A USCF Publication $5.95 05 7 25274 64631 9 IFC_Layout 1 3/11/2015 6:02 PM Page 1 CL_05-2015_masthead_AKF_r4.qxp_chess life 16/04/2015 20:41 Page 2 Chess Life EDITORIAL STAFF Chess Life Editor and Daniel Lucas [email protected] Director of Publications Senior Digital Editor Jennifer Shahade [email protected] Chess Life for Kids Editor Glenn Petersen [email protected] Senior Art Director Frankie Butler [email protected] Editorial Assistant/Copy Editor Alan Kantor [email protected] Editorial Assistant Jo Anne Fatherly [email protected] Editorial Assistant Jennifer Pearson [email protected] Technical Editor Ron Burnett TLA/Advertising Joan DuBois [email protected] USCF STAFF Executive Director Jean Hoffman ext. 189 [email protected] Director of Events Francisco Guadalupe 713-530-7820 [email protected] Titles, Certifications, Transfers Jerry Nash ext. 137 [email protected] and FIDE Youth Events National Education Consultant Jerry Nash ext. 137 [email protected] Special Projects Consultant Scholastic Associate & Clubs Susan Kantor ext. 136 [email protected] FIDE Associate and OTB Ratings Susan Kantor ext. 136 [email protected] Computer Consultant Mike Nolan [email protected] Director of Administration Judy Misner ext. 126 [email protected] Affiliate Relations Associate Joan DuBois ext. 123 [email protected] Senior Accountant Debra Robison ext. 130 [email protected] Bookkeeper Barbara Holt ext. 131 [email protected] Membership Services Supervisor Cheryle Bruce ext. 147 [email protected] Mailing Lists/Membership Assoc. Traci Lee ext. 143 [email protected] Membership Associate Jay Sabine ext. 127 [email protected] Correspondence Chess Alex Dunne [email protected] In future support of the work of the U.S. Chess Trust, I want to provide for future generations and to ensure the continuity of services by the U.S. Chess Trust. USCF EXECUTIVE BOARD Therefore, President, Ruth Haring U.S. Chess Federation [email protected] Attn: Ruth Haring I have made provision I will make provision PO Box 3967 to support the U.S. Chess Trust by: Crossville, TN 38557-3967 making a bequest or endowment provision in my Will Vice President, Gary Walters Walters & Wasylyna LLC [email protected] Shaker Finance, PO Box 20554 creating a charitable remainder or lead trust naming Cleveland, OH 44120 the U.S. Chess Trust as a beneficiary. VP Finance, Allen Priest 220 West Main Street, Suite 2200 [email protected] establishing an endowment or special fund at the Louisville, KY 40202 U.S. Chess Trust. 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BD:08/03 Other inquiries: [email protected], (931) 787-1234, fax (931) 787-1200 2 May 2015 | Chess Life ED UYING GU IDE ENCLO S USCF SALESSALE SPRINGS SPRING BUYING B 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_05-2015_TOC_AKF_r7.qxp_chess life 16/04/2015 15:03 Page 4 U.S. Amateur Teams: Page 20 Cathy Rogers Chess Life BY MAY COLUMNS by Al Lawrence; NAKAMURA by Al Lawrence; 14 LOOKS AT BOOKS / SICILIAN DEFENSE Six Sicilians USAT East USAT By John Hartmann 16 CHESS TO ENJOY / ENTERTAINMENT The Smartest Stupid Thing By GM Andy Soltis 18 BACK TO BASICS / READER ANNOTATIONS The Novelty! 20 Cover Story / U.S. Amateur Teams By GM Lev Alburt ESPRIT DE CORPS 44 SOLITAIRE CHESS / INSTRUCTION BY AL LAWRENCE (EAST), TED CASTRO (WEST), BETSY CARINA The Sacrifice King DYNAKO (NORTH), RICHARD FRANCISCO (SOUTH) By Bruce Pandolfini Our annual roundup of the East, West, North, and South U.S. Amateur Team Events and National Playoff shows the truth in Helen Keller’s 46 THE PRACTICAL ENDGAME / INSTRUCTION A World Turned Upside Down quote, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” By GM Daniel Naroditskyi 32 International Events / 2015 Zurich Challenge MORAL VICTORIES DON’T COUNT DEPARTMENTS BY GM IAN ROGERS Nakamura Edges Out Anand to win 2015 Zurich Chess Challenge. 6 MAY PREVIEW / THIS MONTH IN CHESS LIFE AND CLO 38 Correspondence Chess / 2013 Absolute 8 COUNTERPLAY / READERS RESPOND Championship 9 FIRST MOVES / A KING AMONG KINGS CHESS NEWS FROM AROUND THE U.S. BY FM ALEX DUNNE At the 2013 Absolute Championship, Wilbur Tseng proves himself 11 FACES ACROSS THE BOARD / top “Who” in the “Who’s Who” of USCF correspondence chess. BY AL LAWRENCE Chess Journalism / 2015 CJA USCF AFFAIRS / NEWS FOR OUR MEMBERS 41 12 2015 CHESS JOURNALISM OF AMERICA AWARDS 51 TOURNAMENT LIFE / MAY BY JOSHUA ANDERSON 71 CLASSIFIEDS / MAY 71 SOLUTIONS / MAY Nakamura in Zurich: Page 32 72 MY BEST MOVE / PERSONALITIES This Month: GM Kayden Troff ON THE COVER The three-time USAT National Playoff winners (an unprecedented achievement!): (clockwise from bottom left): IM Ricardo De Guzman, Ronit Pattanayak, FM Ronald Cusi, GM Enrico Sevillano, team captain Ted Castro, Evan Val- lens. See the story of the Teams beginning on page 20. PHOTO BY ANGELA LANG 4 May 2015 | Chess Life CL_05-2015_ads.qxp_chess life 16/04/2015 14:10 Page 1 LAST CHANCE! A Memorable Life: A Glimpse into the Complex Mind of Bobby Fischer presents a few key moments in the storied life of a man who was both a source of intense admiration and controversy. Don’t miss this exhibition of remarkable artifacts that illuminate Fischer’s brilliance and show how he revolutionized American chess. EXHIBITION CLOSES JUNE 7TH Bobby Fischer analyzes at the 1966 Piatigorsky Cup. Photographer unknown. Shop exclusive World Chess Hall of Fame merchandise 24/7. QBoutiqueSTL.com carries WCHOF collectibles, t-shirts, mugs, magnets, postcards, autographs, and more. Ivory Chess Treasures from the Collection of Jon Crumiller MAY 14 - OCTOBER 18, 2015 Encore! Ivory Chess Treasures from the Jon Crumiller Collection revisits one of the most stunning chess collections in the United States. Focusing solely on ivory sets and boards, this exhibition will showcase the incredible range and use of the highly sought- after and now, very controversial medium. WORLD CHESS HALL OF FAME 4652 Maryland Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63108 (314) 367-WCHF (9243) | worldchesshof.org John Company Set, c 1830. India. Ivory. Photo: Tim Nighswander/IMAGING4ART CL_05-2015_CLO_AKF_r6 (1).qxp_chess life 16/04/2015 15:17 Page 6 May Preview / This month in Chess Life and CLO CHESS LIFE ONLINE PREVIEW: May NATIONAL ELEMENTARY CHAMPIONSHIP Follow the largest and the last of the three national scholastic championships, the elementary nationals from May 8-10, hosted in Nashville, Tennessee at the Opry- land. CLO coverage will include thoughts and photos from guest of honor GM Irina Krush, who will be giving a series of “simuls” and lectures at the event. AROUND THE WORLD WITH NAKAMURA U.S. number one Hikaru Nakamura has been on a roll lately, rising to a peak number two on the live rankings list. Follow his progress at the FIDE Grand Prix in May 13-27 in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. CHICAGO OPEN One of the strongest opens on the calendar, the Chicago Open goes down from May 21-25. Look for coverage on CLO, including photos by Betsy Dynako. USCF SOCIAL MEDIA Follow us on twitter.com/uschess, facebook.com/uschessand YouTube at USChessFederation as we ramp up our social media activity this summer. , AL LAWRENCE (USAT East) is the former executive director of both the USCF and the World PAUL MORPHY s Chess Hall of Fame. He is currently director of the Texas Tech University chess program. His chess festival latest book, with GM Lev Alburt, is Chess for the Gifted and Busy. _ BETSY CARINA DYNAKO (USAT North) is a Chicago-based event and portrait photographer π ∏ with credits in chess publications worldwide as well as the Wall Street Journal and Sports OctOBER 23-24, 2015 FUN Illustrated. 7ZR'D\VRI&+(66 ZLWK GM Simon WILLIAMS • IM Andrew MARTIN GM IAN ROGERS (Zurich) is a globe-hopping Australian grandmaster who frequently covers FM Macon SHIBUT • MCM Bob LONG international events for Chess Life.