship section, wanted to play in the Sophie Morris Suzuki, Photo Vanessa Sun (below) tournament as preparation for the All-Girls National Championship held in April. This event promoted the much bigger Chicago event by making several announcements about it and handing out flyers.

Amy Sun, Photo Vanessa Sun

Such prizes were the initial reasons K-12 champion A major highlight of the event was GM Irina Krush’s Sophie Morris-Suzuki decided to play. She also had a appearance and her game analysis. lot of friends playing in the tournament, but pointed out the free entries provided an extra motivation 16

GM Krush hoped to inspire and said, “all girl’s tournaments could be part of every girl’s journey into chess.” She was particularly adamant that there is a social aspect to chess and that all girl’s tournaments are a good way to get 200 girls together and make more friends. It could eventually be what makes chess more fun in the long run, and encourage more girls to compete beyond elementary or middle school.

WIM Beatriz Marinello, a famous coach, former US Chess Federation president, and a current FIDE Vice president, also felt the effects of all girl’s tournaments can be extremely beneficial to female Noelle Kay, K-6 Under 900, Photo Vanessa Sun chess players. For a long time, Ms. Marinello considered that “having girl’s tournaments was Juliette Shang, who came in ninth place in the K-12 giving girls a ceiling,” but she has slowly come to Championship, and Erica Li, who came in tenth place change her mind, thinking that all-girls tournaments in the K-12 Championship, talked admirably about such as these gives a lot of energy and prove to be a the venue and library as something that stood out to good experience to girls. them about this event, while GM Irina Krush admired the spiral staircases and pictures against the wall of graduating classes.

A last huge highlight of the tournament also included a new function to that improved organization and efficiency: pairings and standings emailed or texted to players and their parents before each round. This made the flow of the tournament much easier and faster, and many coaches said it helped show how well organized a tournament could be with the help of technology.

The Dalton team shows their excitement for their big K-6 Championship win-Julia Miyasaka, Veda Safranek, Langley Beaudoin and Lauren Nam (not pictured), Photo Vanessa Sun

Sophia Rohde, a well-known international organizer and member of the USCF Women’s Committee came up with the idea for this tournament and organized it. Another member of the Women’s Committee, Kimberly Doo McVay, said of the organizing: “Sophia had dreamed about this tournament for a long time and made it happen through professionalism and contacts.” Sophie and Erica (pre rating: 1565, post rating: The right venue it was! Held at The Hewitt School in 1628) Manhattan, the highest sections had the honor of playing in the school’s gorgeous library, while others Of course, there are always new improvements to be played in the gymnasium, classroom, and made. Next year, the organizers hope that there will performance center. be more players, which may require a bigger venue. They would also like to be the qualifying event to determine the state representative for the National 17

Girls Tournament of Champions instead of the New York State Scholastic Championship Tournament. With high hopes of expansion and progress, the First New York State All Girls Team and Individual Championships was a resounding success.

Standings Individual: K-1 Championship Stephanie Weinberg K-3 Under 600: Lia Skarabot and Chloe Stark each won all 5 games; Lia won the speed playoff for First over Chloe K-3 Championship: Lilian Wang won on (secondary) tiebreaks over Maya Figelman w n K-6 Under 900; Ella Mettke won Clear First K-6 Championship; Julia Miyasaka won Clear First Chelsea Prep with GM Krush, Photo Angel Lopez (6-0) K-12 Under 1200: Larisa Bresken Won Clear First K-12 Championship: Sophie Morris-Suzuki won Clear First Teams: K-1 Championship: Lower Lab School PS 77 K-3 Under 600: Chelsea Prep PS 33 K-3 Championship: Chelsea Prep PS 33 K-6 Under 900: K-6 Championship: The Dalton School K-12 Under 1200: East Side Community High School K-12 Championship: IS 318 You can see the full results at chessgirls.win.

This tournament was made possible because of contributors, The Hewitt School, the New York State IS 318- left to right: Chhoten Sherpa, Sakura Chess Association, Little House of Chess, and The Laporte, Vicky Chen, Katrina Wong and IS 318 Chess Center of New York. Find MSA crosstable for alumni Vicki Yang & Nancy Wang- Photo IM Alex the event here. Find out about the All-Girls Ostrovsky Nationals here.

Support chess fromSupport Montauk to Niagara! New York State Chess Association membership is only $20 with four printed issues, and $12 with two printed issues. www.nysca.net

Isolated Queen Pawn: Positional Structures By Zachary Calderon

In the chess openings, there are many very This dynamic pawn structure can be played with recognizable pawn structure. One of the most unique, either color, and has its plusses and minuses. The however, must be the Isolated Queen Pawn, or so weakness of the structure should be obvious; the IQP. d4/d5 pawn is isolated and weak. The dynamic advantage of having an IQP, however, should not be under-estimated. In this article, I will aim to show you how to both play with the IQP and against it.

Before getting into our model games, we should first identify what squares each side is aiming to control. If White has the IQP, he will be aiming to anchor a Knight on the e5 square. Likewise, if Black has the IQP, he will want to control e4. If Black is playing against the IQP, he will be trying to anchor and blockade the d4 pawn by solidifying a Knight on d5. If it is White who is facing the IQP, he will want to secure d4. The open file will be an avenue for the Rooks to enter the game as well and join the attack.

The first game we will look at is a miniature by former World Championship contender Viktor Korchnoi. Although primarily known for his positional prowess, Korchnoi was a tactical genius as well, and wasn't afraid to reach messy positions or use the /…c5 variation of the Tarrasch French, which generally generates the isolated d-pawn in exchange for freeing the light-squared Bishop, which is often cramped in the French Defense.

His opponent in this game was Stefano Tatai. The game began

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Bd3 c5 Already, we can begin to see the IQP position forming. 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Qe2+ Be7 7. dxc5 Nf6 8. h3 Aiming to prevent Bg4, but this move weakens the Kingside as we will soon see. 8...0-0 9. 0-0 Bxc5 10. c3 As discussed previously, White is aiming to control d4, however in this case it will be too slow. 10...Re8 11. Qc2 Qd6 Korchnoi centralizes his Queen 12. Nbd2? Qg3! The Queen is untouchable because the f2 pawn is pinned by the Bishop. Clearly, had the pawn remained on h2, Qg3 would not be a problem. 13. Bf5

Aimed to prevent Bxh3 and it is tougher for that player to defend the isolated 13...Re2! pawn, which has to be defended with pieces instead Black threatens nothing more than to capture on f2. of pawns. 14. Nd4?? Nxd4 0-1 White attempted to sever the connection between the This is his main trump, and you should aim to water Bishop and the f2 pawn, but after 15. fxg3 Nxc2+ and down his assault. Once you are in an endgame, the Nxa1 Black is ahead a Rook and a piece. IQP really will be a weakness, as pawn structure becomes more significant as more pieces come off Unfortunately, games that demonstrate how to the board and the IQP can be more easily blockaded successfully counter the IQP are too long for this by the King or other pieces, preferably Knights. article, as they are often long, drawn-out games that end long into the endgame. The IQP positions come and go in favor, and openings such as the Catalan and Queen’s Gambit The basic strategy is this: Secure d5, and then trade can evolve to IQP positions on the White side. as many pieces as possible. The less pieces your opponent has, the less firepower he has to attack you

Kratzat and Prieto Tie for Watertown Blitz Championship

Adolfo Prieto (center) of Watertown and Bob Kratzat of Carthage split their two games and tied at +7-1=0 for the for the 2017 Watertown Chess Club Blitz Chess Championship on February 21st. This is the third tie in the past five years between the two players for the Championship. Mr. Prieto has won four titles while Mr. Kratzat has won three since the club initiated the Blitz Championship in 2011.

The Watertown Chess Club has been the largest active chess club in the North Country for over a decade.

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

 IM Walter Shipman, a New York chess star in the 20th Century, died in San Francisco on February 28th. Shipman was one of the top American players during the 1950s, and was a fixture at the Manhattan Chess Club and the Metropolitan Chess League. Shipman won the Manhattan Chess Club title six times: 1972, 1974, 1984, 1985, 1994 and 1995.Shipman also served as an administrator for the U. S. Chess Federation and the Manhattan Chess Club, allowing a waiver of the Manhattan Chess Club rules to allow 12-year-old Bobby Fischer to join the club under the age limit.

Shipman was extremely successful in the U.S. Open, tying for third in 1950 and tying for second in 1995 at the age of 66. Shipman achieving the International Master title in 1982 at the age of 53 is a record unlikely to be broken. Along with being a great player, Shipman was a gentleman who brought civility and dignity to any competition, and many chess fans on both coasts and beyond The picture below is courtesy of Chess Life Online.

Walter Shipman and Louis Levy about to start play. James Sherwin and Paul Brandts are in the background with the black pieces. Circa 1966.

 GM’s Hikaru Nakamura (seeded third) and Gata Kamsky (seeded seventh) represent New York chess in the U.S. Chess Championship, being held from March 28 to April 10 at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. The 12-player, all-Grandmaster event features players with an average rating of 2727, and is headlined by GM Fabiano Caruana, a former New York resident who recently returned to the US. The twelve competitors will battle for $194,000 in prize money, qualification into the World Championship cycle and the 2017 US Champino title.

New Yorker and seven-time US Women’s Champion GM Irina Krush is the top seed in the 2017 Women’s Championship. IM Anna Zatonskih (second seeded and a four-time Women’s Champion) is also representing New York in the Women’s Championship. $100,000 in prize money and qualification into the Women’s World Championship cycle is up for grabs in this event.

Full coverage of both the US Championship and the US Women’s Championship will be provided at www.uschesschamps.com, with a commentary team highlighted by veterans GM Yasser Seirawan, WGM Jennifer Shahade and GM Maurice Ashley.

 The World Amateur Team Championship, the annual President’s Weekend spectacular held in Parsippany, NJ, was won for the second straight year by the Summer Chess Academy of Talented Youth. The Academy is an all-star team of New York scholastic stars: NM Warren Wang, FM Ethan Li, NM Wesley Wang, along with Jason Li, an Expert. The Academy was the only perfect 6-0 score in the 306 total teams in the tournament. Wesley Wang was the team MVP with 5 ½ individual points in six games. Warren Wang, his brother, also had an undefeated 5 ½ point socre. Top Board FM Ethan Li was 3 ½-2 ½, but his role was extremely valuable often facing higher-rated opposition. Fourth board Jason Li scored 4 ½- 1 ½, for an impressive total team score of 19-5.

In the World Amateur Team, the average rating of the four players cannot be higher than 2200, which results in various strategies in the development of teams. The Summer Chess Academy had an average rating of 2197, and was seeded sixth entering the tournament. Summer Chess Academy was a relatively “balanced” team. There have been winners in the past formed with three Grandmasters and a low-rated fourth player to attempt to have large rating advantages on three boards while largely conceding the fourth board.

Picture courtesy of Vanessa Sun: Warren Wang, Board 3, Jason Li, board 4, Ethan Li, Board 1, and Wesley Wang, Board 2

The second-place team in the tournament also had a heavy New York Scholastic player contingent. “We Make the Best Team Names: Everybody Loves Them: was headed by FM David Brodsky, along with FM Aravind Kumar, WFM Martha Samadashvili, and Dexin Li.

Two Cornell University teams also placed in the prizes. Cornell A finished fourth overall, and Cornell D won the Top Under 1400 prize. GM Mark Paragua and FM Leif Pressman were 6-0 board prize winners. Congratulations to all the winners!

 The 415-player Empire City Open, the annual post-Christmas tournament held December 27-29 at the Hotel Pennsylvania in Manhattan, was a triumph for FM Levy Rozman and scholastic star FM David Brodsky, both of whom ended the tournament with five points after drawing in the last round. Brodsky earned his first IM norm during this event. Both players won $1,000 for their efforts, with Rozman winning $100 extra for having the better tiebreaks. There was a four-way tie for third place with 4 ½ points among GM’s Alexander Stripunsky and Sergey Kudrin, and New York State Champion IM Aleksandr Ostrovskiy and IM Joerg Wegerle. Five players tied for the Under 2300 prize: NM Richard Shtivelband, NM Ernest Colding (who pulled a major upset of GM Alexander Stripunsky in the first round), The 60- player Open section included three Grandmasters, five International Masters, seven FM’s, one WFM and 14 NM’s.

Class prize winners were Ethan Gu in the Under 2100 section with 5 ½ points. Wang Chen and Samantha Dong tied for first in the Under 1900 section with 5 ½ points. Laron McBryde won the Under 1700 section with 5 ½ points. Robert Cheng won the Under 1500 section with 5 ½ points. Steven Reddy swept the Under 1300 section with a perfect 6-0 score, and Charles Orbison swept the Under 1100 section with a prefect 6-0 score as well. Malina Parlova and Charles Orbison won the Miexd Doubles prize with 10 ½ points. Alikhan Irgaliyev won the Blitz tournament with 7 ½ points.

The tournament was directed by National Tournament Director and organizing powerhouse Steve Immitt for the Continental Chess Association, with assistance from Harold Stenzel, Jabari McGreen, Danny Rohde and Anand Dommalapati.

 US Chess Executive Director Jean Hoffman announced her resignation from her position, and US Chess will begin the search for a new Executive Director. Hoffman, a native New Yorker, executed a strong turnaround in US Chess finances and marketing.

US Chess President Gary Walters highlights the many achievements during Jean’s tenure at the federation, from, the Fall of 2013 and set to continue through approximately November 2017.

“Jean leaves the Federation better in every conceivable way compared to the day she arrived. To only scratch the surface, the Federation is now securely in the black for the first time in several decades, membership has grown significantly, women’s chess had advanced leaps and bounds, more rated games have been played each year of her tenure than the year before, we have undergone the complex transition from a 501(c)(4) to a (c)(3), and we are now known as “US Chess,” a descriptive name change that makes us instantly recognizable to everyone in the country. In four years, she has made us remarkably better. Her steady hand has further made working for US Chess fun again, and it is once more a pleasure to serve on the Executive Board. We will not be able to fully express our gratitude to Jean, but let’s try. She will be with us for several more months. As you encounter Jean around the country, on the phone, or in written communications, please say thank you. She is going to be sorely missed by us all.”

The search for a new Executive Director will begin soon.

* The St. Louis Arch Bishops won the first-year championship of the PRO Chess League, a worldwide expansion of the former US Chess League. The PRO Chess League had seven rounds in the regular season, followed by a playoff weekend. The Arch Bishops beat the Montreal ChessBrahs in the semifinals and the Norway Gnomes in the final to secure the title. GM Wesley So was the League MVP , scoring 36 ½ out of 41 points in a match format that involves rapid play at different speeds during one match. So’s tournament performance rating was 2848.

Notes from the Marshall from staff reports

The Marshall March Masters drew 23 players to the Gregory Keener directed the 45-player tournament club on the second day of Spring, and GM Oliver for the Marshall. Barbosa won the event outright with 3 ½ points in a very-closely contested event. Barbosa drew fellow February 24 was the monthly FIDE Blitz at the GM Aleksandr Lenderman in the last round with Marshall, and the 31-player event was won by “draw odds” to guarantee first place. Georgian IM Levan Bregadze with a 7 ½- 1/12 score, besting the field by half a point. Bregadze lost to Lenderman, WIM Alina Bivol and GM Irina Krush rising NM Andrew Ryba in the seventh round, but tied for second with 3-1 scores. Lenderman yielded won his last two games to hold the top spot. draws to Barbosa and FM Leif Pressman. Bivol and Krush were also undefeated, with Krush drawing Ryba and SM Anton Osinenko tied for second with Pressman as well along with WFM Ekaterina 7-2 scores, both drew their own game in Round 8, Bogdan. and drawing Bregadze and losing to GM Aleksandr Lenderman, who withdrew with a 4-2 score after The event was directed by Gregory Keener for the Round Six. Marshall. SM Raven Sturt was clear fourth with 6 ½ rounds, The Marshall February Masters drew 20 players to and GM Michael Rohde was clear fifth with a 6-3 the world-famous club on February 21, and the event score. Gregory Keener directed. was a victory for SM Raven Sturt, who won the tournament with 3 ½ points. Sturt won his first three The Marshall January FIFDE Blitz drew 35 players games before drawing IM Yaacov Norowtiz in the on January 27, and was won by GM Aleksandr last round to secure a clear first place. Lenderman with an 8-1 score. Lenderman lost in Round Five to GM Michael Rohde, and won all of Norowitz, GM Aleksandr Lenderman, GM Michael his other games to win the tournament by a full point. Rohde, and NM Aaron Jacobson all tied for second with 3-1 scores. Veteran FM Asa Hoffmann was GM Maxim Dlugy and GM Anatoly Bykhovsky tied clear sixth with 2 ½ points. for second with 7-2 scores, both losing to the champion of the tournament. Bykhovsky beat the The tournament was directed by Gregory Keener former U.S. Champion in Round Eight but had a half- with assistance from Jermaine Reid. point bye in Round One and conceded a draw to GM Michael Rohde in Round Four. Rohde was clear Four players tied for first in the Marshall March fourth with a 6-3 score. Gregory Keener directed. FIDE Weekend held March 3-5. They were GM Vladimir Romanenko, New York State Hall of Famer A total of 22 players contested the February 23 IM Jay Bonin, current New York State Junior High Marshall Action tournament, and the event was won Champion NM Justin Chen, and former New York by GM Michael Rohde and IM Justin Sarkar with 3 State Junior High Champion FM Marcus Ming ½ points. Sarkar took a half-point bye in the last Miyasaka, all with 4-1 scores. All four players were round, while Rohde drew NM Juan Sena while trying undefeated. Rimanenko won three games and took to close out the tournament. two byes. Bonin took one bye and drew Miyasaka in the last round. Chen drew NM Steve Barrett in Sena, Daniel Yassky and NM Justin Chen tied for Round Three, and Miyisaka drew rising junior Nico third with 3-1 scores. Sena took a half-point bye in Werner Chasin in the first round. the first round along with the last-round draw, while Chen lost to Rohde in the third round. Chen beat IM Justin Sarkar, NM Jeremiah Smith, NM Sarathi Yassky in Round Two. Ray, Chasin, Szymon Rudowski and Wesley Hellner all tied for fifth with 3 ½ points. Raven Sturt directed the tournament with assistance from Jermaine Reid.

Queens Chess Club Roundup: Bonin Wins Them All! By Ed Frumkin

Since winning his eleventh solo Club Championship The January G/45 tournament, held on January 6 and on November 18, 2015, New York State Chess Hall 13, drew 17 players with four rounds spread over of Famer IM Jay Bonin has won all six subsequent two Fridays. Once again IM Bonin had 3½-½ tournaments we have held. The December Open held (winning $130) with a last-round draw with Parhami from December 2-23 was perhaps the only “close clinching first place. Parhami, Arluck and Brian call”. There were 22 entrants and Jay gave half a Lawson (2024) won $27 each for their 3-1 scores, point to the field by taking a bye in Round 2 due to a with Parhani missing the first round and taking a conflict with the Marshall Chess Club’s half-point bye. Arluck lost to Clayton Glad (1580) in championship (spoiler alert—he didn’t win that one, Round 1 while Brian lost to Jay in Round 3. Clay although he has won it a few times, too), so after also drew with Ed Frumkin (2000) in Round 3 but three rounds there was a four-way tie for the lead at missed out on the Under 1750 prize ($70) when 2½-½ among Jay (2402), 2014 champ NM Payam Wayne Steele (1725) upset Ed Kopiecki (2048) to Parhami (2205), Club vice- president Joe Felber reach 2½-1½. (2000) and club secretary Jay Kleinman (1950). Joe had committed to a Round 4 bye to spend Christmas The Winter Open, held from January 20 to February in DC with his sister, so the pairings came up Bonin- 10, drew 21 players. This time IM Bonin had to Parhami and Harold Scott (2087)-Kleinman, Parhami come from behind with a win to finish with his usual having been nicked for half a point by Dick Murphy 3½-½ ($130)) as Black from NM Parhami after (1997) in Round 2, Kleinman having drawn Felber giving up a draw to Brian Lawson in Round 2. and beaten Bill Arluck (2080) while Scott had taken Players two through six on the crosstable: NM two byes, the second speculated to have been Parhami, Arluck, Kopiecki, Felber and Lawson all strategic “Bonin avoidance” after having been went 3-1 to win $32 each. Clay Glad won the $60 crushed by Jay at the Nassau Chess Club earlier in Top Under 1600 prize with 2-2. the week. The 88th Speedy Open on February 17 drew only six Jay and Harold both won, so Jay’s 3½ points won players, while an equal number of regulars went to $125 as Scott, Frumkin (2021), Felber, Al Casanova New Jersey early for the US Amateur Team. IM (1884) and Mulazim (Doc) Muwwakkil (1850) split Bonin lapped the field with a perfect 4-0 score, as the second and third ($95-$80, $35 each). Doc beat Bill next highest-ranked players were Charles Hua and Arluck in Round 2. Frumkin took a Round 1 bye due Vincent Anderson. Hua went 3-1 and Mikhail to a conflict with his daughter’s wedding. The story Mordukhay was Top Under 1600 with 2½-1½. of this one was the debut of Vincent Anderson, a 53- The Spring “Soccer” G/45, held from February 24 to year-old first-timer who joined in Round 2, drawing March 10, drew 21 players and gave three points for Frumkin, beating Dave Spigel (1900) and losing to a win and only one for a draw or bye, which should Casanova for a 1944/3 starter rating. He took the have discouraged draws. IM Jay Bonin went the Under 1700/unrated prize of $75. Swiss Gambit route with a first-round draw with Ira The 87th Speedy Open, a four-round, Game/15 Cohen (1895) before running the table with five tournament held on December 30, drew only 10 on a straight wins to finish with 16 out of a possible 18 weekend we usually don’t meet. Jay Bonin won the points. Brian Lawson (2038) pulled off a Swiss tournament when he went 3½-½ with a clinching Gambit of his own with a Round 2 loss to Jay draw with Bill Arluck to take home $50. Edgar Kleinman (1957) and a Round 3 draw with Edgar Cimafranca (1936) was clear second at 3-1 for $25 Cimafranca (1902) to finish second with 13 points. and Suriyan Nathan (1574), the lowest-ranked Four players came in during week 2, so with only entrant, won $25 as Top Under 1900 with 2½-1½, two points out of six were paired among themselves, beating Cimafranca and Frumkin, losing to Bonin the lowest-ranked three-pointer (loss-win) and (doesn’t everyone?) and drawing Ed Kopiecki highest ranked zero. (2007). (continued on page 31)

Leap & Live TRM#221 February 12 at Riverbank State Park By Brother John McManus

Freezing February temperatures could not deter the competition as new groups grow increasingly in reponse to needs. The Under 600 Reserve (for grades 2 and under) formed a new separate section, and the Awe section welcoming adults into the Grade 8 & Above has worked superbly.

Open- NEXT+M took the First Place Team Certificate with three points. Pardhave Chakka (First Place) defeated Jordan Zamor (two points, Third Place) as Dylan Ma won Second Place with two points. (9 players: G/45;d5, three rounds.

Under 1400- Dalton (4.5 points), Midwood (3 points) and Brooklyn Tech (3 points) won the First, Second and Third Place team certificates respectively. Justin Cao and Jasmine Yang won the First and Second Individual trophies with perfect scores of 3 points each. Matthew Tai won the Third Place trophy over Jonathon Nallengara and John Chandler, each with 2 1/2 pts. (29 players: G/45;d5, three rounds.

Under 1000- 323Q and Edward R Murrow each scored seven team points to each win First Place team certificates. PS166 and PS3 each scored 4 1/2 team points to tie for the Third Place team certificates. Priscilla Lee took undisputed First Place with four points as Kieran Covington stood alone in Second Place with 3 1/2 points. Arthur Terehoff led a field of nine players tied with three points to win the Third Place trophy on tie-break points. The section had 34 players; G/30;d5, four rounds.

Under 600- PS75 won the First Place Team Trophy with 11 points. PS166 won the Second Place Team Certificate with six points as Edward R Murrow, Energy Tech and PS119x each tied for the Third Place Team Certificate with five points. Yifeng Zheng, Zachary Gray and Bruno Ratzan had perfect scores and accepted the First, Second and Third Place trophies awarded based on tie-break points. The section had 34 players; G/30;d5, four rounds.

Under 600 Reserve (USCF Grades Two and Under)- Brooklyn School of Inquiry (12 points) captured the First Place trophy, chased by Rosalyn Yalow Charter School (eight points, Second Place Team Certificate) and NEST+M (six points, Third Place Team Certificate). Andrew Levitski and Oliver Ma (4 points each) took First and Second Place trophies on tie-break points while Jasmine Thiessen topped a field of five players tied with three poimts to take the 3rd Place trophy. The section had 31 players; G/30;d5, four rounds.

Grades 4-7- MS80 (14 points) edged PS119x (13 points) as their teams won the First and Second Place Trophy=ies, respectively. TUFSD won the Third Place Team Certificate with five points. Willie Cruz (4.5 points, First Place Trophy) topped four players with four points each: Fatema Juhora (Second Place), Sankalp Tripathi (Third Place), Stephanie Trache and Tanbeer Isalm. The section had 24 players; G/20;d0, five rounds.

Grades 2-3- Brooklyn School of Inquiry (16.5 poimts) captured the First Place Team Trophy. Rosalyn Yalow Charter School followed with 8 ½ points (Second Place) as PS 9 had 6 1/2 pts (Third Place). Nathan Eppel won the individual First Place Trophy with the only perfect 5-0 score. Jonathan Zorman (Second Place) and Ryan Mui (Third Place) won trophies over Alex de la Nuez, after each player scored four points. The section had 28 players; G/20;d0 five rounds.

Grade 8 & Above Awe (Adults Welcome)- John Paul Garcia (5-0) won the First Place Medal while James Curry (3 ½ points) took the sole Second Place Medal. Jonathan Doyle, Jeffrey Sosa, Druss Notis and Aleksandr Nepomnyashchiy all won medals with three points in the 14-player section; G/20;d0, five rounds.

The 137-player event, like all Make the Right Move tournaments, was organized by Brother John McManus and the head tournament director was Yvonne Scorcia. Make the Right Move organizes monthly free chess tournaments in New York City and the Capital Region of New York. 26

Evans Gambit: Normal Position by Richard Moody Jr.

The “Normal Position” of the Evans Gambit was 14...Bxd4 15.Rb1 f6 16.Qc2 fxg5 17.Nxd4 Qxd4 called this because of its routine appearance in 19th 18.Re1 Nac6 19.Rxb7 O-O -/+ Century games which was eclipsed by an early Qb3 in more modern games. In terms of practical results Here are some additional games: Neumann-Hirtler, just like other variations of the Evans Gambit, White Berlin, 1866: 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. O- scores quite well here. However, GM Sammy O d6 8.cxd4 Bb6 9. d5 Nce7 10. e5 Bg4 11. Qa4+ Reshevsky when I contacted him with an Evans Kf8 12. Nbd2 dxe5 13. Nxe5 Bd4 14. Nxg4 Bxa1 Gambit question thought that Lasker's Defense 15. Ba3 h5 16. Rxa1 hxg4 17. Re1 a6 18. Bb3 b6 refuted the Evans Gambit. Lasker's Defense is 19. Qf4 Rh6 20. d6 Rf6 21.dxe7+ Nxe7 22. Qe4 c5 another name for the Normal Position. Unless 23. Bb2 Rf5 24. Nc4 b5 25. Nd6 c4 26. Nxf5 Nxf5 otherwise indicated these games come from Mark 27. Qxf5 cxb3 28. Qh7 f6 29. Ba3+ Kf7 30. axb3 1- Ishee's Evans Gambit Games. 0

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 Here we see a defensive gem from Anderssen- 6.d4 exd4 7.O-O Bb6 8.cxd4 d6 9.Nc3 Na5 10.Bg5 Steinitz, London, 1862 Ne7?! (f6 =/+) 11.Bxf7+! Kxf7 12.Nd5 Re8 13.Bxe7 9. d5 Nce7 10. e5 Ng6 11. Bb2 N8e7 12. Qa4+ Bd7 Rxe7 14.Ng5+ Kg8 15.Qh5 h6 16.Qg6 & Black 13. Qa3 dxe5 14. Nxe5 O-O 15. Qc3 Nf5 16. Nxd7 cannot escape the checks. Analyzed by Chigorin Qxd7 17. g4 Bd4 18. Qc2 Bxb2 19. Qxb2 Nfh4 20. from the game Gunsberg-Chigorin Havana, 1890. f3 Nxf3+ 21. Kh1 Nfe5 22. Bb3 Qxg4 23. Nd2 Nd3 24. Qc3 Nh4 0-1 9.d5 Ne5 (Morphy-Lowenthal, London, 1859: 10.Nxe5 dxe5 11.Bb2 Qe7 12.Bb5+ Bd7 13.Bxd7+ In this game White did not have adequate Kxd7 14.Qg4+ f5 15.Qxf5+ +- 1-0:31 compensation for the pawn for much of the middlegame, but one blunder by Black and it was Morphy-Kennedy, London, 1859: 9.d5 Nce7 10.e5 game over. Anderssen-Zukertort, Barmen, 1869: 9.d5 Ng6 11.e6 dxe6 12.dxe6 N8e7 13.Nc3 c6? +/- Na5 10. Bb2 Ne7 11. Bd3 O-O 12. Nc3 Ng6 13. Ne2 14.Ng5 Ne5? 15.Nf7 +- 1-0:21 c5 14. Qd2 f6 15. Kh1 Bc7 16. Rac1 Rb8 17. Ng3 b5 18. Nf5 b4 19. Rg1 Bb6 20. g4 Ne5 21. Bxe5 Thompson-Morphy, New York, 1857, 9.d5 Nce7 dxe5 22. Rg3 Rf7 23. g5 Bxf5 24. exf5 Qxd5 25. 10.e5 Ng6 11.Ng5? (e6=) N8e7 (Nxe5 -/+) 12.Re1 gxf6 Rd8? 26. Rcg1 Kh8 27. fxg7+ Kg8 28. Qh6 O-O -/+:0-1:26. Qd6 29. Qxh7+ Kxh7 30. f6+ Kg8 31. Bh7+ Kxh7 32. Rh3+ Kg8 33. Rh8# White can try an early h3 to prohibit Bg4: 9.h3 Nf6 10.Re1 O-O 11.Nc3 h6 12.Bf4 Ba5 13.Rc1 Ne7 Consultation games often yield higher quality 14.Bd2 c6 15.Qc2 d5 16.e5 Ne8 17.Bd3 Nc7 chess due to the ability of both players to avoid 18.Bh7+ Kh8 19.Bd3 (Inviting a draw by repetition blind spots leading to blunders. Here we see four but Black is slightly better and should decline the Grandmaster level players where White made one draw) Ne6 20.Ne2 Bd7 21.Qb2 Qb6 22.Qa3 Bxd2 positional mistake that Black exploited ruthlessly: 23.Nxd2 Rfe8 24.Nb3 a5 25.Nc5 Nxc5 26.Rxc5 & Staunton/Barnes-Bird/Owen: London, 1858 9.d5 Black has his extra pawn with useful simplification. Na5 10.Ne2 Ne7 11.Bb2 f6 12.Qd2 O-O 13.Nd4 This is =/+ but a long way from a decision. Ng6 14.Kh1 Bd7 15.f4 c5 16.Nc2? (Ne6 Bxe6 17. dxe6 Nc6 18.Nc3 +/=) Rc8 17.Nba3 Bc7 18.Rae1 White can try to get in an early e5. Here is some Re8 19.Bf3 b5 -/+ The c-pawn proved unstoppable. analysis from Harding, Evans Gambit and a System Versus Two Knights' Defense, 9.Nc3 Na5 10.Bd3 Here is the game Morozevich-Adams, Wijk aan Zee, Nge7 11.e5 Bg4 12.exd6 Qxd6 13.Ne4 Qd7 14.Neg5 2001 5.c3 Ba5 6.O-O d6 7.d4 Bb6 8.dxe5 dxe5 O-O-O is critical according to Harding. Actually this 9.Qb3 (9.Qxd8+ Nxd8 10.Nxe5 Be6 11.Be2 Ne7 throws away most of Black's advantage. After 12.Nc4 Ndc6 13.Bf4 = Anageliev-V. Ivanov,

Ashgabat, 1995, from MCO 15) Qf6 10.Bg5 Qg6 11.Bd5 f6 12.Bxg8 fxg5 (Here is a nice win by the former World Champion: Kogan-Anand, Venaco Rapid, 2005 13.Nxg5 Kf8 14.Ne6+ Kxg8 15.Nxc7+ Kf8 16.Nxa8 Bh3 17.g3 Qxe4 0-1) =/+

Here is Zukertort-Anderssen, Breslau, 1865: 9. d5 Na5 10. Bb2 Ne7 11. Bd3 O-O 12. Nc3 Ng6 13. Ne2 c5 14. Qd2 f6 15. Kh1 Bc7 16. Rac1 Rb8 17. Ng3 Rf7 18. Nf5 Bxf5 19. exf5 Ne5 20. Nxe5 dxe5 21. Be4 Qd6 22. Rc3 b5 23. Qe2 c4 (Both sides prosecute their respective plans; White a Kingside attack and Black pushes his Queenside pawns.) 24. Rh3 h6 25. f4 b4 26. Rff3 c3 27. Bc1 Nb7 28. fxe5 fxe5 29. Rfg3 Kf8 30. Rg6 Rf6 31. Bxh6 Rxg6 32. fxg6 gxh6 33. Qf3+ Ke7 34. Qf7+ Kd8 35. g7 1-0 27. Rxc4 Forced. White can't avoid losing the According to Botterill Black is slightly better in this Exchange. Any other move is worse. move order: 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 exd4 7.O-O Nge7 8.cxd4 27...Qxc4 28. Rc1 Qb5! d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Ba3 Be6 11.Bb5 f6 12.Qa4 Bb6 Defending while preventing any Nd7 ideas by White. 13.Bxc6+ bxc6 14.Qxc6 Kf7 =/+ I remember taking quite a bit of time on this move. White can steer for complications that does not turn 29. Nxe4 Rxc1+ out well 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 exd4 7.O-O Nge7 8.Ng5 d5! The start of a basic tactical sequence that wins a 9.Bxd5? Nxd5 10.Qh5 g6 11.Qh6 Be6 -+ Estrin- pawn back. Kondali, Corr. 1971 From BCO 2 30. Qxc1 Qxa5 31. Nc5! White's best, though Black is winning When I had Deep Fritz 14 play both sides of the here. position, it picked up a pawn in the middlegame and 31...Qb5 endgame without any winning chances because it was Simple and solid, a "tightening up" move. My thought a Rook and Pawn endgame where there was no way process here was to stop counterplay and grind out to Queen the pawn. If White plays aggressively Black the win with my material advantage. I never gets to mobilize his Queenside pawns, thus I also had to watch for any back-rank mate ideas. would tend to prefer to play White. There is no 32. Qc3 h6 reason either side should avoid the Normal Position; Providing so-called "luft" for my King. it's a matter of taste. 33. e4 Rc8 Pinning the knight and setting up a possible ...e5 34. f4 Catalan (from page 15) This is typical in this situation. White is throwing I was hoping to induce a mistake here (which I everything towards my King hoping for something. did) but had to watch out for threefold repetition. 34...a5! 26. Rc2? Black's best. This appears to stop my tactical idea of taking the 35. Kf2 a4 36. Qc1 Qb4 Knight, but White missed my next move Continuing the pawn push with ...a3 is probably best, in his analysis. but this is also good. 26...b3 (diagram)

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APR 1,8, 15, 22,29, MAY 6, 13, 20,27 , JUN 3, 10, 17. 24 Rochester Chess Center Saturday Tournaments! 3-SS, G/60 d5. Rochester CC, 221 Norris Dr., Rochester, NY 14610. 585-442-2430. Prizes based on entries. EF: $15, RCC members $13. $2 less for HS and Pre-HS. Reg.: 1-1:45 pm. Rds.: 2-4-6. One bye available, request at entry. www.nychess.org. Also, Youth tournament, G/30 d5, every Saturday morning 10am-1pm, trophies and prizes. EF: $5.

APR. 13, 20, 27 , MAY 11, 18, 25, JUN 15, 29 Marshall Thursday Action! 4-SS, G/25 d5. ($375 b/25): $150-100, U2200: $75, U1900: $50. EF: $40, MCC Mbrs $25. GMs Free. Reg.: 6:15- 6:45pm. Rds.: 7-8:15-9:30-10:45pm. Max one bye, for round 1 or 4 only. Request at entry. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716, www.marshallchessclub.org.

APR 18, MAY 16, JUN 20 Marshall Masters TROPHIES PLUS GRAND PRIX POINTS: 10 3-SS, G/25 d5. Open to 2000+ players. FIDE Rapid rated. $750 GTD: 250-150-100. Top U2400 125, Top U2300 100, Biggest upset $25. EF:$40, MCC Mbrs $30. GMs Free. Reg.: 6:15-6:45pm. Rds.: 7-8:15-9:30-10:45pm. Max one bye, for round 1 or 4 only. Request at entry. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. www.marshallchessclub.org.

A Heritage Event! US Chess Junior Grand Prix! Apr. 1-2 39th Annual Marchand Open US Chess Grand Prix Points: 150 (Enhanced) Dr. Erich Marchand "requested that his friends play chess in his memory." 5SS, G/115, d5. Location: Strong National Museum of Play, One Manhattan Square, Rochester, NY 14607. $16,440 Gtd. Open Section: $3000-2000-1300-800- 500-300. Under 2200 & U2000 each $750-450. FIDE Rated. EF: $85. U1800 Section: $1100-750-450. Under 1600 $750-450. EF: $70. U1400 Section: $500-300-200. Under 1200 $300-200. EF $60. U1000 Section: $400-250-160. Under 800 $200-130. EF: $50. Unrated players in the U1800 section can only win $375, in U1400 $175 & U1000 $125. No limit in Open. Balance to next prize winners. EF refunded and $100 appearance award to all GM and IM if paid by 3/20/2017. All: EF add $20 after 3/20/2017. NYSCA members deduct $3. All sections USCF rated. Ratings as in April Supplement. Bring sets, boards, and clocks – none provided. Food court and chess books & equipment sales available onsite. No smoking allowed on The Strong campus. Free parking. Reg.: 8:30-9:15am. Rds.: Sat. 10- 2:15-6:30, Sun. 10-2:15. One 1/2 point bye available in rd. 1, 2, 3, or 4 if requested at entry. Optional first round Friday, 3/31/2017 at 7pm played at Rochester Chess Center (register by 6:30pm). Info: 585-442-2430. Mail entry to: Rochester Chess Center, 221 Norris Dr., Rochester, NY 14610. Web: nychess.org. Store: chessset.com.

US Chess Junior Grand Prix! May 1, 8, 15, 22 31st Nassau Amateur Team 4-SS, 40/80 d0. 1st Presbyterian Church, 1st & Main Sts., Mineola. Open to teams of 3 (+ optional alternate). Ave rating must be U1900. Teams play in rating order. EF: $54/team by 4/28, $75 at site, $10 more per non-memb. $$ (504 b/12 teams) 252, U1700, 1500/UR each 126. Team byes 1-4 (Last rd bye must be req before rd 3 and is irrevocable). Teams seeking players call 631 218-4440 or [email protected]. Players looking for teams $18 by 4/28, $25 at site, $10 more for non-memb. Reg. ends 7:15 PM. Rds.: 7:15 each Mon. Ent: Harold Stenzel, 80 Amy Dr., Sayville, NY 11782.

US Chess Junior Grand Prix! May 6 2017 Watertown Open Chess Tournament 4 round-Swiss System Pairings, G/75+delay 5 seconds, Half pt. bye rds. 1-3 available with advance notice. Sponsored by the Watertown Chess Club, see our web site at: www/watertownchessclub.com. Location: American Red Cross, second floor. Conference Rm., 203 N. Hamilton St., Watertown, NY 13601. A United States Chess Federation Sponsored Event, USCF membership required. $125 Prize fund b/10 total paid entries. First $75, 2nd $30, & class $20. Registration: 8:30-9:20 AM, Rds.:9:30 AM, 12:15, 3 and 5:30 PM. EF: $25, ($22 for WCC members), send to Don Klug, 518 Sherman St., Watertown, NY 13601. Don Klug 315-785-8800. 29

A Heritage Event! US Chess Junior Grand Prix! MAY 19-21 or 20-21 25th annual New York State Open US Chess Grand Prix Points: 20 (Enhanced) 5SS, 40/100, SD/30 d10 (2-day option, rds. 1-2 G/60 d10). Tiki Resort, 2 Canada St., Lake George, NY 12845. $$G 3200. In 4 sections. Open: $$ 400-200-150, top Under 2010/Unr $240-120, top Under 1810 $200-100. Senior, open to under 1910 or unrated born before 5/21/67. $$ 300-150-100, top Under 1710 $140-70. Under 1610: $$ 250-125-75, Under 1410 $120-60, unrated limit $150. Under 1210: $100-60-40, plaques to top 3, 1st U1000, U800, U600, Unr. Mixed doubles bonus prize: best male/female 2-player “team” combined score among all sections: $200. Team average must be under 2200; teammates may play in different sections; teams must register (no extra fee) by 2 pm 5/20. Top 3 sections EF: $79 online at chessaction.com by 5/17, $85 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 5/15 (entry only, no questions), 3-day $83, 2-day $82 mailed by 5/10, $90 online until 2 hours before round 1 or at site. Under 1210 Section EF: all $40 less than top 3 sections EF. All: Advance or online entry $7 less to NYSCA members (NYSCA dues $12/year with 2 issues Empire Chess, $20/year with 4 issues, may be paid with entry fee). No checks at site, credit cards OK. Special 1 year USCF dues with magazine if paid with entry- online at chesstour.com, Adult $35, Young Adult $22, Scholastic $15. Mailed, phoned or paid at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $25, Scholastic $17. Re- entry $40, not available in Open Section. GMs, IMs & WGMs free, $60 deducted from prize. 3-day schedule: Reg ends Fri 6 pm, rds. Fri 7, Sat 11 & 5, Sun 10 & 3:15. 2-day schedule: Reg ends Sat 10 am, rds. Sat 11, 2 &, 5, Sun 10 & 3:15. Half point byes OK all, must commit before rd. 2; limit 2 byes (limit 1 bye if under 1810/unr in Open). HR: $80-80, call 518-668-5744 Mon-Fri 9 am-5pm, reserve by 4/29 or rate may increase. Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633, or reserve car online through chesstour.com. Unofficial uschess.org ratings usually used if otherwise unrated. Ent: chessaction.com or Continental Chess, Box 8482, Pelham, NY 10803. Questions: www.chesstour.com, DirectorAtChess.us, 347-201-2269. $15 service charge for refunds. Advance entries posted at chessaction.com (online entries posted instantly). Blitz tournament Sat 9:30 pm, reg. ends 9:15 pm.

MAY 26 Marshall $500 FIDE Blitz (BLZ) US Chess Grand Prix Points: 6 9-SS, G/3 +2. FIDE Blitz rated. $500: $200-100, top U2400/unr, U2200, U2000, U1800: $50. USCF regular rating used for pairings & prizes. EF: $30, MCC Mbrs $20. GMs Free. Reg.: 6:15-6:45. Rds.: 7-7:30-7:50-8:10-8:40-9- 9:20-9:40-10pm. Max three byes. Request at entry. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716, www.marshallchessclub.org.

US Chess Junior Grand Prix! MAY 28 73rd Binghamton Open NEW ENTRY FEE - $10.00. 4SS, G/65 d5. Cordisco's Chess Center, 308 Chenango St., Binghamton, NY 13901, (607) 772-8782. EF: $10. Two sections: Open & U1700. PRIZES: Winner of each section will receive a free entry into a future tournament! REFRESHMENTS AVAILABLE. Schedule: Reg. on site 8:45-9:15AM. Rounds: 9:30- 12Noon-2:30-4:45. Please bring clocks, none supplied.

US Chess Junior Grand Prix! JUN 8-11 or 10-11 10th New York International – Under 2200 Section 7-SS, 40/90, SD/30 +30. Open to all players rated Under 2200 and unrated. No FIDE ratings over 2200. USCF Ratings used for pairings and prizes. FIDE Rated. Prizes $8,000 based on 70 paid entries. $3000-2000-1000, U1900: $1000-500, U1600: $500. Entry Fee: $200 if received by May 31; $250 in June. $25 less for MCC members. Schedules: 4-day: Thurs. 7pm, Fri. – Sun. 12:30pm & 6pm. 2-day: Sat. 9-10:10-11:20am (G/25 d5) then merge with 4-day. Byes: 2 byes available, must commit before round 3. Playing site: The historic Marshall Chess Club. Registration: Call MCC with credit card, mail check, or online. Limited to 70 players! Register early! www.marshallchessclub.org. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716

US Chess Junior Grand Prix! JUN 21-25 10th New York International - CHAMPIONSHIP SECTION 9-SS, 40/90, SD/30 +30. Only open to players currently rated 2000+ (USCF or FIDE). FIDE ratings used for pairings and prizes. FIDE rated. Prizes $9,000 unconditionally guaranteed! $4000-2000-1000, U2400 FIDE: $1000-500,

U2300 FIDE $500. Entry Fee: $200. Players not rated USCF or FIDE over 2200: $300. GMs/Foreign IMs: Free. Local IMs: $125. $25 less for MCC members. All $50 more if received after June 15. Foreign players who play all 9 rounds receive $75. Schedule: Wed. 7pm, Thurs. – Sun. 11am & 6pm. Byes: 2 byes available, must commit before round 3; limit 1 bye in rounds 8-9. FIDE GM/IM norms possible; must play all rounds. Last year 3 norms were achieved! Playing site: The historic Marshall Chess Club. Registration: Call MCC with credit card, mail check, or online. Limited to 70 players! Register early! 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716, www.marshallchessclub.org.

US Chess Junior Grand Prix! AUG 18-20 or 19-20 16th annual Manhattan Open US Chess Grand Prix Points: 120 (Enhanced) 5SS, 40/100, SD/30 d10 (2-day option, rds. 1-2 G/60 d10). Hotel Pennsylvania, 401 7th Ave. (32-33 St., across from Penn Station), New York 10001. $20,000 guaranteed prizes. 8 sections. Open: Open to all; U1800/Unr EF $100 more. $2000-1000-600-400, clear/tiebreak win $100 bonus, top Under 2400/Unr $600-300. FIDE. Under 2200: $1300-700-400-200. Under 2000: $1300-700-400-200. Under 1800: $1300-700-400-200. Under 1600: $1000-500- 300-200. Under 1400: $1000-500-300-200. Under 1200: $500-250-150-100. Under 1000: $500-250-150-100. Mixed doubles: best male/female 2-player “team” combined score among all sections: $600-400-200. Must average under 2200; may play in different sections; register (no extra fee) by 2 pm 8/19. Unrated may enter any section, with prize limit U1800 $600, U1600 $400, U1400 $300, U1200 $200, U1000 $100; balance goes to next player(s) in line. Top 6 sections EF: $128 at chessaction.com by 8/16, 3-day $133, 2-day $132 if check mailed by 8/9, all $150 (no checks, credit cards OK) at site, or online until 2 hours before rd 1. GMs free; $100 from prize. Under 1000 or U1200 Section EF: all $50 less than top 6 sections EF. Online entry $5 less to NYSCA members ($12/yr with 2 issues Empire Chess, $20/yr 4 issues, may join with entry). Re-entry $60, not available in Open. No checks at site, credit cards OK. Unofficial uschess.org ratings usually used if otherwise unrated. Special 1 year USCF dues with magazine if paid with entry. Online at chessaction.com, Adult $35, Young Adult $22, Scholastic $15. Mailed, phoned or at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $25, Scholastic $17. 3-Day Schedule: Reg. ends Fri 6 pm. Rds. Fri 7, Sat 11 & 5, Sun 10 & 3:15. 2-Day Schedule: Reg. ends Sat 10 am. Rds. Sat 11, 2 & 5, Sun 10 & 3:15. Half point byes available all rounds, limit 2 byes, Open must commit before rd. 2, others before rd. 3. Ent: chessaction.com or Continental Chess, Box 8482, Pelham, NY 10803. $15 service charge for refunds. Questions: chesstour.com, chesstour.info, DirectorAtChess.US, 347-201-2269. Advance entries posted at chessaction.com (online entries posted instantly). Blitz tournament Sat 9:30 pm, enter by 9:15 pm.

Queens Chess (from page 25) Muwwakkil, Cimafranca and Frumkin before losing to Bonin. His post-event rating was 2005. Another of the late additions was Antonio Lorenzo (1963), who had been inactive since a stellar 2016 Club Championship in which he gained over 100 points. Tony beat Philip Mathew (1419, the aforementioned low three-pointer), drew Ken Sasmor (1849) and beat Dave Spigel (1873) and Al Casanova (1925) to grab third prize of $65 with 12 points. Anderson had 11 points and I suspect Bonin offered him an early draw (see Jay Bonin’s book Active Pieces for advice on how to escape bad situations when your rating is higher than your opponent’s). Clay Glad and Mikhail Mordukhay split the $55 Top Under 1700 prize with 6 points each. There were 8 draws, four involving Joe Felber (2-0-4), giving him the same 10 points as others who went 3-2-1. These events were directed by a combination of Ed Frumkin, Jay Kleinman and Joe Felber. We suspect that Jay hasn’t lost a game at Queens since Round 5 of the 2015 Championship to Devlin Sinclair. That win put Devlin a point up on the field with two rounds to play, but he then lost to Andrew Ryba and Danny Kopec (who became co-champions without playing each other) to somehow avoid winning a prize, although he regained his National Master rating but hasn’t played in the US since. Kopec’s win in Round 7 was his final tournament game, as he left us on June 12, 2016 and gave a (final) lecture at the club on April 1, 2016.

A Heritage Event! US Chess Junior Grand Prix! September 1-4, 2-4 or 3-4 139th annual NY State Championship US Chess Grand Prix Points: 100 (Enhanced)

Out of state welcome. 6-SS, 40/100, SD/30 d10 (T wo-day option in Under 2100 & below, rounds 1-3 G/40 d10). Albany Marriott, 189 Wolf Rd., Albany 12205 (Thruway Exit 24, I-87 north to Wolf Rd., Exit 4). Free parking, free airport shuttle, indoor/outdoor pool, fitness center, many restaurants nearby. $13,000 guaranteed prizes.

In 5 sections.

Championship, open to 1800/above. $1500-700-500-300, Top Under 2300/Unrated $800-400. State title & $100 bonus to top NYS resident (both decided on tiebreak if tied). Under 2100: $1000-500-300-200, Top Under 1900 $400-200. Under 1800: $1000-500-300-200, Top Under 1600 $400-200. Under 1500: $700-400-200-100, Top Under 1300 $300-150. Under 1200: $400-200-100-50, plaque to first 3, Top Under 1000, Under 800, Under 600, Unrated. Mixed doubles bonus prizes: Best male/female two-player “team” combined score among all sections: $600-300. Must average under 2200; may play in different sections; register (no extra fee) before both players begin round 2. Unrated may not win over $150 in Under 1200, $300 Under 1500 or $500 Under 1800.

Top 3 sections EF: $99 online at chessaction.com by 8/30, 4-day $109, 3-day $108, 2-day $107 if check mailed by 8/23, all $120 at site, or online until 2 hours before round 1. GMs $90 from prize. Under 1500 Section EF: All $20 less than top 3 sections. Under 1200 Section EF: All $40 less than top 3 sections.

All: Online entry $7 less to NYSCA members (dues $12/year with 2 issues Empire Chess or $20/year with 4 issues; join/renew with entry.) Unofficial uschess.org ratings usually used if otherwise unrated. Special 1 year USCF with magazine if paid with entry. Online at chessaction.com, Adult $35, Young Adult $22, Scholastic $15. Mailed or at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $25, Scholastic $17. Re-entry $60, all but Championship. No checks at site, credit cards OK.

3-day schedule: Registration ends Saturday 11 am, rounds. Sat 12 & 6, Sun 12 & 6, Mon 10 & 3:15. 4-day schedule: Registration ends Friday 6 pm, rounds. Friday 7 pm, merges with 3-day Sat 6 pm. 2-day schedule: Registration ends Sunday 10 am, rounds. Sun 11, 1:30, 3:30, 6, Monday 10 & 3:15, no 2-day Championship. Bye: all, limit 2, Championship must commit before Round 2, others before Round 4.

HR: $102-102, 800-443-8952, 518-458-8444, reserve by 8/25 or rate may increase. NYSCA meeting 9 am Sun. Car rental: 800-331-1600, use AWD D657633, or reserve car online through chesstour.com.

Entries: chessaction.com or Continental Chess, Box 8482, Pelham, NY 10803. Questions: www.chesstour.com, DirectorAtChess.US, 347-201-2269. Entries posted at chessaction.com (online entries posted instantly). $15 service charge for refunds.

NYS Blitz Championship Sun 10 p.m., enter by 9:45 p.m. 32