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In positions that are right on the line which separates a draw from a loss, we generally find, as a rule, a single solution. Gavriil Veresov |
1) Mechanics' Institute Chess Club News 2) 2007 US Championship awarded to Stillwater, Oklahoma 3) Ray Schutt remembered by Erik Osbun 4) Fritz bests Fritz 5) US Amateur Team Recap 6) Koons and Donaldson tie for first in Collyer Memorial 7) Karpov School in Lindsborg looking for a Director 8) Cal Chess Masters at the Mechanics' Institute 9) Here and There 10) Upcoming Events |
1) Mechanics' Institute Chess Club NewsDaniel Naroditsky defeated NM Batchimeg Tuvshintugs in the last round of the Winter Tuesday Night Marathon in a dramatic game that went down to the wire last night. This result, coupled with FM Frank Thornally's win over Expert James Jones, led to a tie for first at 7-1, between Tuvshintugs and Thornall who each received $375 for their efforts. This was a particularly gratifying result for Thornally who has struggled the past few years but is now regaining his old form. 11-year-old Daniel Naroditsky who was third at 6 1/2 and top Under 2200, took another step toward earning his Master's title. Presently 2128, this performance should put him in the neighborhood of 2150. The Spring Tuesday Night Marathon starts March 20th and ends May 8th. From the Mechanics' past we have the following article from the Victoria Daily Colonist of January 1st, 1897. You can find more information on this match on the MI website at www.chessclub.org under MI history. Dr. Marshall, of San Francisco, has been appointed by the Examiner as timekeeper for the Victoria Chess Club in tonight's international match by wire between San Francisco and this city, and has been formally accepted by Major Williams as satisfactory to Victoria. All arrangements for the important event are now complete, and the first move in the game will be made at 7 sharp. Mr. Thomas Piper will of course be the Victoria champion with Nesses. Chapman and Marchant to advise. San Francisco's foremost player will be schoolboy Kendrick, a born and bred San Franciscan, who though not yet twenty years old, has won the big open tournament at his home and defeated Thomsen, the famous Irish player. He will have Messrs. Lovegrove, Samuels and Coles as a consulting staff. 2) 2007 US Championship awarded to Stillwater, OklahomaToday it was officially announced that the 2007 US Championship will be held in Stillwater, Oklahoma, thanks to the generosity of Frank Berry. Mr. Berry and his twin, Jim who is running for the USCF Executive Board, will be organizing the 34 player, 9 round Swiss, which will be held May 15-23. We hope to have more details shortly. 3) Ray Schutt remembered by Erik OsbunRaymond Schutt was a mainstay of our San Jose State Team at the Nationals at Los Angeles in December of 1964. He played all 7 rounds at Board 3 scoring 6 points. At the time, I believe, he was unrated by the USCF, so he might be described as our "sleeper" on a lower board. He should have won the board prize, but being on the championship team he was ineligible for a second prize. The very next year he gained his master rating. Our S.J.S. Team consisted of myself, Jimmy Iwashita, Ray, Leonard Hill and Peter Kelemen in board order, and every one of us scored in the plus column for a total of 22-6. This was sufficient to take the trophy from University of Texas at Austin at 20-8, and M.I.T. at 16.5-11.5, each team having 6-1 match scores. The high plus score was a cooperative effort, especially as we gained 5.5 points of 7 adjournments not losing a single one. Here follows what Ray considered his best game from the event, and one of those I sent to satisfy I.A. Horowitz' request for scores for his New York Times column. White: Raymond Schutt, S.J.S. Black: Dan Van Arsdale, U.C.L.A., Benoni Defense 1.d4 c5 2.d5 e5 3.e4 d6 4.c4 Ne7 An old form of the Benoni Counter Gambit, which Jerry Hanken dubbed "the Bad Benoni." The Knight would be better posted at f6. 5.Nc3 Ng6 6.g3 Be7 7.Bg2 7.h4 comes into consideration, and, if my memory serves me still, it was with this move that I punished Jerry over many 5-minute games in San Francisco during his participation in the California State Championship of 1964 in San Francisco. Thus: "the Bad Benoni." 7...a6 8.Nge2 Bg5 Black takes advantage of the situation to exchange off his Pawn-bound Bishop. 9.0-0 Bxc1 10.Qxc1 f5? Grants White access to his e4 square, a poor plan that should be replaced by 10...0-0 followed by 11...Nd7. The responsibility of making the break must belong to White. 11.exf5 Bxf5 12.Qe3 0-0 13.Ne4 Qe7 14.N2c3 Nd7 15.a4 h6 He defends the entry square at g5. 16.Ra3! White seeks his fortune on the opposite wing. 16...b6 17.R1a1 Rfb8 18.Qe2 To control b5 in preparation for the break. If now 18...a5 19.Nb5, and Black must exchange his valuable Bishop at e4. 18...Nh8 19.a5! The time is right. White does not wait for Black to defend himself with 19...Nf7 and 20...a5. 19...Nf7 20.axb6 Rxb6 21.Na4 Rb4? Enables White to make a nice concluding combination. After the better 21...Rbb8, Black's prospects still remain difficult following simple measures such as 22.Qf3. 22.Nexc5! dxc5 23.d6 Qe8 24.Qf3 The first point: the piece is recovered at once. 24...Rab8 25.Qxf5 Nxd6 26.Qd3 The second point, as Horowitz remarked: "White is rewarded with command of all vital files, ranks, diagonals and squares." That about covers it, and in awe Black shortens the game with a blunder. 26...Nb6?? 27.Qxd6 Nxa4 28.Rxa4 Rxa4 29.Rxa4 Qxa4 30.Qxb8+ Black resigns. 4) Fritz bests FritzNM Dennis Fritzinger, one of the best players in California in the 1970s and early 1980s, and a published poet, doesn't play much in tournaments these days. That doesn't stop him from beating up on a player with a similar name. Fritzinger beats Fritz! Time control for this zinger was 4 minutes each plus a 2 second increment. Fritz 8 - Fritzinger , Berkeley 2006 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 Nc6 6.Be3 a6 7.Nge2 Rb8 8.Nc1 0-0 9.Qd2 e5 10.d5 Nd4 11.Nb3 c5 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.Nxd4 exd4 14.Bxd4 Re8 15.0-0-0 Qa5 16.g4 c5 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.g5 Bg7 19.h4 Be6 20.h5 Rxb2 21.Qxb2 Bxc3 22.Qb3 Be5 23.hxg6 fxg6 24.Rd3 Qe1+ 25.Kc2 Bf4 26.Rd1 Qf2+ 27.Kb1 d5 28.cxd5 Rb8 29.Qxb8+ Bxb8 30.dxe6 Be5 31.Rd8+ Kg7 32.Rd7+ Kf8 33.Rb7 Qe1+ 34.Kc2 Qc3+ 35.Kb1 Qa1+ 36.Kc2 Qxa2+ 37.Kd1 Bc3 38.Rb8+ Ke7 39.Rxh7+ Kxe6 40.Re8+ Kd6 41.Rd8+ Kc6 42.Bh3 Qb1+ 43.Ke2 Qe1+ 44.Kd3 Qd2+ 45.Kc4 Qxd8 46.Bd7+ Kd6 47.Kxc3 Qxg5 48.Kd3 Qc1 49.Be8 g5 50.Rd7+ Ke5 51.Rd5+ Kf4 52.Rf5+ Kg3 53.Bf7 Kf2 54.Bd5 Ke1 55.Bf7 c4+ 56.Kd4 c3 0-1 5) US Amateur Team RecapThe following comes from the USCF website. 2007 US Amateur Team Chess Championships Conclude - Now Four Teams To Compete in Cyberspace! FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Carol Jarecki February 27, 2007 IA & Chief TD Press Release #1 of 2007 carolj10280@yahoo.com The U.S. Chess Federation is pleased to announce that the four 2007 U.S. Amateur Team Chess Championships concluded. The "64" Square question now is "who will win the playoffs?" and be named "2007 U.S. Amateur Team Playoff Champion." 2007 U.S. Amateur Team North: At the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Lombard, Illinois, under the direction of Organizer Chris Merli the team "Repeat Offenders" took first place. Board 1: John Cole (2330); Board 2: John Langreck (2250); Board 3: FM Jim Dean (2234); Board 4: Drew Hollinberger (1982) will represent the 2007 U.S. Amateur Team North in the 2007 Amateur Team Playoff. Finals standings of all participants are located at: http://www.uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?200702180331. 2007 U.S.Amateur Team West: (24th Annual): Under the direction of John Hilley and Elie Hsiao the event concluded with "Orange County Chess Club" taking first place. Board 1: Alexander Kretchetov (2365); Board 2: Ilia Serpik (2307); Board 3: Takashi Iwamoto (2269); Board 4: Krishna Kaliannan (1770). The championship was held Feb. 17-19 at the Marina San Pedro Hotel in San Pedro, California. Additional details are available at: http://www.westernchess.com/atw07/standings.html 2007 U.S. Amateur Team South: Championship play took place Feb. 16-18 at the Travelodge Hotel Main Gate East in Orlando, Florida under the direction of Harvey Lerman. "Team South" won the event and in board order for the upcoming playoffs the champions are: Board 1: Daniel Ludwig (2388); Corey B. Acor (2254); Eric Rodriguez (2209); Board 4: Anthony Felicione (1914). Additional details on all final results can be found at: http://www.centralflchess.org/news/news.cfm?autonumber=159 2007 World Amateur Team & U.S. Amateur Team East: Took place Feb. 17-19 at the Parsippany Hilton in Parsippany, New Jersey under the direction of New Jersey State Chess Federation. The team "Beavis and Buttvinnik" took first place. In board order for the playoffs the members of the winning team are: Board 1: FM James Critelli (2311); Board 2: Evan Turtel (2206); Board 3: Evan Rabin (2076); Board 4: Nick Panico III (2043); Alternate: Alan Kantor (2000). Additional details can be found at: http://www.njscf.com. 2007 U.S. Amateur Team Playoffs in Cyberspace! All four teams will have a playoff on March 24, 2007 in cyberspace at the Internet Chess Club (ICC) website located at: http://www.chessclub.com under the direction of IA/Chief Tournament Director Carol Jarecki. ICC Tournament Director Duncan Oxley will oversee the play on the ICC website. 2007 U.S. Amateur Team Playoff rules are located at: http://www.uschess.org/rulesfor2007amateurteamplayoffs.pdf on the U.S. Chess Federation website. Be sure to view the play and become part of the chess fun! The team who wins will not only receive the title of "2007 U.S. Amateur Team Champions" but each member of the winning team will receive an engraved watch. If you go the US Chess online at http://beta.uschess.org/frontend/news_7_281.php you will find a picture of Bay Area NM Shivkumar Shivaji ( he is the one moving the piece who is unidentified) getComments($pressID)? --> 6) Koons and Donaldson tie for first in Collyer MemorialNM Nat Koons and IM John Donaldson tied for first in the 15th Annual David Collyer Memorial held February 25-26 in Spokane. The two winners, who drew with each other in round four, scored 4 1/2 from 5. Donaldson,John - Bartron,Paul [E08] Collyer Memorial Spokane (3), 2007 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 e6 4.0-0 Be7 5.d4 0-0 6.c4 c6 7.Qc2 b6 8.b3 Bb7 9.Rd1 Nbd7 10.Nc3 Rc8 11.e4 dxe4 12.Nxe4 This is the natural looking continuation and the most commonly played move here, but White probably has two better choices: (a) 12.Ng5! was the favorite of the late Alex Wojtkiewicz, who used it to win two miniatures after 12... c5 13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.Bxe4! Qc7 15.Bxh7+ Kh8 16.Be4 and now: (a1) 16...Ne5 17.Bf4 Nxe4 18.Ncxe4 f5 19.Qe2 Kg8 20.Nxc5 1-0 Wojtkiewicz-Becerra, Marshall Masters, New York 2003. (a2) 16...Nxe4 17.Ncxe4 f5 18.Qe2 g6 19.Bb2+ Kg8 20.Nd6 e5 21.Nxb7 1-0 Wojtkiewicz-Ziatdinov, Philadelphia 1998. Black's best is likely 12...h6 but after 13.Ngxe4 Nxe4 14.Nxe4 Nf6 15.c5 Nd5 16.a3 a5 17.Bf1 Qc7 18.Bd2 Rfd8 19.b4 axb4 20.Bxb4 Ra8 21.cxb6 Qxb6 22.Bxe7 Nxe7 23.Nc5 White had a big advantage in Beliavsky-Mitkov, Panormo 2001 ( via many transpositions). If 12.Ng5! is not to your test another good move is 12.Ne5, played many times with success by Dmitry Gurevich and Alexander Veingold. 12...c5 This move is necessary to free Black's position. Instead 12...Nxe4 13.Qxe4 Qc7 14.Bf4 Bd6 15.Bxd6 Qxd6 is strongly met by 16.c5! White stops ...c5 permanently, grabs space, gains control of d6 and shuts in the Bishop on b7. Black's access to d5 doesn't provide enough compensation. Note 16...bxc5 17.dxc5 Nxc5?? fails to 18.Qb4 Qe7 19.Rac1. 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 14.Ng5 Bxg5 15.Bxb7 Rc7 16.dxc5 16.Be4 is also possible but doesn't promise any advantage against best play. 16... Bf6?! 16...Bxc1 17.Raxc1 Rxb7 18.c6 Rc7 19.Rxd7 Rxd7 20.cxd7 Qxd7 21.Rd1 Qe7 22.Qd3 g6 23.Qd6 Re8 24.Qd7 Kf8 25.Qa4 a5 26.Rd7 Qc5 27.Qb5 Qxb5 28.cxb5 Rc8 29.Rb7 a4 30.bxa4 Rc4 31.Rxb6 Rxa4 32.Ra6 1-0 Yusupov-Beitar, Thessaloniki (ol) 1988 is the game that sold me on 12.Nxe4 and 16.dxc5 but as GM Mihai Marin points out in his excellent CD for ChessBase on the Catalan Black should play 17...bxc5! 18.Bg2 Qe7 19.Rd2 Nf6 as in Cvitan-Borgo, Porto San Giorgio 1997 when White has next to nothing. 17.Rb1 The question that White has to decide is what ending offers the most prospects: with Queen's, Rook and Bishop or Rook and Pawn? An important alternative hear is 17.Bb2 Bxb2 18.Qxb2 Rxb7 19.c6 Rc7 20.cxd7 Qe7 21.Rd2 Rd8 22.Rad1 Rcxd7 with a Queen ending soon to arise. 17...Rxb7 18.c6 Rc7 19.cxd7 Rxd7 20.Be3 20.Ba3 was played in Adamski-Petersen, Copenhagen 1995, but I thought the Bishop should face Black's queenside pawns. 20...g6?! 20...Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Qc7 22.Qe4 was only slightly better for White in Minero Pineda-Juan Jimenez, San Jose 2001. 21.c5 bxc5 22.Bxc5 Rxd1+ 23.Qxd1 Re8 24.b4 I felt that after 24.Bxa7 Qa5 25.Be3 Qxa2 26.b4 Rd8 27.Qf1 Bd4 Black would have adequate counterplay. For example 28.Bxd4 Rxd4 29.b5 Rd2 30.b6 Rxf2 31.Qxf2 Qxb1+ 32.Kg2 Qb5 and it is not clear how White can make progress. 24...Qxd1+ 25.Rxd1 Be7 26.Bxe7?! Maybe 26.Bxa7! Bxb4 27.a4 was a more challenging continuation. If 27... Ra8 then 28.Rd7 Kf8 29.Kf1 Ke8 30.Rb7 and The White King comes to the queenside. 26...Rxe7 27.b5 e5? This and Black's following moves are an ill-advised attempt to go for active counterplay. It was better to be patient and bring the King to b7 to free the Rook. After 27...Rc7 28.Rd6 Kf8 29.a4 Ke7 30.Ra6 Kd7 31.Kf1 Kc8 32.Ke2 Kb7 Black can resist though after 33.Rd6.White is still better. 28.Rd6 Ruling out any breakout attempts with ...a6. 28... f5 29.Kf1 Kg7 30.Ke2 Kh6 31.a4 Kh5 32.h3 Kg5 33.a5 Rb7 34.b6 axb6 35.axb6 f4 36.Kf3 Kf5 37.g4+ Kg5 38.Ke4 Kh4 39.Kxe5 Kxh3 40.Kxf4 Rf7+ 41.Kg5 Rxf2 42.Rd3+ Kg2 43.Rb3 Rf8 44.b7 Rb8 45.Kh6 1-0 7) Karpov School in Lindsborg looking for a Director
ANATOLY KARPOV INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF CHESS Contact:
Marck Cobb 316-708-3698 or
Wes Fisk 785-227-4121 FAMED CHESS SCHOOL SEEKS DIRECTOR The famed Karpov Chess School in Lindsborg, KS, legally known as the International Chess Institute of the Midwest, has an immediate opening for a full-time chess director/instructor to teach introductory and advance chess to students in the central Kansas area. Presently, weekly lessons are being provided to 60 students in four different schools near Lindsborg. The Karpov Chess School has held six summer chess camps in Lindsborg since 2001 with GM Yury Shulman as our lead Grandmaster instructor. Another summer chess camp is scheduled for July 8-13, 2007, again with GM Yury Shulman as the lead instructor. The Karpov Chess School has its headquarters located in a main-street building in Lindsborg, Kansas, and it's well-equipped for teaching chess at the school. The new director/instructor should have enough chess students during the school year at nearby schools and during summer camp sessions to earn at least $30,000 or more per year. Depending on the skills and motivation of the person, there is potential to double that income as that person teaches and develops growth of the Karpov Chess School in Kansas and eventually in the Midwest region. The ideal candidate should have a passion for chess and chess promotion. The idea candidate should enjoy working with students K-12 and have a USCF rating of at least 1800 or higher. The person accepted for the position will be expected do some limited traveling within the state of Kansas. Interested parties should submit their resumes via e-mail or by U.S. mail to the Karpov Chess School. 8) Cal Chess Masters at the Mechanics' InstituteDue to the effort of NMs Richard Koepcke and Michael Aigner the Cal Chess Board has agreed to sponsor a Master's tournament at the Mechanics's Institute on September 29th and 30th. The four round Swiss, with a first place of $700, is open to all USCF Masters, those who have been a master at one time whose rating is still over 2100 and juniors under 21 rated over 2000. Look for more details shortly. 9) Here and ThereDuncan Oxley has kindly passed along these games from the US Championship Internet qualifier preliminaries.The games were played at a time control of 5 minutes per side with a one second increment. Sam Shankland - Keaton Kiewra 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. O-O-O d5 10. Kb1 Nxd4 11. e5 Nf5 12. exf6 exf6 13. Nxd5 Nxe3 14. Qxe3 Be6 15. Bc4 Rc8 16. Bb3 Re8 17. Qxa7 Bxd5 18. Rxd5 Qc7 19. Qd4 f5 20. Qd2 h5 21. Rd7 Qe5 22. Bxf7+ Kh8 23. c3 Rf8 24. Bxg6 Rf6 25. Qg5 Qe6 26. Qxh5+ Kg8 27. Qh7+ Kf8 28. Qxg7# 1-0 Julio Becerra - Jesse Kraai 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. c3 O-O 9. Qc2 e5 10. O-O-O exd4 11. Nxd4 Re8 12. Bb5 c6 13. Bc4 Qc7 14. Rhe1 Qf4+ 15. Kb1 Be7 16. g3 Qc7 17. Nf5 Nf8 18. Nxe7+ Rxe7 19. Ng5 Be6 20. Bxe6 fxe6 21. f4 Rd8 22. Rxd8 Qxd8 23. Qe4 Qd5 24. c4 Qxe4+ 25. Rxe4 h6 26. Nf3 Rd7 27. Kc2 Rd8 28. b4 Kf7 29. Ne5+ Kf6 30. Re2 h5 31. Re1 Kf5 32. Kc3 Rd6 33. a4 Nd7 34. Nf7 1-0 The Franklin-Mercantile Chess Club of Philadelphia is the second oldest in the United States, having been formed before 1900. It's still going strong in the center of the city at 2012 Walnut Street (215-496-0811). The FMCC is open Monday through Thursday from 1:00-9:00 pm and and 1:00pm to midnight, Fridays and Saturdays. Club President is IM Richard Costigan. Dues are most reasonable - $75 for adults and $35 for juniors. The big tournament held in Oklahoma on Present's Day weekend has a big story on it at US Chess online. Go to http://beta.uschess.org/frontend/news_7_280.php The latest ( February) issue of Chess Life has a several page story on the Mechanics' victory in the 2006 US Chess league by IM Greg Shahade. 10) Upcoming EventsMI Events - go to http://www.chessclub.org/ for more information
A.J. Fink Amateur - March 3rd and 4th
Mar. 2-4 7th Annual Millennium Chess Festival GPP: 120 Virginia
Apr. 6-8 Reno-Far West Open VII GPP: 150 Enhanced Nevada
Aug. 14-19 2007 U.S. Senior Open S. California |