See twelve moves ahead at a glance

Kreitchik-Laitgeb, Vienna 1951
White to play and win

One move wins, everything else loses.

 I cannot give enough praise to the book I found this example from, Artur Yusupov's Boost Your Chess 1: The Fundamentals.  It's the second book in a nine-book (!) series of training manuals.  If you read them in order, the first volume is Build Up Your Chess 1: The Fundamentals, and the third volume is Chess Evolution 1: The Fundamentals.  Forget the confusing names, and run out and buy these three orange books.  Each book consists of twenty-four tightly focused lessons with a related test.

Roughly, Yusupov's goal is in these first three books is to give the under-1500 ELO player the knowledge needed to make it to 1800.

The three-book "Beyond the Basics" series (all with blue cover) is intended to bring our knowledge up to 2100...

Build Up Your Chess 2: Beyond the Basics
Boost Your Chess 2: Beyond the Basics
Chess Evolution 2: Beyond the Basics

...and the three-book "Mastery" series (green covers) gets even harder.

Build Up Your Chess with Artur Yusupov: Mastery
Boost Your Chess 3: Mastery
Chess Evolution 3: Mastery

My peak USCF rating (so far!) is 2172, and I'm still slowly working my way through the orange books!  As Yusupov argues in the introduction, "The reader will benefit from the methodical build-up in this book, even if some of the material is familiar, as it will close any possible gaps in his chess knowledge and thus construct solid foundations for future success."  So in a given chapter, I might be able to solve 80% to 90% of the problems easily, but I'm finding some chapters surprisingly difficult.  (We chess autodidacts can fill gaps in our education, and these books are an amazing teaching resource.)

Yusupov studied with Dvoretsky, but these books are far more accessible than any Dvoretsky book I've ever picked up.

Just buy the darn things!

Angelo Young in Iowa City

Story here.

Department of hmm

As of this afternoon, we've got a whopping total of seventeen preregistrants for the 2013 Illinois Open.  With three grandmasters entered, it's true that your odds of winning the state title are low.  But with generous cash prizes and an incredibly strong field, your chances of having fun and bringing a little money home are high!

Or maybe you're a procrastinator like me?  (I was waiting till payday to enter....)

If you want to save the $3 convenience fee, Tim Just needs to RECEIVE your entry by August 26th.  Enter by mail here (this link is for non-ICA members).

ICA members, enter online here and save $5!  Or get your darn entry in the mail today and save another $3 (less postage): enter here (members only).

Enlightened by Houdini

It's always educational to analyze one's games, even "stupid" games like online blitz games, with a strong engine like Houdini. In the following game, for example, I made a major tactical hiccup on move 10, which should have dropped a piece - to which I, and apparently also my opponent, were oblivious. Then I did something right, exploiting his inaccuracy on move 15, and got "an easily won game." I blundered on move 23 with a "loose" move, which he exploited with a tactic that should have left me scrambling for a draw. But just two moves later he fell into a back-rank trap that left me in an ending an exchange up. Thanks to the wonders of premove, I was able to convert it into a win despite the dearth of time on my clock.

Play chess at Julius Meinl, 7 p.m. tonight!

https://www.facebook.com/chicagochesscenter/posts/551572854910373

To be more specific, the Julius Meinl on the southwest corner of Lincoln and Montrose...see you there!

We play blitz

Beware of this sort of thing - White pieces converging on c7 - in the Sicilian.

Lean precociously forward

More from the Trib: "I got the sense, reading this, that soccer and chess are for the ruling class of the future and dance is for the servants."  The book under discussion is Hilary Levey Friedman's Playing to Win: Raising Children in a Competitive Culture.

We all want our children to flourish, but sheesh, dance is cool, too.

"I ain't never heard the truth to be inconclusive"

From today's Tribune: did playing chess develop Mr. Savory's long-range planning skills, and help one execute a thirty-six-year plan to potentially clear his name?

Closer to home (2013 Illinois Open!)

2013 ILLINOIS OPEN

The Illinois Chess Association's Premier Championship Event!

Enter now and save!

Face the grandmasters! (Or, if you prefer, your fellow patzers...)

Come join us for affordable fun in Oak Brook, August 31-September 2, 2013

A 2013 Illinois Tour Event

Details and entry at chessforlife.com

DoubleTree Hotel: 1909 Spring Road, Oak Brook, Illinois 60523

(630) 472-6020, (630) 472-6000: $95 room rate until 8/16!

Reservations: 866-812-3959, please ask for Illinois Chess Association block rates.

Six rounds

(Three-day) Saturday & Sunday 12 noon and 6 p.m.; Monday 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

(Two-day) Sunday 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 6 p.m; Monday 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Time controls: (Three-day) Game in 90 minutes plus 30-second increment

Time controls: (Two-day) Game in 45 minutes plus 5-second delay for rounds 1-3, then merges with three-day section

2 Sections - 2 Playing Schedules - Book Dealer - An ICA Tour Event

Plus Score Prizes! - Increment - Discounted EF for ICA members- Scholastic Side Event!

Free Entry to Illinois Grandmasters, International Masters, & FIDE Masters

GM Nikola Mitkov, GM Dmitry Gurevich, GM Mesgen Amanov, IM Angelo Young and FM Albert Chow have already signed up!

Plus Score Prizes!! All players scoring at least 3 1/2 can claim a $20 book store gift certificate!

$7,000 based on 150 paid entries: $$$ increase to maximum as attendance increases.

Can't play all three days? Check out our two-day Busy Person Schedule.

OPEN SECTION PRIZES

• Overall $1,050 - $735 - $525
• Under 2400 $490 - $350 - $245
• Under 2200 $335 - $260
• Under 2000 $245 - $175

RESERVE SECTION PRIZES

Open to all players rated below 1800.

• Overall $700 - $490 - $350
• Under 1600 $280 - $210
• Under 1400 $210- $140
• Under 1200 $140 - $70

Trophies Plus Grand Prix Points: 30

Save money and preregister! $94 by mail (until August 24th) or $94 online (until 6 p.m. August 30th). Note: $20 play-up fee for entrants rated below 1799 who choose to play in the Open Section

ICA members save $5! Preregister for $89.

Register now at chessforlife.com!

Organized by Chess for Life LLC for the Illinois Chess Association.

The Illinois Chess Association is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. We are the official Illinois affiliate of the United States Chess Federation. By joining ICA, you support our efforts to promote chess in Illinois and you receive member benefits.

Why Join ICA?

We get email

Hello Bill,

I think we played correspondence chess many years ago?

Enclosed you will find information about an upcoming tournament that the Iowa State Chess Association will be hosting. I ask that you post this at any of your tournaments, club meetings, and show it to players who you think might be interested. If I can be of service and advertise any of your tournaments please send me a flyer.
The Iowa Open Tournament is in its 59th year and my goal to reach more than 150 entrants seems very possible with help from people like you. Historically we have been around 110. This year, like last year, we have added the bonus that it is FIDE rated! We need to set a new record this year!

[...]

The site for the tournament is in an excellent location right off of Interstate 80 (NE side of exit 242). This is 3.5 hours from Chicago, 5 hours from Minneapolis and Kansas City, 4 hours from St. Louis, and 4.5 hours from Omaha and Milwaukee. The hotel has a nice pool and restaurant. Iowa City and Coralville have many things for the family to do including a large mall located only 5 minutes away from the hotel.

International Master Angelo Young and 2011 World Champion 8/U Awonder Liang the 10 year-old sensation (rating 2273) have already committed to play. Come take a shot at beating a World Champion or an IM. It won’t be easy.

Bill Broich and I will be the head TDs for this event. If you or anybody you talk to have questions please do not hesitate to call or email. An answering machine is available when I am not.

A Heritage Event!
Aug. 24-25, GPP: 20 (Enhanced) Iowa
59th Iowa Open Championship (USCF and FIDE Rated). 5-SS, G/90 i30 (Some clocks available) Accelerated pairings may be used in Rounds 1-2. IASCA Super GP Qualifier. Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, 300 E 9th St. (I-80, SE side of Exit 242), Coralville, IA 52241. Rds.: 10-2:30-7:30, 9-2. Reg.: 8:30-9:30. Prizes: ($1320 b/55 Top 3 Gtd) 400+T-225-125 U2000, U1800, U1600 125/65 each. EF: $55 pstmked 8/17, $65 on site, IM & GM free EF deducted from any prize, Jrs. & Sr. $10 off, $10 off Out of state residents, IASCA membership reqd ($15 reg, $10 Jr.) or OSA. Bye's available rounds 1-3 if asked prior to start of round. Round 4 or 5 only if requested prior to tournament starting. Tournament Director: Bill Broich. ENT: IASCA, c/o Mark Capron, 3123 Juniper Dr., Iowa City, IA 52245, Ph# 319.321.5435, mcapron243@mchsi.com or broich01@yahoo.com. Hotel: 319-688-4000, $95.00 ask for chess block, reserve before 8/12 to guarantee rate. USCF – August 2013 Rating List will be used for pairing purposes. FIDE rules will be used. Chess Magnet School JGP. Online registration at https://www.onlineregistration.cc/

A State Championship Event!
Aug. 24, 2013 Iowa Reserve Championship
4-SS, G/75 d5. Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, 300 E 9th St. (I-80, SE side of Exit 242), Coralville, IA 52241. Open to U1600. Rds.: 10-1-3:45-6:00. Reg.: 8:30-9:30. Prizes: $340 b/25: $140+T-90-60, U1200-$50. EF: $30 pstmkd 8/17, $40 on site, Jrs & Srs $5 off, Out of State $5 off. IASCA membership rqd ($15 Reg, $10 Jr.) or OSA. ENT: IASCA, c/o Mark Capron, 3123 Juniper Dr., Iowa City, IA 52245, Ph# 319.321.5435, mcapron243@mchsi.com. Hotel: 319-688-4000, $95.00 ask for chess block, reserve before 8/12 to guarantee rate. Chess Magnet School JGP. Online registration athttps://www.onlineregistration.cc/

Aug. 24, Rated Beginner Open (RBO)
5-SS, G/30 d5. Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, 300 E 9th St. (I-80, SE side of Exit 242), Coralville, IA 52241. Open to U1200 or Unrated. Rds.: 10:30-11:40, lunch, 1:15 then ASAP. Reg.: 8:30-10:00. EF: $15 pstmkd 8/17, $20 on site, Out of State $5 off. Prizes: 1st-5th Trophies, U1000, U800, U600, U400 & UNR 1st & 2nd Place trophies. ENT: IASCA, c/o Mark Capron, 3123 Juniper Dr., Iowa City, IA 52245, Ph# 319.321.5435, mcapron243@mchsi.com. Hotel: 319-688-4000, $95.00 ask for chess block, reserve before 8/12 to guarantee rate. Online registration at https://www.onlineregistration.cc/

A State Championship Event!
Aug. 23, 2013 Iowa Quick Chess Championship
6-SS, G/10 d2. Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, 300 E 9th St. (I-80, SE side of Exit 242), Coralville, IA 52241. Rds.: 7:15-7:45-8:15-8:45-9:15-9:45. Reg.: 6-7pm. Prizes: $280 b/25: $100-60, U2000, U1600, U1200 each $40. EF: $15 pstmkd 8/17, $20 on site, Out of State $5 off. IM & GM free EF deducted from any prize. IASCA membership reqd ($15 reg, $10 Jr.) or OSA. ENT: IASCA, c/o Mark Capron, 3123 Juniper Dr., Iowa City, IA 52245, Ph# 319.321.5435, mcapron243@mchsi.com. Hotel: 319-688-4000, $95.00 ask for chess block, reserve before 8/12 to guarantee rate. Online registration at https://www.onlineregistration.cc/


Best Regards,


Mark Capron 

An old chestnut, or rather two of them

From the diagrammed position, Black's fatal blunder 9...Ng4?? occurred 58 times in Mega Database 2013. The position arises from a number of different move orders, including the Sicilian Accelerated Dragon, Maroczy Bind, as below; the Symmetrical English (1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 g6 6.e4 Bg7 7.Be3 d6 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0); and the King's Indian (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 0-0 5.Nf3 c5 6.Be2 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Nc6 8.Be3 d6 9.0-0).

I remembered seeing this trap in GM Larry Evans' 1970 book Chess Catechism (p. 72), or thought I had. It turned out that Evans was referring to a very similar trap in the Sicilian Dragon, where White's pawn is still on c2 and Black hasn't castled. Alekhine, in his famous book of the New York 1924 tournament (Lasker's immortal triumph, at age 55), annotating the game below, wrote of Réti's eighth move, "More cautious is 8.P-KR3, for now Black can play ...N-KN5." Evans' correspondent had dutifully played the recommended 8...N-KN5 (8...Ng4) in his own game, only to be rudely awakened by 9.Bxg4!, which works just as well as in the other version. This version of the trap is seen much less often (8...Ng4 was played five times in Mega Database 2013), and, oddly, the blunderer is much more successful! In the first version of the trap, White played 10.Bxg4! 56 out of 58 times. On the 52 occasions that Black played 10...Bxg4, White found the winning follow-up 11.Nxc6! 36 times. In the present version, incredibly, White found the winning 9.Bxg4! only once in five games, and only scored 30%! Vepkhvishvili-Wiedersich, Pardubice Open 1993 (not in Mega) is one of the rare games where White found 9.Bxg4!

More Internet silliness

White to play and win.

Cookout to benefit the Chicago Chess Center!

Date:

Sunday, September 8

Place:


Lakeview Men's Club
2732 N Pine Grove Ave
Chicago, IL 60614

Donation:

$20

Come out and eat, drink and socialize at the Lakeview Men's Club at a cookout to benefit the Chicago Chess Center. All proceeds go to the CCC. Cash bar. Ages 21 and over.
 

Assassinating the Sniper

David Peng wins Under 10 Gold at Pan Ams!

Check out Aviv Friedman's article on Chess Life Online.

Photo courtesy Chess Life Online.  

Back row: Jessica Regam, Armen Ambartsoumian, Aviv Friedman, Andranik Matikozyan, Agata Bykhovtsev
Front row: Aasa  Dolammapati, Naomi Bashkansky, Aksithi Eswaran, David Peng, Kevin Cole.

U.S. Open decompression

Back from Madison!  I dropped 42 (!) rating points.  There's some rough justice: I'd been playing poorly & somehow gaining ELO.  At the U.S. Open, I played well enough to have a mediocre event: my opponents did not permit me that luxury.

As for real players: NM Sam Schmakel (right in below picture) was still in contention for the national title in the final round, but lost to IM Mackenzie Molner (left) in yesterday's final round. Schmakel, FM Eric Rosen, and NM William Aramil all finished with 7-2 scores, a full point off the 8-1 score posted by IM Molner, GM Julio Sadorra, and GM Joshua Friedel.


MSA crosstable here.

Another Internet game

White makes some instructive mistakes in this game, in effect a Sicilian Dragon by transposition from the Sozin, Benko Variation (6...Qb6).

William Aramil at the U.S. Open

It's really not fair to William and his excellent tournament to show this game: he has five wins and two losses to Grandmasters.

Eric Rosen at the U.S. Open

Eric has six wins and a loss to the tournament leader, GM Aleksandr Lenderman.

Is prosopagnosia related to "amaurosis scacchistica"?

Prosopagnosia (which Keith Ammann taught me how to pronounce) is a fancy word for "face blindness."  This is my third day at the U.S. Open, and it's embarrassing to me to speak to a new friend for ten minutes while desperately trying to remember who that person is.  So when you come to Middleton, Wisconsin, this week to play in the Open (or just to visit), kindly reintroduce yourself as you shake my hand.  It's not you, it's me, and I'll be grateful.

Amaurosis schacchistica is Dr. Tarrasch's tongue-in-cheek term for "chess blindness."  Wikipedia's definition: "the failure of a chess player, during a chess game, to make a normally obvious good move or see a normally obvious danger."  Well, that summarizes my Round 2.  In the position below, I have a clearly winning position, and managed to lose. 

Bill Brock - Mohammedreza Hajiarbabi
White to Play

My good-natured opponent apologetically showed me the move I missed, and a couple others.

But I'm having fun nonetheless. Immediately after drafting this blog entry, International Master John Watson (whose face I recognized!) sat down next to me in the hotel coffeeshop.  We chatted about this position, Daniel Kahneman's Thinking: Fast and Slow, and ways of thinking about chess positions.

Edit: here's the game.