R ank & File MARCH-APRIL 2006 VOLUME XXIX, NO. 2 $3.00 4th Annual Western Pacific Open April 14-16, 2006 $10,000 Prize Fund (based on 200 players, 50% of each prize guaranteed) at the LAX Hilton Open 5711 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles CA 1st: $1600 90045 2nd-5th: $1000-$800-$400-$200 Five Rounds — Swiss System ($200 bonus for clear first) 3-day schedule 40/2, SD/1; 2-day schedule rounds 1-2 G/75 U2400: $300 Entry Fees: U2300: $200 Open $81 if received by 4-13, $97 at door U2200: $700-$500- $300 Premier (U2000) $81 by 4-13, $97 at door Amateur (U1400) $66 by 4-13, $80 door Premier (Under 2000) SCCF membership required of rated state residents ($14, $700-$500-$300-$100 jr. $9) U1800: $400-$200- $100 Registration: 5:30-6:30 p.m. 4-14, 8:30-10 a.m. 4-15 U1600: $400-$200- $100 Rounds: 3-day 7 p.m., 11-5:30, 10-4:30; 2-day 10:30- 1:30 Saturday (G/75), then merges Entries: SCCF, c/o John Hillery, 835 N. Wilton Place #1, Amateur (Under 1400/Unrated) Los Angeles, CA 90038 HR: $94 single or double. (310) 410-4000. Be sure to $$ T+400-$200-$100 mention Western Chess. U1200: T+$100 Parking $7/day Unrated: T+$100 On-line entry, advance entry lists: Best Game Prize: $25 (all sections www.westernchess.com eligible) 2 RANK & FILE MARCH-APRIL 2006 AroundAround thethe NationNation SCCF Championship Fund Kasparov Chess Foundation sponsor for the 2004 US Women’s To Sponsor Olympiad Teams Olympiad Team. By capturing Sil- Raising Challenge! ver for team performance, the US The San Diego Chess Club is The Kasparov Chess Founda- Women’s Team took home the first donating $250.00 to the SCCF State tion (KCF) and United States US medals since the Chess Olympi- Championship prize fund. We are Chess Federation announced that ad’s inception in 1924. The interna- challenging all other clubs to match KCF will serve as the official spon- tional competition consisted of 87 this donation in hopes of raising sor for both the Men’s and Women’s teams from around the world. the necessary funds to cover the US Chess Olympiad teams for the expenses of the event. next three chess Olympiads, which “The sponsorship underscores the SDCC Member Chuck Ensey is are scheduled to take place in 2006, Foundation’s mission to transform also personally donating $250.00 to 2008 and 2010. chess into a major cultural activ- the SCCF State Championship prize The Kasparov Chess Foundation ity in the United States. We’ve seen fund. He is challenging other SCCF previously conducted an extensive how the success of our US Olympic members to match his individual training program and served as Soccer program has helped make donation. All donations regardless of size are greatly appreciated! (See page 21 for a list of donors so far.) CONTENTSONTENTS Ron Rezendes Jr CONTENTS President SDCC/SCCF AROUNDARROUNDOUND THETTHEHE NATIONNNAATIONTION ............ ......................................................... 33 Orange County Chess Park? WWESTERN21ESTST EARNNUALN CLASSCLA SU.S.S CHAMPIONSHIPSCH AAMMATEURPIONSH ITPSEAM .......................5 Orange County is going to have NNORTH OWRESTTH AAMERICAN. .M . .E . R. I. .C . A. N. .OPENO . P. E. .N . ....................................................... 57 a park built on a portion of the land that was once the El Toro air base. WIIMPROVEMESTERNPROVE YOURY COLASSUR CCHESS HCEHAMPIONSHIPSSS . 10 This is a good time for the chess ACTICSbyby JOHNOHN HILLERYILLERY ......................... .......................................................................8 playing residents of Orange County T ............................................... ......................................................... to begin urging that the park also LLATE A byTE TimNNEWSEW HanksS . 129 include a chess center. I think this will be a great asset for all southern HHEREEERERE && THERET THHEREERE California chess players. To express ClubClub news,news, locallocal tournaments,tournaments, your support for this project, you Club news, local tournaments, ............................................................................. may write to: sscholcholaasticstic eeventsvents aandnd mmoreore 10 scholastic events . 15 .................................................................................. Orange County Great Park Corpora- CCLUBLUB DDIRECTORYIRECTORY 1616 TATE HAMPIONSHIP UALIFIERS . tion S C Q 19 ........................................................................................ PO Box 19575 TTHEHE LLONGONG VVIEWIEW 19 GAMES FROM RECENT EVENTS . 21 Irvine CA 92623 - 9575 GGAMESAMES FFROMROM RECENTRECENT EEVENTSVENTS ..................................2020 THE LIGHTER SIDE . 24 Further information may be SSTATETATE CHAMPIONSHIPCHAMPIONSHIP QUUALIFIERSALIFIERS .................2121 found at www.ocgp.org concern- UPCOMING EVENTS . 26 ing the organization, how to get UUPCOMINGPCOMING EVENEVENTTSS ...............................................................................2222 involved, when the stakeholders’ CHESS QUIZ. 24 meetings are, and so forth. – Brian CCHESSHESS QQUIZUIZ ................................................ .......................................................24 Scanlon 3 RANKANK & FILEILE MARCHARCH-A-APRILPRIL 20062006 that sport one of the most popular USCF Special Election: Once among our youth. By financing our more into the breach Southern California Chess Olympiad chess teams through the In addition to the biennial elec- Federation end of the decade, we’re ensuring tion of Delegates, this summer will that our country’s best players will see yet another USCF special elec- President Ron Rezendes Vice President get the recognition they’ve worked tion for the Executive Board. When Joe Hanley so hard to achieve, while influenc- Secretary Chuck Ensey Tim Hanke of Massachusetts re- Treasurer John Hillery ing younger players,” said Michael signed after last year’s election, his Khodarkovsky, Kasparov Chess Executive Board position was left vacant, but now Randy Hough Foundation President. Greg Shahade, elected last year Nshan Keshishian USCF President Bill Goichberg as part of a “reform” slate, has re- Elliot Landaw added, “The US Chess Federation is signed in order to permit his sister Mike Nagaran pleased that a substantial percent- Jennifer to accept employment with Rick Aeria age of the cost of sending our teams the USCF. In the case of two vacan- John Surlow to the next three chess Olympiads cies, a special election is mandatory. Ivona Jezierska David Saponara will be covered by the Kasparov Those wishing to enter the fray have Chess Foundation. Our association until April 17 to submit nominating Rank & File with KCF regarding the Olympiads petitions. At this time, rumored can- Editor John Hillery began successfully in 2004, when didates include Mikhail Korenman, 835 N. Wilton Pl. # our Women’s Team won the Silver former Board member Randy Bauer, Los Angeles CA 90038 Medal. Our men’s team placed fourth the perpetually unsuccessful Sam [email protected] in 2004 and with the probable addi- Sloan, Mike Goodall of Northern tion of two very strong players, US California, and Southern Califor- Publisher David Argall Champion Hikaru Nakamura and nia’s Randy Hough. Contributing Editors former FIDE World Championship Jack Peters finalist Gata Kamsky, we expect Tim Hanks great things this year and in the fu- FIDE Trainers Seminar Al Pena ture.” – USCF news release Louisville, KY, Feb. 8, 2006 -- Contributors American Chess University (ACU) Chuck Ensey will hold a weekend-long manage- Randy Hough Pan American Intercollegiate ment educational program for teach- Barbara McCaleb John Price The 2005 Pan American Inter- ers, chess coaches and trainers. The Brian Scanlon collegiate Championship, held De- seminar will be held in conjunc- cember 27-30 at Miami Dade Col- tion with the national Junior High Subscriptions/Address Changes lege, saw 27 teams compete. First Championships, on Apr. 8 – 9, 2006 Randy Hough, Membership Secretary place with 5½-½ went to Univer- in Galt House Hotel, 140 North P.O. Box 205 sity of Maryland Baltimore County Fourth Street, Louisville, KY Monterey Park CA 9754 (UMBC). Their team consisted of Information on fees and sched- (626) 282-742 GM Alexander Onischuk, IM Pas- uling may be found at http://www. [email protected] cal Charbonneau, GM Pawel Blehm, americanchessuniversity.com/semi- Rank & File — ISSN 8750-964 USPS Bruci Lopez, and WGM Katerina nars/trainer_registration/. 738-230, published bimonthly by the Rohonyan. Next at 5-1 were Univer- – USCF news release Southern California Chess Federation, 300 sity of Texas at Dallas-B and UTD-A Ballista, La Puente CA 9744. Periodical (yes, in that order), two teams which postage paid at Industry, CA. POSTMAS- between them included one GM and Cover Art: Erin Roberts TER: Send changes of address to SCCF, eight IMs. Unheralded host team PO Box 205, Monterey Park CA 9754. Miami Dade-A finished fourth with Subscriptions: $4 adult, $9 junior. 4½-1½. Copyright © SCCF 2006. One-time only publication rights have been obtained from signed contributors. All other rights are Advertising Rates: Full page $80, half page hereby assigned to the authors. The opinions $45, 1/4 page $25, 1/8 page $15, back cover (3/4 SCCF Online page) $80. (All rates are for camera-ready copy.) expressed are strictly those of the contribu- Flyer insert $50 (advertiser must supply flyers). The SCCF Web tors and do not necessarily reflect the views 50% discount for tournaments requiring SCCF of the SCCF, its officers or members. membership. Display ads should be sent to the page is located