THE INAUGURAL HAWAII CHESS FESTIVAL | WEBSTER WINS ANOTHER PRESIDENT’S CUP JUNE 2015 IFC_chess life 5/13/2015 11:16 AM Page 1 SLCC_Layout 1 5/13/2015 11:08 AM Page 1 DATE TIME JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP July 6 6:00 PM Opening Ceremony July 7 1:00 PM Round 1 July 8 1:00 PM Round 2 July 9 1:00 PM Round 3 July 10 1:00 PM Round 4 July 11 1:00 PM Round 5 July 12 1:00 PM Round 6 July 13 1:00 PM Round 7 July 14 1:00 PM Round 8 Presented by July 15 1:00 PM Round 9 5:00 PM Playo 7:00 PM Closing Ceremony 10-Player Round Robin Watch LIVE on USCHESSCHAMPS.COM CCSCSL | 4657 MARYLAND AVENUE, SAINT LOUIS, MO 63108 | (314) 361-CHESS (2437) | www.uschesschamps.com Though often used as a metaphor for battle, during times of conflict chess is often a source of relaxation, a means of passing long hours, and an aid in recuperation. Battle on the Board: Chess during World War II will present artifacts, stories, and imagery related to how chess aided service members as well as the war’s eect on the world of competitive chess. 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Other inquiries: [email protected], (931) 787-1234, fax (931) 787-1200 2 June 2015 | Chess Life ED UYING GUIDE ENCLOS USCF SALESSALES SPRING BUYINGB GUIDE ENCLOSED PLAYPLAY IN THE U.S.U.S. OPENOPEN IN ORLANDO!ORLANDO! SeeSee TLA on pages 53/54. MAY 2014 APRIL 2014 A USCF Public ation A USCF Publication $5.95 $5.95 CL_06-2015_TOC_AKF_r6.qxp_chess life 13/05/2015 20:53 Page 4 LOUIS SAINT Chess Life OF JUNE CENTER COLUMNS SCHOLASTIC 14 LOOKS AT BOOKS / THE SOVIET CHESS AND PRIMER CLUB The Soviet Chess Primer By John Hartmann CHESS 16 CHESS TO ENJOY / ENTERTAINMENT A Queen, A Queen! My Kingdom for a Queen! OOTES, By GM Andy Soltis 18 BACK TO BASICS / READER ANNOTATIONS LENNART The Phantom Knight By GM Lev Alburt PHOTOS: 46 SOLITAIRE CHESS / INSTRUCTION The always-vibrant GM Timur Gareev had a less-than-colorful result at the U.S. Championship. Perfection By Bruce Pandolfini 48 THE PRACTICAL ENDGAME / INSTRUCTION Ego Trip Cover Story / 2015 U.S. Championship By GM Daniel Naroditskyi 20 11 ROUNDS, 11 TITLES BY FM MIKE KLEIN DEPARTMENTS The 2015 Championships included adventurous openings as Black, one-move blunders, a six-move forfeit, and family turmoil for one JUNE PREVIEW / 6 super-GM. THIS MONTH IN CHESS LIFE AND CLO COUNTERPLAY / READERS RESPOND 8 32 Here and There / Hawaii Chess Festival SHAKA AND SCHACH FIRST MOVES / 9 BY GM ALEJANDRO RAMIREZ CHESS NEWS FROM AROUND THE U.S. The inaugural Hawaii Chess Festival, held at idyllic Waikiki Beach 11 FACES ACROSS THE BOARD / and won by Armenian GM Hovhannes Gabuzyan, gave participants a BY AL LAWRENCE taste of chess-playing paradise. USCF AFFAIRS / NEWS FOR OUR MEMBERS 12 38 College Chess / President’s Cup MARCH MATENESS! TOURNAMENT LIFE / JUNE 52 BY DYLAN MAC CLAIN SOLUTIONS / JUNE At the President’s Cup, also known as the Final Four of College 71 Chess, Webster University continues to dominate. 71 CLASSIFIEDS / JULY 72 MY BEST MOVE / PERSONALITIES This Month: IM Jay Bonin ON THE COVER This is getting to be a regular cover appearance for these two! GM Hikaru Nakamura now has four U.S. Championship titles and GM Irina Krush has seven U.S. Women’s Championship titles. COVER PHOTO BY AUSTIN FULLER, CHESS CLUB AND SCHOLASTIC CENTER OF SAINT LOUIS The dance floor at the closing ceremony of the U.S. Championships. 4 June 2015 | Chess Life USCFSales_inside1_Layout 1 5/9/2015 6:23 PM Page 1 CL_06-2015_CLO_AKF_r6.qxp_chess life 13/05/2015 12:27 Page 6 June Preview / This month in Chess Life and CLO CHESS LIFE ONLINE PREVIEW: June OSLO TO ST. LOUIS The first event of the new Grand Chess Tour is Norway Chess (June 15-26) and will feature our new U.S. champion, World #3 Hikaru Nakamura, as well as World Champ Magnus Carlsen and eight other elite players. Coverage will include in-studio commentary by GMs Yasser Seirawan, Maurice Ashley and CLO Editor Jen Shahade. Check CLO for details and updates. LAS VEGAS MOVES USCF MISSION This year’s National Open and Las Vegas Chess Festival has moved to the Westgate Resort & Casino, and takes place from June 18-21. Look for CLO coverage on this chess “Empowering people festival, which also includes the Game/10 Championship and lectures and simuls by through chess one grandmasters, including Gata Kamsky and Ben Finegold. move at a time.” USCF VISION JUNIOR BATTLES “Our vision is to enrich the lives Follow our most talented players as they battle in of all persons and communities through the prestigious U.S. Junior Championship (Closed), in which a spot at the following year’s U.S. increasing the play, study, and Championship is up for grabs. This year’s event will appreciation of the game of chess.” be held again at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. SUMMER IMPROVEMENT Find future and recent articles on how to improve at various ages, including a piece by FM Eric Rosen on earning his third IM norm, Greg Shahade’s always opinionated work, and GM Ioan-Cristian Chirila on fitness and chess.