Leo Kaushansky played last weekend!
For the uninitiated, Kaushansky was Chicago's top player for at least one year in the pre-Gurevich 1980s. He, Dmitry, and Albert Chow were among the co-champions of the 1994 U.S. Open in Chicago.
Friday, June 3, 2011
As long as we're posting articles from NY papers....
Great article on James Black in yesterday's Daily News.
Here's my challenge to Rahm: why can't we turn out greater champions in Chicago?
P.S. You can also watch the WNYC interview with James Black:
Handball, chess, scholastic competition, and the amateur ideal
Today's New York Times reports that two 17-year-old handball champions were disqualified from the Public Schools Athletic League handball championship "because they had entered a tournament that awarded cash prizes, which is against league rules."
In chess, as in handball, one becomes a better player by facing stronger opponents. I don't like teenagers playing games for money. But I think the definition of "amateur" needs to be re-examined by the Illinois High School Association and Chicago Public Schools. Merely competing against non-amateurs should not jeopardize one's amateur status. In my opinion, it's reasonable to ban students from accepting prizes.
Organizers can help (and possibly help their profit margins) by offering amateur entry fees to their events. If a high school kid can't accept a $5,000 prize, then why should that kid have to pay $200+ to enter the event?
In chess, as in handball, one becomes a better player by facing stronger opponents. I don't like teenagers playing games for money. But I think the definition of "amateur" needs to be re-examined by the Illinois High School Association and Chicago Public Schools. Merely competing against non-amateurs should not jeopardize one's amateur status. In my opinion, it's reasonable to ban students from accepting prizes.
Organizers can help (and possibly help their profit margins) by offering amateur entry fees to their events. If a high school kid can't accept a $5,000 prize, then why should that kid have to pay $200+ to enter the event?
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Sicilian Defense traps - YouTube video
I just uploaded my third video on opening traps to YouTube. To find all my videos (three so far) search for "Chicago Chess Blog."
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Chess Drum on Chicago Open
International Masters Farai Mandizha of Zimbabwe and Oladapo Adu of Nigeria
Photo: Daaim Shabazz
The Chess Drum visits a suddenly-old friend from Jules Stein's Chicago Chess Center and takes some cool photos.
A cute minature from yesterday
Courtesy Dennis Monokroussos at The Chess Mind.
Chen-Stopa, Chicago 2011
Black to play and win immediately
Vanity combination (relegated to the notes)
So what was I thinking yesterday when I played 18...Ng4!? in the position below? Yes, taking on f2 with check is threatened, but there is no mate, and it seems that White could play 19.dxc6 "for free." Don't let Rybka decide for you: use your noggin. Post the critical variation(s) in the comments.
In the post-mortem, my genial opponent (a NM from Virginia) and I suspected that the move was possibly not the best, but definitely the most fun to play in the last round.
In the post-mortem, my genial opponent (a NM from Virginia) and I suspected that the move was possibly not the best, but definitely the most fun to play in the last round.
NM Adarsh Jayakumar (left) and a Cro-Magnonesque blogger desperately trying to stay awake after Yet Another Giuoco Pianissimo
Courtesy DeKalb Chess
"Gareyev Hot in Chicago"
Photo: Betsy Dynako
So does the Chicago Open winner prefer the English transliteration "Gareev" (per Wikipedia, which is never wrong, and by analogy with Russian supergrandmaster Bareev) or Gareyev (per USCF)? Nice article by Jamaal Abdul-Alim at Chess Life Online with several key games.
And here's a photo gallery by Betsy Dynako, and a mid-tournament story featuring GM Pentala Harikrishna.
Last but not least, USCF's Member Services Area has already rated the event: kudos to them!
DeKalb Chess Club
Not strictly Chicagoland, but not that far: looks like a congenial place to play!
The club's next USCF event is June 25: details here.
The club's next USCF event is June 25: details here.
Timur Gareev wins Chicago Open
Congratulations to Uzbek/Texan Grandmaster Timur Gareev, who won the $10,200 first prize in the 2011 Chicago Open with a very impressive 7½-1½ score.
GMs Pentala Harikrishna of India, Robert Hess of New York, and Alejandro Ramirez of Texas tied for second with 7 points. GM Mesgen Amanov was tops among the four local grandmasters with 6½ points.
You can find results and prizewinners for all sections here: much more to follow!
GMs Pentala Harikrishna of India, Robert Hess of New York, and Alejandro Ramirez of Texas tied for second with 7 points. GM Mesgen Amanov was tops among the four local grandmasters with 6½ points.
You can find results and prizewinners for all sections here: much more to follow!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
YouTube Video on Modern/Robatsch Defense trap
I uploaded a second video to YouTube, this one about a trap in the Modern/Robatsch Defense. Check it out!
Caro-Kann YouTube video
I produced, and just uploaded to YouTube, a video on an opening trap in the Caro-Kann. Please let me know what you think of it.
It's not too late to enter the Chicago Open, this weekend in Wheeling
The tournament site is the Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel in Wheeling.
For the top players (and patzers like me who wish to try their luck against them), play begins tomorrow night at 7 p.m. But if one doesn't wish to devote 4½ days to chess, there are also 3½-day (1st round Friiday night), 3-day (Saturday a.m.), and 2-day (Sunday a.m.) schedules.
Details here! Note the garish colors and vintage-1995 HTML layout.
Enter here! The instructions say that you can enter online up to two hours before the first game, but I wouldn't cut it that close.
For the top players (and patzers like me who wish to try their luck against them), play begins tomorrow night at 7 p.m. But if one doesn't wish to devote 4½ days to chess, there are also 3½-day (1st round Friiday night), 3-day (Saturday a.m.), and 2-day (Sunday a.m.) schedules.
Details here! Note the garish colors and vintage-1995 HTML layout.
Enter here! The instructions say that you can enter online up to two hours before the first game, but I wouldn't cut it that close.
"Gelfand to Challenge Anand for World Championship!"
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
A bang or a whimper?
Boris Gelfand and Alexander Grischuk have been battling like sumo wrestlers or sprint cyclists. The match looks maddeningly peaceful to the spectators, but the experts assure us that they're both playing to win.
If you're reading this post Wednesday morning, check out Game 6, the final game of regulation. Chess in Translation has been live-blogging a translation of Shipov's commentary.
If you're reading this post Wednesday morning, check out Game 6, the final game of regulation. Chess in Translation has been live-blogging a translation of Shipov's commentary.
Hello, East Orange
For the next few minutes, today is still Bob Dylan's 70th birthday. Dylan is best known for having reportedly had a conversation with Bobby Fischer circa 1980. He also wrote a few songs.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Who Was That Masked Man?
I beg you, please check out this video from ChessNetwork about an utterly astounding combination played by some unknown player (Black) in an online game against a FIDE Master (White). One of the most amazing combinations I have ever seen. Frankly I can't recall ever seeing a finer combination by anyone, ever. Anyone who can find such a combination over the board is either extremely strong player or using an engine. I hope it was the former.
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