IM JEFFERY XIONG WINS CHICAGO OPEN OVER 25 GMS, EARNS 3RD GM NORM AUGUST 2015 THE WORLD’S MOST WIDELY READ CHESS MAGAZINE www.uschess.org IFC_chess life 7/8/2015 7:24 PM Page 1 What’s New in the USCF Sales Library? OIFC_pg1_Layout 1 7/8/2015 7:14 PM Page 1 2nd annual WASHINGTON CHESS CONGRESS Columbus Day weekend, Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Arlington, VA October 7-12, 9-12 or 10-12, 2015 Premier Section (1900/up): 9 rounds, Oct 7-12. GM and IM norms possible. Under 2100, Under 1700, Under 1300 sections: 7 rounds, Oct 9-12 or 10-12. Both Under 2100, Under 1700, and Under 1300 schedules merge and compete for same prizes. $25,000 GUARANTEED PRIZES Hyatt Regency Crystal City, 2799 Premier Section GMs, IMs, WGMs, Jefferson Davis Hwy, Arlington, VA 22202, foreign FMs free; $140 deducted from prize. minutes from the attractions of our nation’s Foreign FIDE rated players, entry fee $50 less. capital! Chess rates $99-99-109, 703-418- Under 1300 Section: all entry fees $60 less 1234, reserve by 9/22 or rate may increase. than top 3 sections. Free shuttle from National Airport and Crystal Special USCF dues: see chesstour.com or City Metro. Special valet parking $6/day. TournamentLife. USCF membership required Premier, open to 1900/over USCF or FIDE and all foreign FIDE rated players. $3000- 6-day schedule (Premier only): Reg. ends 1500-700-500-300, clear/tiebreak 1st $100 Wed 6 pm, rds Wed 7 pm, Thu 12 noon & 7 bonus, top FIDE U2300/Unr $1400-700. FIDE pm, Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 11 & 6, Mon 10 rated, 150 Grand Prix Points. Minimum prize am. 40/2, SD/30, d10. $500 to first 5 foreign GMs FIDE rated 4-day schedule: Reg. ends Fri 6 pm, rds. 2500/over who play all 9 games with no byes. Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 11 & 6, Mon 10 & Under 2100: $2000-1000-500-300-200, 4. 40/2, SD/30, d10. top Under 1900 (no unr) $1300-700. 3-day schedule: Reg. ends Sat 10 am, rds Under 1700: $2000-1000-500-300-200, top Sat 11, 2:30 & 6, Sun 11 & 6, Mon 10 & 4. Under 1500 (no unr) $1100-600. Rds 1-2 G/75, d10, then merges with 4-day. Under 1300: $1000-600-400-300-200, top Half-point byes available all rounds, limit Under 1100 (no unr) $400-200. 3(2inlast4rds),mustcommitbeforerd3. Unrated prize limits: U1300 $300, U1700 Bring set, board, clock if possible- none $600, U2100 $1000. supplied. FIDE ratings used in Premier, Mixed Doubles bonus prizes: $1000-600- USCF October official in other sections. 400. Male/female 2-player teams averaging Unofficial web ratings usually used in U2100 under 2200, any sections, only rounds 1-7 of &belowifotherwiseunrated. Premier counted, register (no extra fee) before both players begin rd 2.. Entry: chessaction.com or Continental Chess, Box 8482, Pelham NY 10803. $15 Entry fee: $145 online at chessaction.com charge for refunds. Entries posted at by 10/6, $155 phoned to 406-896-2038 by chessaction.com (online entries posted 10/5, 6-day $156, 4-day $154, 3-day $153 if instantly). check mailed by 9/28, $160 at site until 1 hr Blitz tournament Sunday 10 pm, enter by before game or online until 2 hrs before game. 9:45 pm. 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Other inquiries: [email protected], (931) 787-1234, fax (931) 787-1200 2 August 2015 | Chess Life ED ENCLOSED U YINGB BUYINGGU IDEE NC GUIDELOS USCF SALESSALES SPRING SPRING PLAYPL AY IN THE U.S.U .S. OPENO P EN ININ ORLANDO!ORLANDO! SeeSee TLA on pages 53/54. MAY 2014 APRIL 2014 A USCF Public ation A USCF Publication $5.95 $5.95 CL_08-2015_TOC_AKF_r6.qxp_chess life 13/07/2015 12:34 Page 4 38 Cover Story Chess Life Carissa Yip AUGUST YIP, YIP, HOORAY! BY CARISSA YIP COLUMNS Carissa Yip sets the record for youngest THE CHESS TACTICS 14 LOOKS AT BOOKS / female master. DETECTION WORKBOOK Teaching Tactical Awareness By John Hartmann 16 CHESS TO ENJOY / ENTERTAINMENT Failure to Communicate By GM Andy Soltis 18 BACK TO BASICS / READER ANNOTATIONS Knight Captures Pawn on Knight Five By GM Lev Alburt 44 SOLITAIRE CHESS / INSTRUCTION Speed Chess = Superficial Chess? By Bruce Pandolfini 46 THE PRACTICAL ENDGAME / INSTRUCTION An Old-School Brawl By GM Daniel Naroditskyi DEPARTMENTS AUGUST PREVIEW / 6 THIS MONTH IN CHESS LIFE AND CLO 20 Grand Prix Events / 2015 Chicago Open A NEW SHINING STAR COUNTERPLAY / READERS RESPOND 8 BY GM DANIEL NARODITSKY 14-year-old IM Jeffery Xiong tops 25 GMs at the Chicago FIRST MOVES / 9 Open, including Gata Kamsky, to earn his final GM norm. CHESS NEWS FROM AROUND THE U.S. 11 FACES ACROSS THE BOARD / 27 Correspondence Chess / BY AL LAWRENCE Golden and Electronic Knights KNIGHTHOOD: A CORRESPONDENCE CHESS US CHESS AFFAIRS / NEWS FOR OUR MEMBERS 12 ROUNDUP 50 TOURNAMENT LIFE / AUGUST BY FM ALEX DUNNE Recapping the 2008 Golden Knights and 2012 71 CLASSIFIEDS / AUGUST Electronic Knights Championships SOLUTIONS / AUGUST 71 32 Openings / Taimanov Sicilian THE 7. Qf3 TAIMANOV SICILIAN 72 MY BEST MOVE / PERSONALITIES This Month: Vanita Young BY IM ERIK KISLIK Going deep in a line that avoids Bb5 options and keeps tension in the position. ON THE COVER It hasn’t been that long since we asked on a Chess Life cover if Annie Wang was the “next 42 Tournament Organization / Random Pairings big thing” in chess after reaching master.