Thursday, December 15, 2011
Illinois Class Championships: Classes C, D, and E
Congratulations to Jonathan Hrach for winning clear first in Class C with 3½ points and picking up 90 ELO points in the process. Cristian Peña took clear second with 3-1.
In Class D, Anthony Gasunas drew his first game, then reeled off three in a row for 3½ points and the title. His Round 1 opponent, Richard Lewis, took clear second with 3-1 and gained 80 ELO.
Class E was a bit of a bloodbath, as there were no undefeated players. Shereya Mangalam lost Round 1, then won three straight to execute a perfect Swiss Gambit: Shereya's 3-1 took the undisputed title. George Ries, Robert Kunke, Douglas Campbell, and Brian Suganraj finished in a four-way tie for second at 2½-1½.
"Local organizer to bring in best young chess players in the world to suburbs"
Awonder Liang (photo: Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune)
Patzer doesn't shave, wears flannel shirt, finds photo in paper
(photo: Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune)
Jeff Vorva reports.Wednesday, December 14, 2011
A Basic Drawing Technique in King, Rook and Rook's Pawn v. King and Rook
Consider the following two positions which were inspired by Robert Moskwa's game at the Illinois Class with World Under 8 Champion Awonder Liang. White has just checked the Black king with his rook and Black has the choice of moving away from the White king and pawn with 1...Kd7 or towards them with 1...Kb6. The only difference is that the White rook is on c4 in the first and c3 in the second. Both positions are theoretical draws if Black makes the correct choice. See if you can figure out what the right move is in each case before you look at the analysis on my blog.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Illinois Class Championships: Classes A and B
Classes A and B were combined. 15-year-old Nathaniel Kranjc of Wheaton (a 2011 ICA Warren Scholar) won the tournament (and Class A) with a 4-0 score. Eight-year old David Peng of Northbrook (another 2011 ICA Warren Scholar, and one of several veterans of the just-completed World Youth Championships in Brazil) took clear second with a 3-1 score.
The winners of Class B were one of Chicago's finest, Dmitri Kosteris (adults can play chess, too!), Brian Harrigan of Indiana, and Rachel Ulrich of Wisconsin, a home-schooled sixth-grader. (Rachel and I compared our age-ten-ratings last year: divide her rating by two, and you'll get my original rating.)
Look for games on the ICA website in the next few days!
The winners of Class B were one of Chicago's finest, Dmitri Kosteris (adults can play chess, too!), Brian Harrigan of Indiana, and Rachel Ulrich of Wisconsin, a home-schooled sixth-grader. (Rachel and I compared our age-ten-ratings last year: divide her rating by two, and you'll get my original rating.)
Look for games on the ICA website in the next few days!
Monday, December 12, 2011
Nakamura clear second in London!
The tournament is over (Nakamura beat Adams, all other games drawn.) Final scores (unofficial):
Kramnik 16
Nakamura 15
Carlsen 14
McShane 13
Anand 9
Aronian 9
Short 6
Howell 4
Adams 3
Update: Nakamura won with the King's Gambit! The game is here. The final round report should appear here soon.
Tansel Turgut wins Illinois Class
ICCF Grandmaster Tansel Turgut knows something about over-the-board play, too, as evidenced by his victory in this past weekend's 2011 Illinois Class Championships with a 3½-½ score.
Dr. Turgut had a narrow escape in the final round against 8-year-old (!!!) Awonder Liang. It appeared to this kibitzer that Awonder (in clear first at the beginning of the round) had his esteemed opponent on the ropes at one point. But he lost, and tied for second with FM Albert Chow with 3-1 scores (Chow was undefeatedand beat NM Greg Bungo in the last round. Don't ask me what I was thinking when I wrote the last sentence: Chow and Bungo played a very correct draw, and I even played a small role in the post-mortem.)
In the skittles room, Awonder was disconsolate about his loss in an eight-year-old kinda way. But his father and siblings reminded him that he played very well, that he should be proud, and it's that only a game. (Useful advice for adults, too.) Dr. Turgut came to collect Awonder's signature on the scoresheet "so I can show other people someday that I beat a world champion." Adream Liang chimed in, "But he's already world champion!" Thus cheered up, Awonder started kibitzing my post-mortem:
I don't think it took Awonder more than two seconds to spot the shot. (Hint: leave your queen and rook en prise, and allow Black to capture a third piece with check.) What a phenomenal talent!
Thanks to the Orland Park Cultural Center, organizer Mikhail Korenman, and TD Sevan Muradian for a smooth and fun event.
A report on the other sections will follow: look for games on the ICA website in the next few days!
Edit: here are the crosstables!
Dr. Turgut had a narrow escape in the final round against 8-year-old (!!!) Awonder Liang. It appeared to this kibitzer that Awonder (in clear first at the beginning of the round) had his esteemed opponent on the ropes at one point. But he lost, and tied for second with FM Albert Chow with 3-1 scores (Chow was undefeated
In the skittles room, Awonder was disconsolate about his loss in an eight-year-old kinda way. But his father and siblings reminded him that he played very well, that he should be proud, and it's that only a game. (Useful advice for adults, too.) Dr. Turgut came to collect Awonder's signature on the scoresheet "so I can show other people someday that I beat a world champion." Adream Liang chimed in, "But he's already world champion!" Thus cheered up, Awonder started kibitzing my post-mortem:
Brock-Moskwa (variation)
White to play and win with style
White to play and win with style
(yes, 1.Bf4 and 1.Rf4 are good enough, but look for the coolest move)
I don't think it took Awonder more than two seconds to spot the shot. (Hint: leave your queen and rook en prise, and allow Black to capture a third piece with check.) What a phenomenal talent!
Thanks to the Orland Park Cultural Center, organizer Mikhail Korenman, and TD Sevan Muradian for a smooth and fun event.
A report on the other sections will follow: look for games on the ICA website in the next few days!
Edit: here are the crosstables!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Boris Becker on tennis and chess
When do you play cat-and-mouse? When do you go for the kill? Tennis players can learn a lot from chess players, and chess players can learn a lot from tennis players. So thinks Boris Becker.
Here's an entertaining miniature that Nigel Short played against Boris a few days ago. Becker never got to use his backhand, er, his queenside pieces.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Reality TV for übergeeks
There's a bit more info in this ChessBase article.
Kasparov: "The Risks of the Reset"
You won't often find this lefty recommending links to Heritage Foundation talks, but here's one. You'll find the Q&A here.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
My favorite chess app for the iPhone / iPad
As of now, it's tChess Pro version 1.7.1. I've been using it on the iPhone for almost three years: the interface is easy and intuitive, the features are nice, and the playing engine is reasonably strong. (I lost the first game I played against it, and many more since then.) There may be stronger engines, but tChess is snappy!
There's a dual core option on the iPad 2: not sure how many ELO this would add. But if you're looking for raw strength, the iPhone and iPad are the wrong platforms.
Most of these screenshots are from my iPad, with the exception of one iPad screenshot grabbed from the developer's website. But the iPhone look and feel is very similar: I don't feel all thumbs with this GUI even on a tiny screen (compare my ChessBase 1.1 hatefest, which was essentially a rant about ChessBase's GUI.)
I'm about to start a new game.
Grr...only a draw. (Trust me, I wasn't going to show you a screenshot with my usual rating of 1650.) And tChess was not set to play at full strength.
I can find out that the game was a Marshall Attack, ECO code C89.
Perhaps I should look at a Fischer game instead. Or I could look at the game that one of my Industrial League teammates just sent to me. Or I could open a database of my own games. Or I could play through the tournament game I just played on my iPhone, identify my gross tactical blunders, and email the game score to myself. (My biggest complaint: tChess Pro does not support any variations within PGN. It really should.)
You can have up to 25 PGN files on the device: before I started this review, I had twenty on my iPhone. One can copy and paste PGN into tChess, and perform some basic editing on PGN headers. Even the ChessBase of twenty years ago had far more advanced database features, but the ease of accessing the game you've forgotten is a delight.
I've never cared for 3D representations of the chess board: if I want 3D, I'll get out a set. But some folks think this is cool.
Frustrated by your ratings history? Delete and create a new player profile.
This app is well worth $7.99!
There's a dual core option on the iPad 2: not sure how many ELO this would add. But if you're looking for raw strength, the iPhone and iPad are the wrong platforms.
Most of these screenshots are from my iPad, with the exception of one iPad screenshot grabbed from the developer's website. But the iPhone look and feel is very similar: I don't feel all thumbs with this GUI even on a tiny screen (compare my ChessBase 1.1 hatefest, which was essentially a rant about ChessBase's GUI.)
I'm about to start a new game.
Grr...only a draw. (Trust me, I wasn't going to show you a screenshot with my usual rating of 1650.) And tChess was not set to play at full strength.
I can find out that the game was a Marshall Attack, ECO code C89.
Perhaps I should look at a Fischer game instead. Or I could look at the game that one of my Industrial League teammates just sent to me. Or I could open a database of my own games. Or I could play through the tournament game I just played on my iPhone, identify my gross tactical blunders, and email the game score to myself. (My biggest complaint: tChess Pro does not support any variations within PGN. It really should.)
You can have up to 25 PGN files on the device: before I started this review, I had twenty on my iPhone. One can copy and paste PGN into tChess, and perform some basic editing on PGN headers. Even the ChessBase of twenty years ago had far more advanced database features, but the ease of accessing the game you've forgotten is a delight.
Frustrated by your ratings history? Delete and create a new player profile.
This app is well worth $7.99!
Another reason to enter the Illinois Class Championships this weekend
Join us this coming Saturday and Sunday at the Orland Park Cultural Center.
Details here!
Enter online here!
Hat tip Brad Rosen.
London Round 4: Anand 0 - Nakamura 1 !!!
Yesterday, GMHikaru tweeted, "The single most important thing in life is to believe in yourself regardless of what everyone else says" After Nakamura's disastrous showing in the Tal Memorial in Moscow, this blogger was one of the doubters. It is good to be proven wrong!
In the first four rounds of this event, Nakamura has drawn Kramnik, beaten Aronian, lost to Carlsen, and beaten Anand. That's +1 against the top four players in the world.
In the Classical King's Indian, White's kingside attack arrives first. Indeed, in the position after move 21, it looks like Nakamura is about to get swept off the board.
But Black is attacking White's king! If Black breaks through, Black will bring pain. The biggest win in Hikaru's career?
More to follow!
In the first four rounds of this event, Nakamura has drawn Kramnik, beaten Aronian, lost to Carlsen, and beaten Anand. That's +1 against the top four players in the world.
In the Classical King's Indian, White's kingside attack arrives first. Indeed, in the position after move 21, it looks like Nakamura is about to get swept off the board.
But Black is attacking White's king! If Black breaks through, Black will bring pain. The biggest win in Hikaru's career?
More to follow!
Monday, December 5, 2011
So maybe AAPL isn't incredibly overvalued?
I've belonged to the iPhone cult for several years. The iPad that I've owned for two days is kinda nice, too. Look for chess software reviews in coming weeks....
One problem with the iWorld is that it's not flash-friendly, and we're using ChessFlash to present games. Advice would be appreciated!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Fish Men
Coming next May 26 to the Goodman Theatre in Chicago: Fish Men, a play about chess hustlers in Washington Square Park in New York.
Youth Chess Foundation of Chicago event at Rickover Naval Academy
Mike Cardinale of the Youth Chess Foundation of Chicago and Michael Biela (principal of Rickover Naval Academy, a CPS school on the Senn High School campus) hosted a 5-round game/20 event today that drew about 280 players.
I had to leave before the awards ceremony, so I don't have final standings. Unofficially, Abdel Raoul took clear first in the top section with a perfect 5-0. I saw him drop a Fried Liver on Abraham Cornejo in Round 4 and win with good endgame technique.
And here are a few photos of the action in the Senn/Rickover cafeteria. (An iPhone doesn't do the space justice: one would need a wide-angle lens.)
I had to leave before the awards ceremony, so I don't have final standings. Unofficially, Abdel Raoul took clear first in the top section with a perfect 5-0. I saw him drop a Fried Liver on Abraham Cornejo in Round 4 and win with good endgame technique.
And here are a few photos of the action in the Senn/Rickover cafeteria. (An iPhone doesn't do the space justice: one would need a wide-angle lens.)
Mark your calendars for the next YCF event on January 21st, at De La Salle Institute /
St. Columbanus,
3434 S. Michigan Avenue.
London Chess Classic underway
Chicago Blaze manager Daniel Parmet is working the event, and Illinois Chess Association President Tom Sprandel is in London. Maybe we can get some inside info....
The nine grandmasters (including the world's top four: Carlsen, Anand, Aronian, Kramnik) played a fun exhibition game against "the rest of the world" on Twitter. The geniuses won easily, but they missed an amazing combination (checkmate or win of queen) in the position below:
Follow this link for the answer, the entertaining game, and the notes.
Follow Round 1 (right now!) at the official site, WhyChess, The Week in Chess, or your favorite paid provider.
The nine grandmasters (including the world's top four: Carlsen, Anand, Aronian, Kramnik) played a fun exhibition game against "the rest of the world" on Twitter. The geniuses won easily, but they missed an amazing combination (checkmate or win of queen) in the position below:
Black to play and win quickly
Follow this link for the answer, the entertaining game, and the notes.
Follow Round 1 (right now!) at the official site, WhyChess, The Week in Chess, or your favorite paid provider.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Schein-Friedman award
If you're one of the top juniors in the country in your age group, don't overlook this opportunity!
Anand on Fischer
World Champion Viswanathan Anand. Photo: Amit Bhargava/AP
...and other topics in The Guardian.
The London Chess Classic begins tomorrow!
Chicago Latino Championships
Eliza Blancas (age 92) vs. Elizabeth Rivera (age 6)
Keith Ammann informa para la Asociación de Ajedrez de Illinois.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Author, author!
Shiva Maharaj showed me this cute study the other day. I figured out that the theme was domination, but could not find the main line.
So whose study is it? I'll guess Kasparyan. (Duh: the obvious guess.) But if someone with the van der Heijden database would clue me in, I'd appreciate it and will amend to give credit.
So whose study is it? I'll guess Kasparyan. (Duh: the obvious guess.) But if someone with the van der Heijden database would clue me in, I'd appreciate it and will amend to give credit.
"Chess forges friendship, keeps it in check "
"As buddies, Loop lawyer, homeless man seem an unlikely match."
From today's Chicago Tribune.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Illinois Class in Orland Park, December 10-11!
Enough of that. Back to constructive things.
Cribbed from the ICA Tournament Calendar:
Cribbed from the ICA Tournament Calendar:
- Illinois Class Championships
- 12/10/2011 - 12/11/2011
- Orland Park Cultural Center - Orland Park
4SS, G90 + 30 sec. U1000/U700 Sections plays 5SS, G/75 with separate schedule. Orland Park Cultural Center, 14760 Park Lane, Orland Park, 60090 (from I-355 take IL-171 Archer Rd Exit toward 143rd Street (7.5 mi), take West St toward 147th St and follow the curve. From I-55 take US-12E/US-20E/US-45E/ S LaGrange Rd (10 mi); take W 144 PL and follow the curve). Free parking. Prizes $2,000 based on 80 paid entries. In 8 sections; no unrated allowed in Master/Expert section. Master/Expert (2000/up): $250-175-150-100-75. FIDE. Class A (1800-1999/unr): $125-75-50. FIDE. Class B (1600-1799/Unr): $125-75-50. Class C (1400-1599/Unr): $125-75-50. Class D (1200-1399/Unr): $125-75-50. Class E (Under 1200/Unr): $125-75-50. Under 1000 (K-12 only): Trophies to top 5. Under 700 (K-12 only): Trophies to top 5. Rated players may play up one section (additional $10). Unrated prize limit $50 on each section. Top 6 sections EF: Top 6 sections EF: $50 by 11/20, $60 after 11/20; $70 at site. U1000/U700: $25 by 11/20, $30 after 11/20; $40 at site. No credit cards on site! Online reservations and payments at www.intecsus.org Official uschess.org December supplement for ratings will be used if otherwise unrated. Schedule: Reg. on Dec. 10th at 8:30 – 9:30 am Top 6 sections: Sat: 10:00 am & 3:00 pm; Sun: 10:00 am & 3:00 pm U1000/U700 sections: Sat: 10:00 am, 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm; Sun: 10:00 am, 1:00 pm Bye: all, must commit before rd 2 or not have plus score. Boards, Sets, and Clocks will be provided by the North American Chess Association. Organizer supplied equipment must be used. Hotels: Comfort Inn Suites (8800 W 159TH ST Orland Park, IL 60462); HR: $85; Homewood Suites by Hilton (16245 LaGrange Road Orland Park, IL 60467); HR: $135 Both hotels are located in 10-15 minutes drive from the tournament site.
Ent: IntECS, Inc., 63 W 75th St., Willowbrook, IL 60527 www.intecsus.org 630-789-2951
Chess Magnet School JGP.
Before the police were called....
David Heiser sent me a Facebook "friend" request some weeks ago, I turned it down, as I generally do when I get a request from a person I believe to be of low character. But I held my tongue at the time.
Today, I touched David on the shoulder. (In retrospect, a big mistake, I know, as Sheila Heiser had made it clear she had no interest in talking: but I hadn't heard that from David.). David threatened to "lay me on the ground."
As the folks at the office said, "This is all about chess?"
I sincerely believe that the ICA proposal for Chicago Public Schools is far stronger than the Renaissance Knights proposal. But I believe in the transformational power of chess in the schools strongly enough that, for all my misgivings, I'd be willing to back the Renaissance Knights proposal. After all, the children in Chicago Public Schools should come first. That's all I wanted to say.
After the meeting, I'm standing outside City Hall chatting with GM Yury Shulman and Paul Kash, the Whitney Young coach, about ten yards north of the LaSalle Street entrance to City Hall. David and Sheila walk out the door. I motion for them to come to me, without approaching them. They scurry back in:: Sheila yells, "I'm calling the police!"
Today, I touched David on the shoulder. (In retrospect, a big mistake, I know, as Sheila Heiser had made it clear she had no interest in talking: but I hadn't heard that from David.). David threatened to "lay me on the ground."
As the folks at the office said, "This is all about chess?"
I sincerely believe that the ICA proposal for Chicago Public Schools is far stronger than the Renaissance Knights proposal. But I believe in the transformational power of chess in the schools strongly enough that, for all my misgivings, I'd be willing to back the Renaissance Knights proposal. After all, the children in Chicago Public Schools should come first. That's all I wanted to say.
After the meeting, I'm standing outside City Hall chatting with GM Yury Shulman and Paul Kash, the Whitney Young coach, about ten yards north of the LaSalle Street entrance to City Hall. David and Sheila walk out the door. I motion for them to come to me, without approaching them. They scurry back in:: Sheila yells, "I'm calling the police!"
...in appearance and fact
Two questions:
Who are the members of the board of Renaissance Knights Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in Illinois?
Who are the paid employees and independent contractors of Renaissance Knights Foundation (and affiliated entities, if any)? Why didn't David Heiser want to talk about his economic self-interest at today's CPS summit meeting? (OK, make that three questions.)
After all, this is Chicago. And people do have to eat: there's nothing nefarious about having an economic self-interest.
Who are the members of the board of Renaissance Knights Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in Illinois?
Who are the paid employees and independent contractors of Renaissance Knights Foundation (and affiliated entities, if any)? Why didn't David Heiser want to talk about his economic self-interest at today's CPS summit meeting? (OK, make that three questions.)
After all, this is Chicago. And people do have to eat: there's nothing nefarious about having an economic self-interest.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Eric Rosen gets IM Norm at World Youth!
Eric Rosen drew his last-round game to finish in 9th place with 6/9 (+4 =4 -1) in the World Youth Championships (under-18 section) in Caldas Novas, Brazil. His opponents included two GMs, an IM, and four FMs. His only loss was to top-rated GM Samvel Ter-Sahakyan of Armenia, who won the tournament with an undefeated 8-1 score.
Eric started the tournament ranked 27th with a 2305 rating. This apparently gives him his first IM norm, less than 30 days after receiving his FM title! By my calculation, he had a performance rating of 2455. According to the tournament site, he gained 27 rating points, gaining rating points every round except in his one loss. Very impressive. Congratulations, Eric!
Here are his round-by-round results (link here):
1: WIN Vasconcelos, Paulo Cesar Silva (1897) BRA
2: DRAW Zhou, Yang-Fan (IM, 2436) ENG
3: DRAW Grandadam, Nicolas (FM, 2370)
4: WIN Benitez Lozano, Javier (2068) MEX
5: WIN FM Kantans, Toms (FM, 2338) LAT
6: WIN FM Rios Cristhian, Camilo (FM, 2388) COL
7: DRAW Salem, A R Saleh (GM, 2511) UAE
8: LOSS Ter-Sahakyan, Samvel (GM, 2556) ARM
9: DRAW Aghasaryan, Robert (FM, 2331) ARM
Eric started the tournament ranked 27th with a 2305 rating. This apparently gives him his first IM norm, less than 30 days after receiving his FM title! By my calculation, he had a performance rating of 2455. According to the tournament site, he gained 27 rating points, gaining rating points every round except in his one loss. Very impressive. Congratulations, Eric!
Here are his round-by-round results (link here):
1: WIN Vasconcelos, Paulo Cesar Silva (1897) BRA
2: DRAW Zhou, Yang-Fan (IM, 2436) ENG
3: DRAW Grandadam, Nicolas (FM, 2370)
4: WIN Benitez Lozano, Javier (2068) MEX
5: WIN FM Kantans, Toms (FM, 2338) LAT
6: WIN FM Rios Cristhian, Camilo (FM, 2388) COL
7: DRAW Salem, A R Saleh (GM, 2511) UAE
8: LOSS Ter-Sahakyan, Samvel (GM, 2556) ARM
9: DRAW Aghasaryan, Robert (FM, 2331) ARM
Friday, November 25, 2011
Round 8 of World Youth Chess Championship underway
Eric Rosen is playing on Board 1 against GM Samvel Ter-Sahakyan of Armenia. Follow the action here!
Update 9:00 p.m. by Frederick Rhine Alas, Eric lost, leaving him with 5.5/8 (+4 =3 -1) with one round left. I haven't done the math, but according to Jon Burgess on Facebook he can still get an IM norm if he wins or draws tomorrow. Go Eric!! Update 2:05 p.m., courtesy Matt Pullin, who doesn't think it looks good. I agree.Update 12:20 p.m. I've been unable to get moves for some time. Here's the last I saw (obscure opening, still theory):
Here are the round 7 standings: Eric moves into a tie for first if he wins. Awonder Liang of Wisconsin leads the World Under-8 by a full point, while Aydin Turgut has a plus score in the same event!
Update 9:00 p.m. by Frederick Rhine Alas, Eric lost, leaving him with 5.5/8 (+4 =3 -1) with one round left. I haven't done the math, but according to Jon Burgess on Facebook he can still get an IM norm if he wins or draws tomorrow. Go Eric!! Update 2:05 p.m., courtesy Matt Pullin, who doesn't think it looks good. I agree.Update 12:20 p.m. I've been unable to get moves for some time. Here's the last I saw (obscure opening, still theory):
Here are the round 7 standings: Eric moves into a tie for first if he wins. Awonder Liang of Wisconsin leads the World Under-8 by a full point, while Aydin Turgut has a plus score in the same event!
Monday, November 21, 2011
Eric Rosen at World Youth Championship, Caldas Novas, Brazil
Round 5 pairings here! Eric is doing very well so far, with two draws against higher-rated players and two wins.
I found the draws at The Week in Chess. Eric defends a difficult Taimanov Sicilian with skill:
An exciting opening (the Ragozin QGD) fizzles out to a sterile draw:
Andi Rosen will be covering the event for Chess Life Online.
I found the draws at The Week in Chess. Eric defends a difficult Taimanov Sicilian with skill:
An exciting opening (the Ragozin QGD) fizzles out to a sterile draw:
Andi Rosen will be covering the event for Chess Life Online.
Samvel Ter-Sahakyan
GM Samvel Ter-Sahakyan of Armenia leads the event: he finished second in last year's event, held in Greece.At least we got one championship yesterday!
("We"? OK, I'm over 50 and living vicariously.)
NM Sam Schmakel of Whitney Young High School won his third national championship this weekend, the 10th grade section of the K-12 Championships in Dallas, Texas.
These events are not easy for the average 2200 teenager to win: Sam scored 6½-½, including 4½-½ against two fellow NMs and three experts. The event drew 1,182 players from across the nation, including 48 in the 10th-grade section.
Crosstable here! And here's the story on USCF's home page (no mention of Sam, but more on the event).
If only the young master could master the art of being in two places at one time.
NM Sam Schmakel of Whitney Young High School won his third national championship this weekend, the 10th grade section of the K-12 Championships in Dallas, Texas.
These events are not easy for the average 2200 teenager to win: Sam scored 6½-½, including 4½-½ against two fellow NMs and three experts. The event drew 1,182 players from across the nation, including 48 in the 10th-grade section.
Crosstable here! And here's the story on USCF's home page (no mention of Sam, but more on the event).
If only the young master could master the art of being in two places at one time.
"New York Knights extinguish Chicago Blaze in chess championship"
Bummer.
Listen to the podcast of WBEZ's coverage here!
Chicago Blaze (10.0 – 2.0) vs New York Knights (7.5 – 4.5) 
Listen to the podcast of WBEZ's coverage here!
Chicago Blaze (10.0 – 2.0) vs New York Knights (7.5 – 4.5) | Chicago Blaze | New York Knights | ||
| GM Mesgen Amanov: 2576 | 0.0 | 1.0 | GM Giorgi Kacheishvili: 2653 |
| GM Dmitry Gurevich: 2547 | 0.5 | 0.5 | IM Irina Krush: 2560 |
| IM Angelo Young: 2415 | 0.0 | 1.0 | SM Matt Herman: 2426 |
| NM Gopal Menon: 2222 | 1.0 | 0.0 | John Fernandez: 2129 |
| Avg Rating: 2440 | Avg Rating: 2442 | ||
| Chicago Total ------- | 1.5 | 2.5 | ------- New York Total |
Sunday, November 20, 2011
U.S. Chess League finals starting NOW!
Stolen from the USCL website. I'll be stopping by shortly: good luck to the Blaze!
1. Chicago Blaze vs New York Knights 3:00 PM ET
If you are wondering why some teams have an average rating of above 2401, click here
All ratings listed below are August ratings - not always the ratings used for the league rating calculations!
Team listed first has White on Boards 1+3
Sunday, November 20th, 2011
Chicago Blaze (10.0 – 2.0) vs New York Knights (7.5 – 4.5)
All Time Series Record: (This is their first match)
Starts at 2:00 PM CST Time Control - Game in 90 with 30 second increment
*Due to the World Youth and K-12 Nationals causing many players to be unavailable, Chicago agreed to allow New York to use John Fernandez on Board Four when generally that would not have been permitted as he had not played the requisite two games during the regular season
If the match ties 2 – 2, there will be a special tiebreaker. Click here for the tiebreaker procedures.
1. Chicago Blaze vs New York Knights 3:00 PM ET
If you are wondering why some teams have an average rating of above 2401, click here
All ratings listed below are August ratings - not always the ratings used for the league rating calculations!
Team listed first has White on Boards 1+3
Sunday, November 20th, 2011
Chicago Blaze (10.0 – 2.0) vs New York Knights (7.5 – 4.5)
All Time Series Record: (This is their first match)
Starts at 2:00 PM CST Time Control - Game in 90 with 30 second increment
| Chicago Blaze |
New York Knights |
||
| GM Mesgen Amanov: 2576 | GM Giorgi Kacheishvili: 2653 | ||
| GM Dmitry Gurevich: 2547 | IM Irina Krush: 2560 | ||
| IM Angelo Young: 2415 | SM Matt Herman: 2426 | ||
| NM Gopal Menon: 2222 | John Fernandez: 2129 | ||
| Avg Rating: 2440 |
Avg Rating: 2442 |
||
| Chicago Total ------- | ------- New York Total |
*Due to the World Youth and K-12 Nationals causing many players to be unavailable, Chicago agreed to allow New York to use John Fernandez on Board Four when generally that would not have been permitted as he had not played the requisite two games during the regular season
If the match ties 2 – 2, there will be a special tiebreaker. Click here for the tiebreaker procedures.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Armenian Gambit
From Avet Demourian's September 15th Associated Press story in the Chicago Tribune
Tiny Armenia is a big player in world chess, and a new gambit could make it even bigger: mandatory chess in school.
The click-clack of chess pieces is being heard around the former Soviet nation's primary schools this fall, as the game becomes part of the curriculum along with such standards as math and history for children between the ages of 7 and 9 [....]
Wendi Fischer, executive director of the United States' Foundation for Chess [sic], has campaigned for the game to be taken up in U.S. classrooms and says Armenia's program has big potential.
"By incorporating chess as part of the curriculum, you are including a game, and that's how kids see it," Fischer said. "They think they're focused on fun. So I think it is a great way to cross over between a true hardcore curriculum that's mandatory and the young children being able to play and explore and have fun.":
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
"Local chess team Chicago Blaze looks to keep competition in check "
Prior to last night's Blaze match, Sevan Muradian was interviewed yesterday by Alison Cuddy of WBEZ's Eight Forty-Eight. Listen here!
Chicago 2½, L.A. 1½!!!
Last night at the North Shore Chess Center, Dmitry Gurevich and Josh Friedel powered the Chicago Blaze to a 2½-1½ win over the L.A. Vibe. On to the U.S. Chess League finals!
Must work: games here!
Must work: games here!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Road trip: Kings Island Open
I saw many Chicago players this weekend at the Kings Island Open in Mason, Ohio: the top section included GM Dmitry Gurevich, FM Andrew Karklins, and FM Aleksandar Stamnov, and Wayne Clark was one of the directors. The top Illinois finisher, FM Igor Tsyganov, scored an undefeated 3½-1½ and drew GM Alexander Shabalov. Kentucky lion Gregory Kaidanov took top honors in the Open Section with a perfect 5-0.
Congratulations to Illinois players Zhijin Hu, who won $1186 for clear first in the Under 1250 section, and Delondon Hawthorne, who won $678 for equal first in the Under 1000 section.
Vanity p.s.: I won the $678 "second-best fish" prize when the congenial NM Owechuku Iwu (who'd previously beaten me four games in a row) once again outplayed me as he normally does, but then went wrong in a tricky bishop vs. knight ending. But is there any other kind?
Crosstables here!
Congratulations to Illinois players Zhijin Hu, who won $1186 for clear first in the Under 1250 section, and Delondon Hawthorne, who won $678 for equal first in the Under 1000 section.
Vanity p.s.: I won the $678 "second-best fish" prize when the congenial NM Owechuku Iwu (who'd previously beaten me four games in a row) once again outplayed me as he normally does, but then went wrong in a tricky bishop vs. knight ending. But is there any other kind?
Brock-Iwu, Kings Island Open 2011
Black to play
The problems that knights have in stopping rook pawns from queening are legendary. But sometimes bishops have issues coping with rook pawns, too, especially when they're supported by a friendly king and knight. (I learned this lesson the hard way from Jiri Marek at the 2002 Illinois Open.)
Normally, play on both sides of the board favors the player with the bishop, and Black is up two pawns to boot. But it seems that White is not worse here! Dr. Iwu went into a 45-minute think, then played 1...Kb3? 2.Kxf7 h4 3.Nd3, and White soon won. What would you have done? Some reasonable-looking moves appear to lose, and I suspect that two strange-looking moves draw.
"Masters of the Game and Leaders by Example"
Left to right: James Black Jr., Justus Williams and Joshua Colas
Richard Perry for The New York Times
Fewer than 2 percent of the 47,000 members of the United States Chess Federation are masters — and just 13 of them are under the age of 14.
Check out this great story in The New York Times.
Among that select group of prodigies are three black players from the New York City area — Justus Williams, Joshua Colas and James Black Jr. — who each became masters before their 13th birthdays.
And let's work together to create some competition for the New Yorkers.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Stoking the starmaker machinery
Chicago Public School (CPS) chess master key to success of Chicago area professional chess teamSKOKIE, IL, NOVEMBER 12, 2011: Whitney Young Magnet High School sophomore Sam Schmakel has been the key that unlocked the success of Chicago’s professional chess team, the Chicago Blaze, which set a regular season best record of 8 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss.The Blaze entered its fourth season in 2011 with a roster that included wily veterans -- mostly Grandmasters and International Masters -- and energy filled youth players who have achieved much from a young age.Schmakel, the best chess player ever in CPS and currently a student of Grandmaster Dmitry Gurevich, began playing chess during the summer between kindergarten and 1st grade. He is a product of the chess program his mother Eileen began at Decatur Classical, a CPS Gifted Program. In short order, Schmakel began to dominate the local and national scene, winning 2 national championships and winning a key game in the 2010-2011 school year, to secure the Illinois State High School Team Championship for Whitney Young.Schmakel, who earned his title of National Master only a few months ago, has been the linchpin of success for the Blaze. He was tapped during the summer months to become part of the team and has proven himself by being undefeated in his games thus far (5-0).Largely due to his performance, the Blaze has won its way into the Divisional Championships to take place on Monday night November 14th at 8 p.m. Schmakel will play again that night as the Blaze try to win their first ever Divisional Championship.The Chicago Blaze is a member of the United States Chess League (USCL), which oversees online matches among the nation’s top 16 teams. Blaze team members gather each week during the season to play their matches at the North Shore Chess Center, located at 5500 W Touhy Ave Suite A in Skokie, IL.For more information on the Chicago Blaze visit http://www.chicagoblazechess.com or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/chiblazechess
Friday, November 11, 2011
Last call - Akobian seminar
Greetings from Mason, Ohio. I may not be posting much this weekend....
Here's a cut-and-paste from tonight's email. The North Shore Chess Center is at 5500 West Touhy Ave. in Skokie: looks like a great event!
Here's a cut-and-paste from tonight's email. The North Shore Chess Center is at 5500 West Touhy Ave. in Skokie: looks like a great event!
2 sessions available - Saturday Nov 12 or Sunday Nov 13
Enjoy a 6 hour training session with one of the top Grandmasters in the United States - GM Varuzhan Akobian! GM Akobian helped the US team achieve a bronze medal twice in the 2006 and 2008 Chess Olympiads, and a Silver medal in the 2009 World Team Championships. In 2010 GM Akobian was tapped to become the trainer/coach for the US Men's Olympiad Team as well.
You can join GM Akobian in a 6 hour marathon lecture covering openings, middle game, and end-game. He will review popular opening lines, the ideas behind them and how to transition to the middle game along with middle game strategy, and what to do (and not to do) in the end-game. You'll be invited to ask questions and discuss the pro's and con's of variations, along with testing your inner-GM against this battled hardened veteran with on the spot puzzles and challenges.
The session will begin at 11:30am and continue until 5:30pm. After a 30 minute break, GM Akobian will perform a simul. Feel free to bring your personal chess boards if you want GM Akobian to autograph it for you also! Snacks and beverages will be available.
This session is $75 for members of the North Shore Chess Center and $100 for non-members if registered by Friday evening 9pm on Nov 11. Add an additional $20 at the door. Onsite registrations cannot be guaranteed for space!
Seating is limited to 30 people on a first registered basis.
Register online - http://www.nachess.org/events
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Board 4: Xiong 0 - Schmakel 1
FM Jeffrey Xiong of Dallas is only 10 years old! Sam Schmakel may be the first to get his GM title, but I'd put my money on Jeffrey to win the World Championship first.
This Najdorf is a wonderful theoretical battle that does credit to both young players. All of this has been played before until Sam's novelty 23...Na4!?
This Najdorf is a wonderful theoretical battle that does credit to both young players. All of this has been played before until Sam's novelty 23...Na4!?
Board 3: Amanov 0 - Holt 1
Another fascinating game on Board 3. Mesgen's preparation in the Exchange Slav is deep, but Holt deals with the homecooking and wins a complex ending, avenging his Chicago Open defeat at Mesgen's hands.
Board 2: Sadorra 1 - Friedel 0
Respect to GM Julio Sadorra, who managed to squeeze our GM Josh Friedel from an unpromising-looking QGD Tartakower.
Chicago Blaze ties Dallas Destiny 2-2, advances in playoffs!
The Blaze came in with the best regular season record and only needed to tie Dallas on Monday night to make it to the semi-finals. A tie was all they could manage, but that was enough to advance!
Here's the Board 1, matchup GM Yury Shulman of the Blaze vs. GM Cristian Chirila:
White eliminated Black's "good" bishop on move 10, but Black's position is still fully playable. After move 36, it's easy to see that White wants to evacuate the king from the kingside in preparation for the breakthrough. So White moved the king from h1 to d4 in the middle game!
To me, phase 1 of White's redeployment (moves 36-60) wasn't so hard to understand, but I was really impressed by Yury's second reorganization (moves 60-66). Every available unit is needed for the attack, including the lowly h-pawn!
This was the last game to finish: Yury kept the draw comfortably in hand and patiently improved his position until it became clear that he would need to win for the Blaze to advance. And win he did: congratuations, Grandmaster!
Here's the Board 1, matchup GM Yury Shulman of the Blaze vs. GM Cristian Chirila:
White eliminated Black's "good" bishop on move 10, but Black's position is still fully playable. After move 36, it's easy to see that White wants to evacuate the king from the kingside in preparation for the breakthrough. So White moved the king from h1 to d4 in the middle game!
To me, phase 1 of White's redeployment (moves 36-60) wasn't so hard to understand, but I was really impressed by Yury's second reorganization (moves 60-66). Every available unit is needed for the attack, including the lowly h-pawn!
This was the last game to finish: Yury kept the draw comfortably in hand and patiently improved his position until it became clear that he would need to win for the Blaze to advance. And win he did: congratuations, Grandmaster!
BOBBY FISCHER AGAINST THE WORLD: Chicago premiere, this Friday at Facets!
"All I want to do, ever, is just play chess." -Bobby Fischer
Bobby Fischer Against the World is a fascinating documentary that charts the turbulent life – from a childhood of isolation and neglect to young chess prodigy, world champion and subsequent madness and disgrace – of one of chess's undisputed masters. The World Championship of 1972, Fischer vs. Spassky, was replete with Cold War implications as a nation pinned its hopes on Fischer as the man to end Soviet dominance. As the center of media attention, Fischer was never equipped for a life in the spotlight and veteran filmmaker Liz Garbus (The Farm: Angola USA), exposes the disturbingly high price Fischer paid to achieve his legendary success as well as the resulting toll it took on his psyche. Fischer was a recluse for decades before resurfacing for a bizarre final chapter as a fugitive and rare archival footage alongside insightful interviews with those closest to him expand this captivating story of a mastermind's tumultuous rise — and fall.
Directed by Liz Garbus, U.S.A./UK/Iceland, 2010, 93 mins. In English and Russian with English subtitles
Showtimes: Fri., Nov. 11 at 7 & 9 pm Sat.-Sun., Nov. 12-13 at 3, 5, 7 & 9 pm Mon.-Thurs., Nov. 14-17 at 7 & 9 pmFacets Multimedia is a Chicago treasure: it's at 1517 W. Fullerton Ave. Call 800.331.6197 for more info.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Stunning decoys
(And no, we're not talking about carved wooden mallard ducks.) One final tactical example from Yakov Neistadt's Improve Your Chess Tactics (New in Chess, 2011): buy this book!
The legendary Nona Gaprindashvili missed an amazing shot in her 1979 game from the Soviet Championship with Irina Levitina. I'll quote from Neistadt's explanation, but I'll leave out the amazing move she missed.
The legendary Nona Gaprindashvili missed an amazing shot in her 1979 game from the Soviet Championship with Irina Levitina. I'll quote from Neistadt's explanation, but I'll leave out the amazing move she missed.
Levitina-Gaprindashvili, Tbilisi 1979
White to play has to stop mate on g2 somehow....
Neistadt writes:
"Black has just played her queen to f3, to threaten mate. In reply to 1.Qc6 (or 1.Qxe5+ Bf6 2.Qe4 Rfe8, Gaprindashvili's original calculations had gone 1...e4 and after 2.Qxe4 the decoy sacrifice 2...Rge8 3.Nxe8+ Rxe8. But when the white queen appeared on c6, she realized that at the end of this variation, White in her turn can attack the queen with 4.Nd4
Levitina-Gaprindashvili, Tbilisi 1979
Analysis after 4.Nd4: Black to play
(4...Rxe4 5.Nxf3), and Gaprindashvili was forced to abandon her original intention. Instead of 1...e4 she played 1...Qf5 and soon lost.
However, [...]"
So what did Nona miss?
Monday, November 7, 2011
Stolen from Facebook
...specifically from Blaze manager Daniel Parmet's post.
Tonight in the first round of playoffs the Chicago Blaze takes on the Dallas Destiny! Tune in to ICC at 7pm CST to watch the fiery match! Board1: GM Yury Shulman fresh off his GOTW win! vs GM Cristian Chirilia Board2: GM Julio Sadorra vs GM Josh Friedel Board3: GM Mesgen Amanov vs IM Conrad Holt Board4: FM Jeffrey Xiong vs NM Sam Schmakel Blaze advances on a draw!Or stop by the North Shore Chess Center!
The pin must win
With the absolute pin (pins?), all things are possible, as demonstrated by this puzzle from Yakov Neistadt's Improve Your Chess Tactics (New in Chess, 2011).
Parr-Wheatcroft, London 1938
White to play and win
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Of course you see the solution immediately....
...but can you imagine carelessly missing this shot (or, even worse, allowing it) in a tournament game?
Once again, this is from Winning Chess Exercises For Kids, a fabulous workbook for advanced beginners!
White to play and win
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Board 4: Young 1 - Adamson 0
Parents will make sacrifices so their little ones can get ahead in life. So too bishops.
With his killer shot on move 60, Angelo Young saved the Blaze from defeat. Well done!
Board 4: Atoufi 1 - Menon 0
Trendsetter Gopal Menon plays the fashionable 4...Qb6!? (I don't even know the name of this line: 2...Nc6 and 4...Qb6 is the Grivas Sicilian proper, and the Grivas is reached in the game by transposition.)
25...Qb3?! 26.Rda1! did not work well for Black in the game. Instead, Black could have played 25...Bxc4! 26.Qxc4 Rxa5, the point being that the pawn fork 27.b4 can be met by 27...Ra4 with messy play.
25...Qb3?! 26.Rda1! did not work well for Black in the game. Instead, Black could have played 25...Bxc4! 26.Qxc4 Rxa5, the point being that the pawn fork 27.b4 can be met by 27...Ra4 with messy play.
Board 2: Altounian 1 - Felecan 0
Black gets overambitious against White's hypermodern noodling-around and doesn't get enough for the sacrificed pawns. But Florin sets a beautiful coffeehouse trap on move 32. Black doesn't take the poisoned queen, but doesn't find one of the several clear winning lines, either, and Felecan is back in the game.
Then 37...Rf6? allows 38.d5! Ouch. Chess is hard.
Then 37...Rf6? allows 38.d5! Ouch. Chess is hard.
Blaze 2 - Arizona 2: Shulman's Board 1 win
First, belated congratulations to the Chicago Blaze for a fabulous regular season (8 wins, 1 loss, and Monday's tie against the Arizona Scorpions), and best of luck in the playoffs! (About which more later.)
On Board 1, Mackenzie Molner played a Nimzoindian line that I've always found attractive in the abstract, but never understood well enough to risk in tournament play. (Black's bishop appears to be trapped after 6...Ba5, but not really.) Shulman plays for the center, eliminates the pesky Nc5, and creates weaknesses in the Black camp on e6 and c6. But Molner defends well until a slip on move 39.
Find White's winning move in the diagram below!
On Board 1, Mackenzie Molner played a Nimzoindian line that I've always found attractive in the abstract, but never understood well enough to risk in tournament play. (Black's bishop appears to be trapped after 6...Ba5, but not really.) Shulman plays for the center, eliminates the pesky Nc5, and creates weaknesses in the Black camp on e6 and c6. But Molner defends well until a slip on move 39.
Find White's winning move in the diagram below!
Yury Shulman lecture / simul TODAY at Ida Noyes!
Details here. Might be too late to grab a board, but it's not too late to hear Yury's lecture and kibitz!
University of Chicago
Ida Noyes - East Lounge 1212 East 59th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
Saturday, November 5, 4:30PM
Lecture is open to all. Spaces limited for simul, please RSVP to reserve space. You will be sent an email before the event telling you if you have a spot or if you are on the waiting list.
Priority given to active chess club members. Members of the public welcome.
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