Please join us (this means you!) on Sunday, November 6th, from 1 to 4 p.m., at Buca di Beppo in Lombard. Andrew Karklins will be receiving the Natalie Broughton Lifetime Achievement Award. Preregistration is required: more info and online ticket link here.
The meal at last year's banquet was excellent: generous helpings (similar to Maggiano's), but more affordable. I am on a diet, so there will be much more for others to eat.
The meeting will be preceded by the Illinois Chess Association's annual meeting (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.), open to all ICA members and pretty much anyone not carrying a Molotov cocktail.
Friday, October 14, 2011
An interesting endgame moment from Shulman-Bhat
After 50.Kf3: Black to play
I don't want to try to anticipate what the master annotators at the Blaze Blog will have to say. But at the very end of this game, it's a fair question as to whether Black found the best move.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Board 4: the move of the match (Byambaa 0 - Schmakel 1)
Is it correct? I have no clue, but I do know that Black's 18th move is très cool, and shows a desire to fight for the full point. Normally one does not wish to move pawns in front of one's castled king. Especially not two squares. Especially not the g-pawn. Especially not when the players have castled on opposite sides. Especially when one creates a lever that helps the enemy open lines to your king.
But rules of thumb are made to be broken: chess is a very concrete game. The idea is known from the Browne System of the Najdorf. The e5 square is worth a lot: Black gets a horsie on c4 and a bishop on f6 soon afterwards. So you could say that Black is attacking White's queenside with 18...g7-g5!?
And Sam Schmakel of Whitney Young must have been planning this shocker some moves earlier: otherwise, why 16...Qd8?
But rules of thumb are made to be broken: chess is a very concrete game. The idea is known from the Browne System of the Najdorf. The e5 square is worth a lot: Black gets a horsie on c4 and a bishop on f6 soon afterwards. So you could say that Black is attacking White's queenside with 18...g7-g5!?
And Sam Schmakel of Whitney Young must have been planning this shocker some moves earlier: otherwise, why 16...Qd8?
Board 3: Young ½ - Naroditsky ½
Board 3 was potentially a problem for Chicago: the young prodigy Naroditsky is the author of Mastering Positional Chess. 24...a5! looks strong to me, and a few moves later, White's c5 pawn fell.
But IM Angelo Young (no slacker at positional play) held on for the draw.
But IM Angelo Young (no slacker at positional play) held on for the draw.
Board 1: Shulman ½ - Bhat ½
I really don't understand the opening on Board 1. Usually in the Leningrad Variation of the Nimzoindian, Black will trade the Bb4 for the Nc3 to double White's c-pawns. But Bhat played ...e6xd5 and deferred capturing on c3. Strange to this amateur's eyes, but the proof is in the results. It was Yury who had to force the draw with White.
Blaze 2½ - San Francisco Mechanics 1½
The Chicago Blaze are now 7-0!
On Board 2, Grandmasters Jesse Kraai and Mesgen Amanov played a sharp Catalan that fizzled out into a draw:
On Board 2, Grandmasters Jesse Kraai and Mesgen Amanov played a sharp Catalan that fizzled out into a draw:
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Point-count chess
The object of the game is checkmate, so all point-count systems are rules of thumb at best. But the "primitive" values we teach beginners are surprisingly useful: bishops and knights are worth 3 pawns, the rook is worth 5 pawns, and the queen is worth 9 pawns.
Some years ago, IM (now GM) Larry Kaufman slightly revised these rules of thumb based on empirical data. I just happened across the article today while looking up something else: it's still fascinating.
To summarize Kaufman's improved rules of thumb: bishops and knights are worth 3¼ pawns (but add ½ pawn for the bishop pair), rooks are still worth 5 pawns, and the queen is worth 9¾ pawns.
Some years ago, IM (now GM) Larry Kaufman slightly revised these rules of thumb based on empirical data. I just happened across the article today while looking up something else: it's still fascinating.
To summarize Kaufman's improved rules of thumb: bishops and knights are worth 3¼ pawns (but add ½ pawn for the bishop pair), rooks are still worth 5 pawns, and the queen is worth 9¾ pawns.
Blaze match begins in a few minutes
Tonight the Blaze face off against the San Francisco Mechanics: Brad Rosen previews the match here. Mechanics first board Jesse Kraai went to Shimer College: I knew him back when he had a flowing mane of hair and I wasn't quite bald.
Carlsen wins Bilboa in blitz playoff
...and Hikaru Nakamura, bizarre round nine loss notwithstanding, takes third on tiebreaks. A deserved win for Carlsen (who beat the red-hot Ivanchuk twice in regulation play) and a bittersweet step forward for Nakamura.
Coverage in the usual places....
WhyChess (all games available via drop-down box)
What tactic is more basic than pins and forks?
Dan Heisman (whose Chess Cafe column is wonderful reading for beginners and their teachers) has argued that teaching beginners to count is the indispensable first step in teaching tactics.
Blog contributor Vince Hart, who has been working with the Prospect High School chess team for the past nine years, emphasizes piece safety with his team, and points us to a wonderful Heisman column on the subject.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Bilboa Round 9: Vallejo 1 - Nakamura 0
Nakamura flagged on move 40 in a slightly superior position: he thought he had made the time control, and stepped away for a glass of juice.
As Carlsen beat Ivanchuk today, a win would have brought Nakamura into a tie for first.
Three decisive games today!
As Carlsen beat Ivanchuk today, a win would have brought Nakamura into a tie for first.
Three decisive games today!
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Preregister for the 2011 Midwest Class!
The event returns to the Westin Chicago North Shore in Wheeling next weekend, October 14-16! Play on Friday night, or begin play Saturday morning: your choice! Details here!
While I don't like to play for money, I do tend to cash my prize checks. So I should note that there are $16,000 in guaranteed prizes next weekend, and that the projected prize fund is $20,000....
Save money and preregister by Tuesday, October 11th!
While I don't like to play for money, I do tend to cash my prize checks. So I should note that there are $16,000 in guaranteed prizes next weekend, and that the projected prize fund is $20,000....
Save money and preregister by Tuesday, October 11th!
Round 8, Bilbao Masters: Nakamura 1 - Aronian 0
A really impressive squeeze by Nakamura! The minority attack is thematic in the Queen's Gambit Declined, but White usually pushes b2-b4 in the opening. But Hikaru defers the undermining operation until the endgame.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Round 6, Bilbao Masters: Ivanchuk 1 - Nakamura 0
Ivanchuk's opening lends credence to the credible rumors that he has been working with David Franklin.
Board 1: Amanov ½ - Margvelashvili ½
GM Giorgi Margvelashvili deserves half a point for courage: he played the Modern Benoni against GM Mesgen Amanov and lived to tell the tale! Black even had a pull in the ending, but Mesgen defended easily enough to clinch the match.
Young 1 - Defibaugh 0
Just as in last week's game, Angelo Young plays rope-a-dope and exploits a weakness on the light squares. Black hung a pawn on move 11, so the execution is a bit more routine.
Schoch 0 - Menon 1
NM Gopal Menon plays this game in the style of Bent Larsen circa 1967: bait the opponent into committing to a kingside attack, extract positional concessions, and counterattack on the opposite wing.
Blaze 2½ - Baltimore Kingfishers 1½
Speaking very very selfishly, I'm glad that if Dmitry Gurevich had to lose, he lost in a variation that has been giving me trouble with the White pieces. IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat is not tempted by the long diagonal, but simply plays to recover the gambit pawn.
Industrial League: AMA Rogue Squadron 4 - Northwestern University 2
CICL veteran David Franklin made his debut for the Rogue Squadron last night. Northwestern's new Board 1, Karsten McVay, studied with FM Aviv Friedman for many years and has represented the U.S. in international play.
Dave was kind enough to share his annotations:
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
September CICL bulletin is out!
Enjoy this month's Chicago Chess Player! (pdf link)
Avert your eyes as Steve Tennnant crushes me mercilessly.
Avert your eyes as Steve Tennnant crushes me mercilessly.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Bilbao Masters - Nakamura clear 2nd at halfway point
Coverage at ChessBase, ChessVibes., and The Week in Chess.
The venue now shifts from Brazil to Spain. When play resumes Thursday, Nakamura plays tournament leader Vassily Ivanchuk: a win would bring Nakamura into joint first place!
Mesgen Amanov's win in today's New York Times
Article here.
Well, the game is good enough to be mentioned in three blog posts. See previous posts here and here.
Well, the game is good enough to be mentioned in three blog posts. See previous posts here and here.
Friday, September 30, 2011
A Correct Draw
To me, this game lends credence to the fairly credible rumors that Kasparov is coaching Nakamura. The 3...Be7 and 5...h6 move order has been used by big boys in World Championship matches. Not very exciting for fans, but Nakamura with Black managed to completely shut down Carlsen.
Good coverage at Thw Week in Chess. Ivanchuk has won three games in a row; Nakamura is in 4th with an even score; he has a good chance to move up tomorrow with White against the off-form Vallejo.
Hedgehog or hedge fund?
Dylan Loeb McClain explains. Hat tip to Maret Thorpe.
How many trading firms are in the Chicago Industrial Chess League?
Board 4: Karlow - Schmakel 0-1
How can a rook pawn help you undermine your opponent's control of the center? Whitney Young sophomore Sam Schmakel shows us how. 20...a4! trades the a-pawn for White's b3 pawn. b3 controls c4. And once Black controls c4....
Young 1 - Eckert 0
I've known Doug Eckert since he was in high school, and I owe my only win against Morris Giles to a book Doug wrote on the Keres Attack.
Angelo trots out one of his patented knuckleball openings. 5...Nh5!? (instead of Doug's 5...O-O, also the choice of most top players) has scored extremely well for Black, but obviously Angelo had something prepared against that. After 13.Qb4!, it becomes clear that Black responded a mite too actively to White's seemingly passive opening. The rest of the game, we see Angelo Young switch from Petrosian mode to Capablanca mode. It's hard to point to Black's decisive mistake (maybe 24...Rd8). Very nice game!
Friedel ½ - Finegold ½
Hmm. Ben Finegold guaranteed victory, then played the passive 4...Bd7 variation of the Rubinstein French. It's not necessarily bad match strategy, but one would think that it's not fair to one's teammates to say the Blaze "are going down next week" without trying to win one's own game as Black.
Friedel got an edge, Finegold defended correctly: the draw was logical.
Friedel got an edge, Finegold defended correctly: the draw was logical.
Chicago beats St. Louis 3½-½
Catching up on Wednesday night's action, finally!
Dmitry Gurevich was absolutely brutal on Board 2. White gets zilch against the Queen's Gambit Tartakower (12...Rd8 is Spassky's patent), declines a slightly inferior ending, makes an incorrect break on e4, and is totally busted. Dmitry showed no mercy.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
FM Albert Chow analyzes Abrahamyan-Dean
Enjoy Albert's wonderful analysis of this wonderful game between WGM Tatev Abrahamyan and FM Jim Dean.
Chicago Industrial Chess League season underway
As always, check out the latest results at the fabulous CICL site. I play for the AMA Rogue Squadron in the East Division: we won a tough match on Monday against Blue Cross / Blue Shield 4-2. Our teammate Jim Duffy lost a very interesting game to Sonny Mata, and it took me a long time to figure out the computer evaluations in this very interesting ending. Please take the following notes with a large grain of salt: I'm still not sure I understand what was going on, and computers are not to be trusted in rook endings!
After 40.Kc2
Black to play: how to stop the e-pawn?
Analysis diagram
White to play and win: harder than it looks!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Nakamura-Anand in São Paulo
That was certainly a fun game at the Bilbao Masters this afternoon! Kasparov thought that Nakamura missed one clearer try for advantage.
I'd heard this unconfirmed rumor some months ago: it certainly seems plausible....
I'd heard this unconfirmed rumor some months ago: it certainly seems plausible....
November 5th in Peoria: All-Grade Championship!
If you're a scholastic player, parent, teacher, or coach, you should really make a road trip to Peoria to play in this great Illinois Chess Association event or to cheer on your kids. The event determines the Illinois champion for each grade from 1st through 8th. There's also a high school section.
The Greater Peoria Chess Federation is organizing this year's event on November 5th at the Peoria Grand Hotel. Two of the top players in the state, Nikhil Kumar Kunche and Timur Aliyev, will be giving simultaneous exhibitions for the students. Register by October 25th, and the entry fee is a very reasonable $25.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Another look at Menon-Lu
Grandmaster Dmitry Gurevich explains the critical moments in Gopal Menon's win last week for the rest of us: learn and enjoy!
2012 U.S. Amateur Team Championship North in Northbrook!
Save the date (February 17-19), and get your four-player teams (with optional alternate) ready now!
The early bird entry fee is $140 per team: divide by four, and you'll see it's very affordable! The site is the Crowne Plaza in Northbrook.
More info here.
The early bird entry fee is $140 per team: divide by four, and you'll see it's very affordable! The site is the Crowne Plaza in Northbrook.
More info here.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Playing blitz with Kasparov
Apparently Garry can still play chess, as France's top player, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, recently discovered. Read his firsthand account on ChessVibes.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Aronian on Truffaut and Coltrane
Bad boy Vladislav Tkachiev just published a very entertaining interview with Levon Aronian at WhyChess.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Today's Bible verse
The Benoni has never had a reputation for being easy: its name was drawn from Genesis 35:18:
As long as we're blogging etymology, Mesgen uses the word "tabiya" in his annotations to refer to the position after White's 9th move. In chess's medieval ancestor shatranj, pawns could only move one square, and the fers (predecessor of the modern queen) could only move one square diagonally. Consequently, the two armies in shatranj did not make much contact in the initial moves. The Arabic word "tabbiyya" was used to describe the battle array chosen by each player.
In modern chess, when the two armies are colliding from the initial moves, you can't ignore what the other player is doing when you choose your battle array. A modern tabiya is a standard position known to both players before the beginning of the game from which they tacitly agree to begin the battle.
Rachel was about to die, but with her last breath she named the baby Ben-oni (which means "son of my sorrow"). The baby's father, however, called him Benjamin (which means "son of my right hand").If you play the Modern Benoni against Mesgen Amanov, it's going to cost you Benjamins. Mesgen annotates this incredibly entertaining game.
As long as we're blogging etymology, Mesgen uses the word "tabiya" in his annotations to refer to the position after White's 9th move. In chess's medieval ancestor shatranj, pawns could only move one square, and the fers (predecessor of the modern queen) could only move one square diagonally. Consequently, the two armies in shatranj did not make much contact in the initial moves. The Arabic word "tabbiyya" was used to describe the battle array chosen by each player.
In modern chess, when the two armies are colliding from the initial moves, you can't ignore what the other player is doing when you choose your battle array. A modern tabiya is a standard position known to both players before the beginning of the game from which they tacitly agree to begin the battle.
Tactics quiz for advanced beginners...and beyond
Dan Heisman's quiz may be too hard for true beginners. It's drawn from John Bain's Chess Tactics for Students (strangely out of print, but used copies can be found on the Intertubes).
Get out your stopwatches, read Dan Heisman's instructions before you begin, and play along! (Yes, I scored 12 out of 12, no, I wasn't as fast as I should have been, yes, I saw the dual solution. The easiest problem was the one that took me the longest.)
Here's an earlier Heisman quiz with the same format.
Thanks to Dan Heisman for pointing out that Chess Tactics for Students can be ordered directly from John Bain.
Get out your stopwatches, read Dan Heisman's instructions before you begin, and play along! (Yes, I scored 12 out of 12, no, I wasn't as fast as I should have been, yes, I saw the dual solution. The easiest problem was the one that took me the longest.)
Here's an earlier Heisman quiz with the same format.
Thanks to Dan Heisman for pointing out that Chess Tactics for Students can be ordered directly from John Bain.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Board 4: Menon-Lu 1-0
Again, don't ask me how NM Gopal Menon won his Blaze debut. The game is a fairly logical Tarrasch French: Black broke White's attack by sacrificing the Exchange, and White gave the Exchange back at an appropriate time, and it seemed that Black was OK.
I suspect that Black got a little overexcited about having a passed center pawn on the 5th rank (in queen endings, having the pawn closest to the queening square is often more important than having more pawns), and match considerations may have made him overreach. Black's king had no pawn shelter: getting mated is not a big worry in this ending, but being forced to exchange queens into a lost pawn ending is a concern. Bringing the king from h1 to e2 worked out very well for Gopal!
I suspect that Black got a little overexcited about having a passed center pawn on the 5th rank (in queen endings, having the pawn closest to the queening square is often more important than having more pawns), and match considerations may have made him overreach. Black's king had no pawn shelter: getting mated is not a big worry in this ending, but being forced to exchange queens into a lost pawn ending is a concern. Bringing the king from h1 to e2 worked out very well for Gopal!
Board 3: Dean-Abrahamyan ½-½
I have no idea what happened in this game. I watched part of it last night, and early on, I thought that Jim Dean would have good chances to win with Black. But Tatev Abrahamyan is very resourceful, and I wouldn't be surprised if she had a winning ending at a certain point. (Knight and bishop often have problems coordinating against an enemy rook, to the point that Reuben Fine considered rook and two pawns vs. knight and bishop to be a win in the general case.)
Restrain, blockade, destroy, draw.
Restrain, blockade, destroy, draw.
Board 2: Battle of the Amanovs
GM Mesgen Amanov unleashed some monster preparation on his L.A. namesake. White's 20th and 22nd moves are simply beautiful, and they taste like good home-cooking.
And how could I not mention 31.Be3!!
Why does anyone play the Modern Benoni? Of all the openings still played at the top levels, it's the one than can be cracked in so many delightful ways. But we all want to emulate Tal and Fischer.....
And how could I not mention 31.Be3!!
Why does anyone play the Modern Benoni? Of all the openings still played at the top levels, it's the one than can be cracked in so many delightful ways. But we all want to emulate Tal and Fischer.....
Blaze beats L.A., 3-1
O.K., so I'm a little behind schedule today....
On Board 1, Yury Shulman used his pet Winawer to draw easily with Black. I really don't believe in Black's line: if you could get 6...Qa5 and 7...Qa4 "for free," that would be great. But such moves take time, and queens are meant for greater roles than blockading a-pawns.
Having said that, I don't think U.S. champions care very much about my opinion. And the pitiful queen has had lunch and centralized by move 13.
On Board 1, Yury Shulman used his pet Winawer to draw easily with Black. I really don't believe in Black's line: if you could get 6...Qa5 and 7...Qa4 "for free," that would be great. But such moves take time, and queens are meant for greater roles than blockading a-pawns.
Having said that, I don't think U.S. champions care very much about my opinion. And the pitiful queen has had lunch and centralized by move 13.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Chicago leads L.A. 1½-½
Yury Shulman draws handily with a pet French sideline, and you don't want to play the Modern Benoni against Mesgen Amanov.
Jim Dean seems to have good winning chances with Black on Board 3, and Gopal Menon has what looks like dynamic equality (and perhaps a slightly easier position to play) on Board 4.
Tom Panelas is updating gamescores intermittently on this Blaze blog page.
Jim Dean seems to have good winning chances with Black on Board 3, and Gopal Menon has what looks like dynamic equality (and perhaps a slightly easier position to play) on Board 4.
Tom Panelas is updating gamescores intermittently on this Blaze blog page.
Blaze face off against LA at 8 p.m.
Follow the action live at the North Shore Chess Center in Skokie, or online at the Internet Chess Club (membership required). This is the first Blaze game for both FM Jim Dean and NM Gopal Menon.
I hope to have the PGN boxscores up by tomorrow a.m.
I hope to have the PGN boxscores up by tomorrow a.m.
Chicago Chess meetup @ Iguana Cafe: NM Bruce Kovalsky lecture!
I had the pleasure of lunch with Bruce a few months ago: nice fellow! He's giving a brief lecture, followed by a session of casual play. Details here!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Andrew Karklins To Receive Broughton Lifetime Achievement Award
FIDE Master and three-time Illinois Champion Andrew Karklins is the 2011 recipient of the Natalie Broughton Lifetime Achievement Award. Come help us honor him at 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 6th, at Buca di Beppo in Lombard!
Learn more about the award and get your tickets for the 2011 banquet on the ICA website.
Learn more about the award and get your tickets for the 2011 banquet on the ICA website.
Blaze annotations galore!
Many masterly annotations from Tom Panelas and the Blaze blog!
- Dmitry Gurevich and Trevor Magness annotate Sam Schmakel's win against Arizona
- Albert Chow annotates the exciting Friedel-Molner draw from the same match
- Mesgen Amanov annotates his Catalan win against Arizona
Grandmaster Mesgen Amanov (photo: Eric Rosen)
Breakfast tomorrow: World Cup round 4
Peter Svidler leads Alexander Grisckuk 2-1 for the World Cup title. Svidler has White and the two Russians are friends: a quick draw is not out of the realm of possibility. Both players have already secured a slot as one of the eight candidates for the next world championship.
Vassily Ivanchuk leads Ruslan Ponomariov 2-1 in the match for third place. To me, the Ukranian matchup is more fascinating: Ivanchuk has not been a Candidate in the classical cycle for twenty (!!) years, and in 2002, he lost a match to the teenaged Ponomariov for the pre-unification "FIDE World Championship" title. The winner automatically qualifies for the 2013 Candidates, while the loser is very unlikely to earn an invitation. Ponomariov managed to apply some pressure in today's game, but never came close to converting a pawn-up endgame.
Catch up on previous rounds at The Week in Chess, and follow the pre-dawn action at the official site!
Vassily Ivanchuk leads Ruslan Ponomariov 2-1 in the match for third place. To me, the Ukranian matchup is more fascinating: Ivanchuk has not been a Candidate in the classical cycle for twenty (!!) years, and in 2002, he lost a match to the teenaged Ponomariov for the pre-unification "FIDE World Championship" title. The winner automatically qualifies for the 2013 Candidates, while the loser is very unlikely to earn an invitation. Ponomariov managed to apply some pressure in today's game, but never came close to converting a pawn-up endgame.
Catch up on previous rounds at The Week in Chess, and follow the pre-dawn action at the official site!
Friday, September 16, 2011
last-minute reminder (or start Saturday a.m.)
Another email cut-and-paste:
Remember tonight begins the 7th NA Amateur Open - a 5R-SS tournament which provides opportunities to achieve your FIDE (international) rating! Play is restricted to those rated above 1600 USCF unless special permission obtained prior.
If you are unable to play Round 1 tonight you can take a 1/2 pt bye and begin playing on Saturday afternoon in Round 2
7th North American Amateur Open - 5R-SS G/90 + 30/sec increment. North Shore Chess Center , 5500 West Touhy Ave Skokie, IL 60077. 847.423.8626. Open to players with any established FIDE rating or an established USCF rating of 1600+. All participants compete in a single section. EF: $40 for non-members of the chess center, $30 for members of the chess center received by 9/15. All $10 more onsite. Onsite registration - up to 15 minutes prior to round 1 or round 2. If registering prior to round 2, you will receive a half-point bye for round 1. Round times: Friday - 7:00pm, Saturday 12pm and 6pm, Sunday 11am and 5pm. Half-point byes available in any round. Prizes: 1st - $60 Best Buy Gift Card, 2nd - $30 Barnes & Noble Gift Card, 3rd - $15 Starbucks Gift Card. Parking: Free self-parking. Online registration preferred at http://www.nachess.org/events. Additional questions email to: sevan@nachess.org. USCF and FIDE rated. For online registration and list of more events please visit -http://www.nachess.org/events
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
The bishop also moves backwards
I don't know whether it's fair to call a blunder in a blitz game one of the biggest in chess history, but this game (played just a couple hours ago) led to Vassily Ivanchuk's elimination from the World Cup.
Alexander Grischuk and Peter Svidler, both of Russia, will play for the World Cup title. Ivanchuk and Ruslan Ponomariov, both of Ukraine, will play for third place and automatic qualification to the next World Championship cycle. Follow the action here, beginning well before dawn on Friday.
A heartbreaking loss for Ivanchuk!
Alexander Grischuk and Peter Svidler, both of Russia, will play for the World Cup title. Ivanchuk and Ruslan Ponomariov, both of Ukraine, will play for third place and automatic qualification to the next World Championship cycle. Follow the action here, beginning well before dawn on Friday.
A heartbreaking loss for Ivanchuk!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
More on the Blaze win
NM Sam Schmakel in action (photo: Eric Rosen)
Brad Rosen provides an on-the-spot report of the Blaze victory. 3-0 is not a bad way to start the season, but Stalin and Alexander Kotov warned us against "dizziness due to success." Take 'em one at a time, give 110%....
Board 4: Schmakel - Thompson 1-0
Between moves 20 and 25, Sam transforms an equalish middlegame into a battle between good knight and bad bishop. The price of winning a pawn on the queenside is submitting to an attack on the kingside. Sam consolidates, then finds a monster shot on move 40. Can you find the winning move for White in the diagram below?
I suppose this is an acceptable début for Sam in the U.S. Chess League.
I suppose this is an acceptable début for Sam in the U.S. Chess League.
Board 3: Adelberg - Amanov 0-1
Mesgen Amanov treats the Catalan as if it were a Botvinnik Semi-Slav. It's OK to be down a ton of material if you've got a phalanx of queenside pawns and a monster knight on d3.
Board 2: Friedel - Molner ½-½
Josh Friedel overpresses a bit, too, and is objectively busted after 25.Nc6. But Molner does not find 25...Rc2!, after which Friedel saves the game with 26.Ne7+! In the final position, Black can save the rook on a2 with 29...Qf7. White must then play 30.Qc8+ Qf8 31.Qc4+, repeating the position.
Blaze beat Arizona 2½ -1½
The Chicago Blaze was stung more than once in last night's match with the Arizona Scorpions, but Mesgen Amanov and Sam Schmakel were able to crush their opponents' cephalothoraces to bring home the 2½-1½ win. Cool!
Rogelio Barcenilla is the first opponent to take a full point from the Blaze. He finds a cool shot in response to Yury Shulman's 23...e5. But with best play it should only be good for equality: Yury overpressed on move 24.
Rogelio Barcenilla is the first opponent to take a full point from the Blaze. He finds a cool shot in response to Yury Shulman's 23...e5. But with best play it should only be good for equality: Yury overpressed on move 24.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Evanston Chess September Swiss
NM Jon Burgess and Christopher Girardo scored 3-0 in the Gold Section.
Four players were primus inter pares in the Silver Section: Abdulah Prijic, Edward Bustamante, Rahul Dhiman, and Ricky Wang all had 2-1.
Douglas Selph (first tournament!) and Aman Grover tied for first in the Bronze Section with 3-0.
Congratulations to the winners: crosstable here!
Maret Thorpe directed for Evasnton Chess.
Four players were primus inter pares in the Silver Section: Abdulah Prijic, Edward Bustamante, Rahul Dhiman, and Ricky Wang all had 2-1.
Douglas Selph (first tournament!) and Aman Grover tied for first in the Bronze Section with 3-0.
Congratulations to the winners: crosstable here!
Maret Thorpe directed for Evasnton Chess.
World Cup catchup
Lubomir Kavalek explains this act of sportsmanship.
The World Cup's knockout format can lead to some rather random results, which would have been particularly unfortunate given that this event is being used to qualify three players for the World Championship. But the four quarterfinalists are all among the world's elite: Grischuk faces Ivanchuk, and Svidler faces Ponomariov. The winners automatically qualify for the 2014 World Championship cycle; the losers play a match, the winner of which also qualifies.
Someone had to lose the match between fan favorites Gata Kamsky and Peter Svidler. Kamsky had the honor of losing to the most beautiful move of the World Cup:
Svidler's point after 26...Re2!! was that 27.Qxe2 loses to 27...Qg3! (The immediate 26...Qg3 is met by 27.Nc6, stopping the mate threat.) Someone (I don't remember who) described the combination as worthy of Frank Marshall. Edit a few days later—aha, it was Mig.
Early risers are urged to check out Game 1 of the semifinals tomorrow morning at the excellent tournament website! If you hear Russian, don't panic: there is an English-language simulcast.
Kasparov-Anand at the World Trade Center
On September 11, 1995, the Kasparov-Anand World Championship match began. The venue was the Observation Deck of the South Tower of the World Trade Center. More photos from that day (and from another day six years later, one of the saddest of our lives) here.
This day of remembrance is for the victims and the heroes of FDNY, NYPD, and Flight 93. After today, let's also remember good things like the games from one of the greatest World Championship matches.
Today's movie recommendation: James Marsh's Man on Wire.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Yury Shulman annotates...
...his come-from-behind win in the Chicago Blaze match.
Check it out!
ICA Metro VP Mike Cardinale and I briefly discussed the following position:
Mike noted that the non-standard 19.Kd2! (with the idea of 20.Rxh7! followed by 21.Rh1+ and 22.Qg6+) looks awfully strong. But Yury notes that he had an even stronger continuation.
Check it out!
ICA Metro VP Mike Cardinale and I briefly discussed the following position:
Shulman-LaRota
White to move
Mike noted that the non-standard 19.Kd2! (with the idea of 20.Rxh7! followed by 21.Rh1+ and 22.Qg6+) looks awfully strong. But Yury notes that he had an even stronger continuation.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Chicago Blaze blog
Tom Panelas maintains the Blaze's team blog, which currrently features Albert Chow's and Trevor Magness's thoughts on last week's match, and the Game of the Week.
Board 1: Yury Shulman 1 - Fabio LaRota 0
The best game of the round: LaRota does his best to pull off a big upset. But grandmasters make their living off the endgame. After 46.Kh2, would you have preferred 46...Nc5 or 46...Nf6? What's the difference?
Board 2: Eric Rodriguez 0 - Josh Friedel 1
No, the Sämisch Variation does not lose by force. But Josh Friedel's win is also very smooth. I enjoy sacking the Exchange for the two bishops myself, but in this game, the bishops have no scope.
Board 4: Alejandro Allen ½ - Todd Freitag ½
Todd stepped in for NM Sam Schmakel, who couldn't play last night for personal reasons. Despite being outrated by 250 points, Todd drew comfortably.
The position after 18.g3 has been reached before: materialist that I am, I'd snap the pawn on h3. But unappeatizing as the broken kingside pawn structure may be, White never really challenged Black in the ending.
The position after 18.g3 has been reached before: materialist that I am, I'd snap the pawn on h3. But unappeatizing as the broken kingside pawn structure may be, White never really challenged Black in the ending.
Chicago Blaze 3½ - Miami Sharks ½
Last night's U.S. Chess League match was another one-sided affair, but Miami did not field its big guns. So two games into the season, cries of "Break up the Yankees!" are premature. But any team that can field Dmitry Gurevich on third board will cause matchup problems for opponents.
White just sits on Black and pushes the d-pawn through: one of those games that makes you think that the Modern Benoni is hopeless.
White just sits on Black and pushes the d-pawn through: one of those games that makes you think that the Modern Benoni is hopeless.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Evanston Chess G/65 this Saturday, Sept. 10!
Levy Senior Center, 300 Dodge Ave., Evanston, IL 60202
Evanston Chess Presents:
Saturday, Sep 10, 2011, 9:00am-5:00pm
Three x Three, 3SS G/65
Three Sections, USCF Regular Rated
Section Gold: 1700 and over
Section Silver: 1200 - 1699
Section Bronze: Under 1200 and Unrated
1600 - 1699 may play up to Gold.
1100 - 1199 may play up to Silver.
Published USCF Regular Rating determins eligibility.
Unrated players may be placed up at TD discretion.
From time to time Evanston Chess pays one or more titled players to play in our events. We usually do not pair them against each other. Even if they should lose (it does happen) we may pair them with the highest score groups.
Three rounds. Digital clocks are required and will be set to G/65 plus 5 seconds delay. Accelerated or decelerated pairings at TD discretion. Sections may be combined at TD discretion.
Registration from 9:00 to 9:30 AM. Players must check in by 9:30 am; players who arrive late will receive a half-point bye for the first round. First Round 9:45 am, last round over roughly 5:00 pm. No Lunch Break: We need to be finished by 5:00 PM, so there will be no extra time between rounds for lunch.
You may take one half-point bye in any round but the last.
Entry fee is $5, please pay cash (no checks) at the door. Masters and Experts play free.
Send name, USCF number, and telephone number to enter@evanstonchess.org
Junior players (under fourteen years) rated 900+ are welcome. Sorry, but we do not accept junior players rated under 900. Must be accompanied by a parent throughout the event.
Bring clocks. -- Wheelchair accessible. No Smoking.
Your opinion, please
We are currently scheduling tournaments for 2012, which will be held in January, March, May, July, September and November. We might also add one extra tournament in April, June or October, perhaps a different format from what we've been doing. Possibilities include rated blitz, rated quads, an unrated G/40 or suggest something. Let us know what you'd like to see by emailing us at enter@evanstonchess.org.