January 2009
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He won the 1992 World Open and he didn’t get a cover. He won the 1992 U.S. Open and he didn’t get a cover. He tied for first at 4 National Opens and he didn’t get a cover. Finally, we give a cover to ...
GM Gregory Kaidanov
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Chess Life — January 2009
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Editor’s Note
January Contributors:
Platinum. This is the metal associated with 70th anniversaries, the anniversary year the USCF is now celebrating. Advertisers link platinum with wealth (think “platinum credit cards” for example) and this serves nicely as a metaphor for the USCF’s 70th year as we celebrate our greatest wealth: The USCF member. In an issue later this year we will profile seven USCF members examining how the USCF has been important to them and for this we need your help. Would you like to be profiled? Do you know someone who should be profiled? If you were born in the year 1939, 1949, 1959, 1969, 1979, 1989, or 1999 and you are willing to be interviewed and have your photograph published in Chess Life, please contact us at
[email protected]. If you don’t have e mail access, please see our address on p. 2. As part of our anniversary celebrations we introduce a new Chess Life department in this issue, “USCF History,” penned by former USCF Executive Director Al Lawrence. Each month through the July issue we will look at one decade of USCF history. For this first month, Lawrence looks at the years 1939 1948, a time of Reshevsky and Steiner and of beginnings: both Chess Life and the Golden Knights correspondence chess tournament began this decade. For even more history, see former USCF Pres ident John McCrary’s write up on p. 8 of the organizations that preceded the USCF. If you wish to purchase the USCF a 70th anniversary gift, use your platinum credit card (or just your run of the mill card!) at uschess.org to join the USCF or to extend your membership. You and the USCF will be glad you did. ~Daniel Lucas
Dr. Alexey Root, WIM (“Looks at Books”) is the author of Science,
Math, Checkmate: 32 Chess Activities for Inquiry and Problem Solving | Al Lawrence (“USCF History”) is
a former USCF Executive Director |
GM Ian Rogers (“World Championship”) is a frequent contributor of interna
tional chess reports | FM Mike Klein (“Kaidanov”) is a frequent contributor
to Chess Life | GM John Fedorowicz (“World Youth”) has long been one
of America’s top GMs and scholastic coaches | WGM Jennifer Shahade
(“Hip Hop Variation”) is the editor of Chess Life Online at uschess.org
January on uschess.org Best of CLO
A year of original articles and interviews will be ranked in the second annual “Best of CLO Awards.” Last year’s top articles were written by GMs Jesse Kraai, Josh Friedel and Alex Onischuk. This year's judges will include a mix of top players, journalists and fans.
Ask GM Joel
In January, Joel responds to a reader who wants an opinion on his strategy of playing drawish openings against higher rated players and sharper openings against lower rated players. Send Joel your own inquiries to
[email protected].
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N +p + + + + + +p PL+P + pr P p +P+k l +R P p + L + +K+ + +
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Mate in 4
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Indian Problemsolving
Gary Kevin Ware’s January CLO problem column deals with the Indian theme. The “Double Indian,” to the left, a mate in 4 composed by Don French, stumped GM Walter Browne. Can you solve it? Go to Chess Life Online for the answer!
Holiday chess weekend
Martin Luther King Day weekend sees two major Grand Prixs on both coasts, the Liberty Bell Open in Philadelphia and the Western Class Champi onships in Agoura Hills, California. Check out CLO coverage of both, by CLO editor Jennifer Shahade in Philly and Jerry Hanken in California.
Chess Life — January 2009
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January Chess Life Columns 12 CHESS TO ENJOY Fischer Secrets By GM Andy Soltis
14 SOLITAIRE CHESS Morphy Was Quicker By Bruce Pandolfini
16 LOOKS AT BOOKS Pokétactics By Dr. Alexey Root, WIM
17 WHAT’S THE BEST MOVE? 26th Sands Regency Western States Open By GM Larry Evans
42 BACK TO BASICS Tal is Smiling By GM Lev Alburt
44 ENDGAME LAB The 2008 Women’s World Championship By GM Pal Benko
Departments 3
PREVIEW
6
COUNTERPLAY
8
FIRST MOVES
10 USCF HISTORY 40 USCF AFFAIRS 49 TOURNAMENT LIFE 70 CLASSIFIEDS 71 SOLUTIONS
26 | COVER STORY
The Quiet Kentuckian By FM Mike Klein
GM Gregory Kaidanov has built one of the most impressive resumés in American chess.
20 | WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Anand is Matchless By GM Ian Rogers
GM Viswanathan Anand defeats GM Vladimir Kramnik in the format in which the Russian had previously shown himself invincible: a head to head match. The Indian is now the indisputable world champion.
32 | 2008 WORLD YOUTH
Bronze for Shankland and Yang By GM John Fedorowicz
On The Cover
GM Gregory Kaidanov outside of the U.S. Chess School in Lexington, Kentucky. Cover Photo: Matt Barton
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Chess Life — January 2009
Is there no stopping our scholastic chess players on the international stage? After a year that has seen multiple gold medals for the U.S., our team picks up even more medals in Vietnam.
36 | HERE AND THERE
Hip Hop Variation By WGM Jennifer Shahade
Chess boxing. Scuba chess. Hip Hop artists playing tandem chess with a former U.S. women’s champion. We seem to be in a golden age of aggressive chess marketing. uschess.org
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Counterplay That mysterious knight move I am surprised that Frank Camaratta’s interesting article on the origin of the knight move does not raise two issues (“The Mysterious Knight Move,” October 2008). The first derives from the fact that in modern chess, the knight is the com plement of the queen. That is, if the knight attacks the queen, the queen does not attack the knight, and vice versa. Try placing seven queens on a chess board so that they do not attack one another. Hence, if the original king, queen (adviser), bishop and rook moved as Mr. Cama ratta reasons, the knight would be a complement to their combined motions, now embodied in a single piece, the mod ern queen. A second issue is one of color. To use Hans Kmoch’s terminology, most of the original chess pieces, at least as Mr. Camaratta defines them, were color bound or monochromic. Not only were bishops confined to squares of one color, but so were the original queens (advi sors) and the original rooks, if they could move only two squares, not one. Kmoch termed the knight rotochromic, changing colors with each move, a prop erty the original king and non capturing pawns shared if the pawns could only advance one square on the first move. Color complex strategy could have been quite different in primordial chess as Mr. Camaratta has reconstructed it, making winning the knight pair a priority. James S. Morgan Haddonfield, New Jersey
Frank Camaratta responds:
This stems from the very nature of the thesis that from a given square, each of the chessmen would attack a unique square. There would be no overlap in the “span of control” of each piece. There can be no doubt that in the game as originally posed, the knight was by far the strongest piece. Unfortunately, this also had the drawback that the rooks and bishops could not attack each other and made the game somewhat “laborious.” The game became much more “playable” once the powers of the rooks were expanded. On the question of color, I believe that the original game was played on the “points” not the squares and I also believe that the squares on the earliest chessboards were all the same color. The game was, in effect, played on a grid, much like Chi nese chess, Shogi or Go. ~Frank Camaratta 6
Chess Life — January 2009
Modern chess typos Chess Life devoted its front cover and a feature article to the 15th edition of Modern Chess Openings (September 2008). I turned to my copy MCO 15 to see what it had to say about a variation of the 6. ... Bc4 Najdorf. It gave (p. 264): 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 Nbd7 8. f4 Nc5 9. f5 Be7 10. Qf3 0-0 11. Be3 e5 12. Nde2 Nxb3 13. axb3 b5! 14. Nxb5?! d5 (and then in the footnote) 15. Qg4 g6 16. Bh6 Nxe5 17. Qf4 b4
Not only do the moves 15. Qg4 and 17. Qf4 leave the queen en prise, but the moves 16. … Nxe5 and 17. … b4 are patently impossible. Because of this edi torial carelessness, I’ll never know what Nick de Firmian is referring to when he concludes “a sharp position with chances for both sides.” Soon thereafter I bought a copy of Jeremy Silman’s Complete Endgame Course. Silman advises us to “put aside all other endgame books and trust your endgame study to Silman’s Complete Endgame Course” (p. xiv). I was eager to sample this self pro claimed greatest of all endgame primers that I had just purchased, so I sat down in the bookstore and turned to the first example in the Bobby Fischer chapter (p. 511). I was disappointed when I got to the first annotation: 3. g5 Kd7 4. g5 Kf5 5. Bf6 Kg6, =.
Without even seeing the diagram it is evident that 4. g5 and 4. … Kf5 are impos sible. It turns out that 5. Bf6 is also. What a disappointment to have plunked down $25 for a sloppily edited chess book. If a move or two is misprinted or omit ted it is often possible to piece together the intended meaning. However, the above
examples were so badly botched that I could not recreate the intended sequence of moves. It appears that in the rush to get out the next hot selling chess book publishers are not spending enough time on proof editing for obvious errors. As a result, the chess student gets deprived of what he or she paid for. Denny Helmuth, life member via e-mail
EGOists The article written by Michael Jeffreys (“Is Your EGO Costing You Your ELO?” October, 2008) points out pitfalls all chess players have to go through. I have played tournament chess for over 30 years, and would like to share some of my own expe riences that were beyond my control. In 1993, I was up against a grandmas ter and was playing well when another player in the room dropped dead at his board! The emergency personnel were summoned, and all the games had to be stopped. Upon resumption, I blundered away a knight, and my game was over. In 1994, I was paired against a grand master in the first round, but on the morning I was to leave for this tourna ment, I lost my job. I made the trip anyway, and promptly got slaughtered. In 1998, I had all kinds of problems with the playing site as it was a circular room on a hotel’s roof. That night, severe weather headed in our direction, and I just simply did not feel safe playing there and promptly lost in 15 moves. The point is to place more credence in objective rather than emotional thought because your ego will get to you. Block out the extenuating circumstances, and your ego will definitely be in check. David Cole, life member via e-mail
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SuperNationals IV
$50,000 in cash scholarships to be awarded! www.SuperNationalsIV.com for tournament information and registration. Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center 2802 Opryland Drive Nashville, TN 37214 (615) 883-2211 Chess Rate: $139.00 Single – Quad ENT R IES TO: US Chess Federation Attn: SuperNationals P. O. Box 3967 Crossville, TN 38557
Questions and Team Rooms: Cheryle Bruce –
[email protected] 931-787-1234 ext. 147 On site entries after 10 a.m., Friday 4/3/2009 will receive a 1/2-point bye for the first round.
See TLA this issue (Nationals section) for detailed tournament information.
Participants at the First American Chess Congress
Before the USCF: Early American Chess Associations As we celebrate this 70th anniversary year, a former USCF president answers, “What came before?”
By John McCrary
s we celebrate 70 years of the USCF, let us look at the various national chess associations in the U.S. that preceded the USCF. Between 1857 and 1939 Americans tried to feder ate themselves on a national level on at least nine occasions, but all those organ izations ceased to exist, although the last two merged to create our USCF in 1939. It began on October 19, 1857, when the American Chess Association was voted into existence by participants at the First American Chess Congress in New York. Paul Morphy nominated Colonel Charles D. Mead of New York to be its first pres ident. That first American Chess Association was among the first of its kind in the world. The American Chess Association was evidently only the third national organ ization started for any sport in the U.S., following horse racing and cricket. Base ball began its national organization in March 1858. Why did Paul Morphy nominate the first president of that first American Chess Association? The answer may be found in the sectional tensions of that
A
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Chess Life — January 2009
time. The likely candidates for the pres idency were Judge A.B. Meek of Alabama and Charles Mead of New York. Asking Morphy, a southerner, to nominate the northern candidate (with Meek’s bless ing) was thus a gesture of unity that began the new association on a good footing despite the sectional tensions of the day. Unfortunately that first American Chess Association died quickly, although a rare copy of its brief periodical is exhib ited at the World Chess Hall of Fame in Miami. Subsequently, there was a long succession of failed attempts to create new American chess associations. Follow ing is a brief list of such attempts: In 1871, another American Chess Association was created in Cleveland at the Second American Chess Congress. After its fund raising appeal was apathet ically received, it died. In 1874, yet another American Chess Association (same name again) was started in Chicago at the Third American Chess Congress. That association tried to organize the Fourth American Chess Congress in 1876 in Philadelphia, but
dissolved itself after losing a power strug gle with the Philadelphia chess club over control of the Congress. In 1880, the Chess Association of the United States of America was established at the Fifth American Chess Congress. Despite its longer name, it did not enjoy a long tenure. In 1888, the United States Chess Asso ciation was established in Cincinnati. It was created at the behest of “six estab lished State Chess Associations, namely those of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Virginia, Indiana, and Ohio,” according to Steinitz. This association thrived briefly but died out by 1897. In 1897, discussion began for the estab lishment of another national organization, and by 1899 The Chess Association of the United States was functioning. It had the new feature of emphasizing clubs, rather than individuals, as members, although it allowed individual members. That organ ization also failed to thrive, despite the efforts of World Champion Emanuel Lasker, who published its constitution in his Lasker’s Chess Magazine, November 1904, in order to “bring new life into the organization.” In 1921, the United States Chess Asso ciation was formed, adopting the constitution of its predecessor of the late 1890s. Although it was communicat ing with Jose Capablanca as late as 1922 regarding conditions for future world championship matches, it does not seem to have remained active for much longer. In 1926 a major step toward a perma nent national chess organization occurred when the National Chess Federation of the USA was established, affiliating with the world chess federation (FIDE), which was also newly formed. It survived long enough to gain control of the U.S. cham pionship, and then in 1939 to merge with yet another national organization, the American Chess Federation, which had been formed out of the Western Chess Association. The result of that merger is the modern USCF. The USCF began in September 1939, the same month that World War II began. As late as October 1943, the USCF had only 299 members, but it grew to its record membership of around 95,000 members in early 2003. The USCF owes many things to all those failed predeces sors. The idea of inexpensive dues in order to be accessible to all social classes was established as early as 1857. Support of scholastic chess came early, as did the sanctioning of national competitions in an effort to regulate disputed title claims. In time, the USCF would become pioneers in developing ratings for over the board play worldwide, and in helping to bring chess computers into homes around the world.
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Chess Life — January 2009
9
U S C F H I S T O RY
On the Shoulders of Chess Giants W
USCF’S 1ST DECADE: 1939-1948
by Al Lawrence
e’ve come to expect a lot from our USCF: hundreds of school and com munity clubs, thousands of tourn aments each year with timely rating adjust ments, and a professionally prepared, monthly Chess Life. Even the sky is no longer the limit; U.S. school children, with voting tallied by USCF, are now sending moves into space, playing against orbiting U.S. astronaut Gregory Chamitoff. With that gravity defying feat in mind, it seems doubly appropriate to recall Sir Isaac New
bloody invasion of Russia put an end to its national chess championship prelims. Sheltered in the U.S., aging legends took their leave of the Earth: Emanuel Lasker, longest reigning chess king; José Raúl Capablanca, the once dashing idol of the gilded age; Frank Marshall, U.S. champ for nearly three decades. A future champ was born, Bobby Fischer. In 1942 Mona May Karff, born in czarist Russia, won her second U.S. women’s championship title in a row, ending the
70 million), 10 of our best players took on the U.S.S.R.’s stars in a double round robin played by radio. On boards one and two, Botvinnik blanked Denker and Smyslov shut out Reshevsky. Overall, the Soviets won 15½ to 4½. (An in per son match the next year in Moscow saw the U.S. lose by an improved but still lopsided score.) Also in 1945, C.F. Rehberg won the first USCF Golden Knights correspondence tournament.
EN PASSANT • New Yorker Sammy Reshevsky dominates the decade’s U.S. championships; only exceptions— Arnold Denker wins in 1944, and Hollywood’s Herman Steiner in 1948. • 1944: Chess Review flooded with letters debating the change in notation from “Kt” to “N.” • Chess Life begins as a newspaper in 1946. • 1948: Fine declines to play in the world championship tournament; Botvinnik wins, beginning the long Soviet domination of world chess. • Trivia: Two of the three U.S. champs who ruled USCF’s first decade were promising young boxers—Steiner and Denker knew their way around the board and the ring. Samuel Reshevsky (left) dominated the U.S. championship in USCF’s first decade. George Sturgis (top of page) was USCF’s first president.
ton’s humbling reminder that we can see so far only because we stand on the shoul ders of giants. Over the next eight issues, we’ll briefly recall some of those giants of USCF, looking this month at its first decade. On December 27, 1939, the National Chess Federation and the American Chess Federation merged to form USCF, with yearly dues of one dollar and fewer than 1,000 members. USCF’s first president, George Sturgis of Boston, set his sights on 2,000 a goal not realized for 15 years. In 1940 Reuben Fine bested 27 others to win USCF’s first U.S. Open in Dallas (where the first USCF business meeting was also held). An ominous event in 1941 reminds us of the state of their world Hitler’s 10
Chess Life — January 2009
back and forth with Belgian born Adele Rivero. The 1940s ended with the rise of the astonishing Gisela Kahn Gresser. Discovering the Swiss System was the invention of the tournament chess wheel. Texan J.C. Thompson, at the advice of George Koltanowski, ran the 1942 South west Open as a Swiss. Before this, large events were unwieldy, requiring many games to determine a winner. When Thompson organized the 1947 U.S. Open in Corpus Christi, won by Isaac Kashdan and directed by “Kolty,” he made it a Swiss, and ingenuity became tradition. In September 1945, three weeks after VJ Day brought peace to a war exhausted world (lest we forget, the dead numbered
On September 5, 1946, Chess Life began as a twice monthly newspaper, edited by picaresque Chicagoan Mont gomery Major, who wrote some columns under the inverted pseudonym William “Rojam.” Koltanowski launched a nation wide “simul” exhibition and blindfold tour. Larry Friedman won the first U.S. junior chess championship in Chicago. In 1948, USCF ended its initial decade as two promising teenagers, Larry Evans and Arthur Bisguier, won the Marshall Chess Club championship and the U.S. Junior, respectively. Weaver “White to Move and Win” Adams steamrolled his last nine opponents 7 1 to win the U.S. Open in Baltimore.
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Chess to Enjoy
Fischer Secrets
It’s been a year since the most secretive of world champions was laid to rest. Now some of his secrets can be told. By GM Andy Soltis
Bobby Fischer had few acquaintances, fewer friends and one rule: Never talk about my private life. But since his death last January, people he allowed to know him have been breaking their silence. One was Vassily Smyslov. The former world champion recalled Bobby’s behav ior at an international tournament in April 1970, shortly after he resurfaced after a mysterious absence from chess. Bobby was in fine form until the eighth round, when he was crushed in 30 moves by an untitled Yugoslav. It was traumatic. Fischer hadn’t lost a chess game in three years. Worse still, he was White and was beaten by an opening he regarded as simply bad, the French Winawer. The next day Smyslov was due to play Fischer. He came to the board and played 1. e4. But minutes went by and there was no sign of Bobby, Smyslov told the Russian publication Profil. Smyslov and his wife, both more than 20 years older than Fischer, felt almost parental concern. “My wife said, ‘Let’s go to his room and bring some food.’ It turned out he was sit ting in his hotel room, completely aloof and hungry.” Fischer refused to leave. The Smyslovs convinced him to order from room serv ice. “They sent breakfast. Fischer ate a bit and came to play an hour late. They again started his clock, he sat down and began to play,” Smyslov said. It was as if noth ing had happened. Sicilian Defense, Closed Variation (B26) GM Vassily Smyslov GM Robert J. Fischer Rovinj Zagreb 1970
1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 Nc6 6. Be3 Rb8 7. Qd2 b5 8. Nf3 b4 9. Nd1 Bg4!? 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Nf6 12. Bg2 0-0 13. 0-0 Re8 14. Bh6 Bh8 15. Ne3 Nd7 16. Rab1 Rb6 17. Nc4 Ra6! 18. a3 Nb6 19. axb4 12
Chess Life — January 2009
cxb4 20. Be3 Nxc4 21. dxc4 Ra2 22. f4!? Bxb2 23. e5 Bc3 24. Qd5 Ra6
As much as Fischer cherished extra material he rarely played “computer moves” like 24. ... Na5!?. 25. e6 fxe6 26. Qxe6+ Kh8
+
qr+ k p + p +p r+npQ+p+ + + + + pP+ P + + l L PP +P+ +L+ +R+ +RK
After 26. ... Kh8
Black can neutralize the attack (27. Bxc6 Rxc6 28. Rxb4 Qc8! but not 28. ... Bxb4?? 29. Bd4 mate). 27. f5 Nd4! 28. Bxd4+ Bxd4+ 29. Kh1 g5! 30. Rxb4 Bf6 31. Rfb1 Rb6 32. Rxb6 axb6 33. Bd5 Rf8 34. Qe3 Qc8 35. g4 Qc5, Draw.
Another rare glimpse of Fischer came from patron Bessel Kok. In 1990 Kok was the prime mover in the grandmasters’ association and Bobby was living under ground in the U.S. Fischer called Kok out of the blue and said he wanted to talk to him in person about the future of chess. Kok agreed to Bobby’s conditions a first class airplane ticket, five star hotel room and $2,500 in cash on arrival and Fischer flew to Belgium. He checked into the Brussels Sheraton for five days under an assumed name. Kok also arranged for Boris Spassky and his wife Marina to come, he wrote in the new Dutch magazine Matten. Why Spassky? Because Bobby wanted
Kok to arrange a Fischer Spassky “world championship rematch” with a $2.5 mil lion prize fund. Fischer, Kok and the Spasskys spent a pleasant evening at an Italian restaurant. When the name “Kas parov” inevitably came up, it didn’t make much of an impression on Bobby. But when Anatoly Karpov’s name was men tioned he launched into his theory that he could tell Karpov was Jewish by looking at his eyes in photographs. The next day the Spasskys returned to Paris but Fischer went to another Kok dinner, this time with GM Jan Timman. Among the evening’s highlights: Fischer told the Hungarian waitress “I am Bobby Fischer. I am the world chess champion.” “Of course, my darling,” she replied. “You are Bobby Fischer. And I am Sophia Loren.” Fischer left the next day on good terms. But he flew into a rage two weeks later when Sports Illustrated reported on his visit. Someone had broken the rule. He never had contact with Kok again. Viktor Korchnoi told a similar tale to the Russian magazine 64: “The last time I met with Fischer was 1983 when I gave simuls in the States, in California. He gave me tens of books about the world conspiracy of Jews and about the evils of smoking.” At his next simultaneous exhibition Korchnoi made the mistake of talking about meeting Fischer. Word got back to Bobby. “The next day I received a letter from him in which he expressed the sus picion that I worked in the KGB,” Korchnoi said. “I didn’t see him further.” After Fischer died, some Russians rem inisced about the 15 year old Bobby who visited Moscow in 1958. He came to play five minute games with a world champion and was disappointed when he could only take on mere masters and grandmasters. “When Bobby and his sister Joan appeared we presented them with a trans uschess.org
2008 U.S. Championship When Yury Shulman won the 2008 U.S. Championship he joined a rapidly expanding group of players to hold the national title. There have been 13 different grandmasters who won or tied for first place in the U.S. championship in the last 13 years. That brings the total to 29 champs in the 73 years since the modern championship began in 1936. Last year’s tournament in Tulsa provides our six quiz positions. In each of the following positions you are asked to find the fastest winning line of play. Usually this will mean the forced win of a decisive amount of material, such as a rook or minor piece. For solutions, see Page 71.
Problem I
GM Eugene Perelshteyn GM Alex Yermolinsky
+R+ + + + + + k + r +p+ pp+ + P + P + R + +n+L+ + + + K + r + +
uschess.org
Problem III
IM Larry Kaufman FM Michael Langer
GM Eugene Perelshteyn FM Michael Langer
+ + +k+ +p+ + np q+ p Lp+ + pP+ + rPR+ + + + + r +P +Q+ +P+ +R+ + K
rr+ +k+ Q + +Rpp + + + + + + q + +p+P+ + + +P+ P + +PRKP + + + +
White to play
White to play
White to play
IM Benjamin Finegold Samuel Shankland
GM Gregory Kaidanov IM Joshua Friedel
GM Boris Gulko IM Larry Kaufman
Problem IV
+ Q + + +r+ + kp + + +p+ + + +pK + + + P + + + P + + + + + + + +
White to play
lator, room and board at a hotel and money for pocket expenses,” Lev Abramov, a veteran Soviet chess official told 64. “They presented us with a letter of the mother in which she ‘recommended’ which gifts to give to Bobby so it will be easier for him to carry his baggage.” Joan went sightseeing but “Bobby played blitz from morning to night. Sev eral days before the planned departure Bobby and Joan showed up in my room and announced they wanted to extend their visit in Moscow and play some seri ous games,” Abramov recalled. But a few days later Bobby was at a restaurant, waiting for his food and nerv ously rocking back and forth in his chair. “Joan cautioned him but he continued and fell down. When he got up he left the room, growling something very uncompli mentary about Russian hosts.” The translator went to the Fischers’ room and relayed “instructions” that they were to leave Moscow. But before he left, Fischer told Abramov he was still interested in serious games. “What honorarium will I receive for these games?” he asked. “None,” Abramov said. “You are our guest and we don’t pay fees to guests.” Fischer left soon after. One of Fischer’s blitz opponents was Evgeni Vasiukov, then a 25 year old national master. Four years later, after he became a grandmaster, Soviet authorities remembered his games with Bobby and gave him the job of preparing opening
Problem II
Problem V
+ + +k+ +q+l+rpp L R p + P + p + + nP+ + +r+ + P + + QLP + R + K
White to play
Problem VI
+
r k +Plp p + +p+ n + + +q + + +lL + +LPN+ P+Q+ PPP + +R+ K p
+
+
White to play
surprises to beat Fischer at the 1962 Candidates tournament in Curacao. One of Vasiukov’s ideas arose in a Pirc Defense:
However, Viktor Korchnoi said, “This suits me!” When they met in the fifth round at Curacao Fischer went straight into the Vasiukov analysis. After:
1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 0-0 6. Be2 c5 7. dxc5 Qa5 8. 0-0 Qxc5+ 9. Kh1 Nc6
11. Nb3 Qb6 12. a4 Nb4
He figured that Fischer, who devoured Russian chess literature, would have known of the game Vasiukov Bastrikov, Kharkov 1956 and would follow it. (White won after 10. Nd2 Nd4 11. Nb3 Nxb3 12. axb3 Bd7 13. e5! Ne8? 14. Be3! based on 14. ... Qxe3? 15 Nd5.) But Vasiukov had found a strong antidote in 10. ... a5!.
r+l+ rk+ +p+ pplp +np np+ p q + + + +PP + + N + + PPPNL+PP R LQ+R+K
After 10. ... a5
Vasiukov presented his analysis to Paul Keres, one of the four Soviet candidates headed for Curacao. But Keres said he never played the Pirc. Mikhail Tal and Tigran Petrosian also refused.
He played:
13. g4??
And was lost soon after:
13. ... Bxg4! 14. Bxg4 Nxg4 15. Qxg4 Nxc2.
Despite the gift point, Korchnoi fin ished fifth at Curacao, just below Bobby. The real beneficiary of the game was Vasiukov. He was rewarded by Soviet officials with a rare invitation to a strong tournament in Berlin. His first prize there was his greatest achievement in chess. Almost none of the grandmaster broth erhood had contact with Fischer in his later years. But when he was jailed in Japan during 2004 2005 in a strange passport dispute, Smyslov composed a White to play and draw study and ded icated it to Bobby. “I sent it over the Internet to the jail in Japan. I don’t know if it reached him or not,” he said. And at least one grandmaster kept in close contact with Bobby by e mail and phone. Pal Benko told 64: “Fischer and I talked about a week before his death, Evidently he didn’t know his health was in such a serious condition. We discussed the possibility of organizing a match with Judith Polgar ...”
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Chess Life — January 2009
13
Solitaire Chess
Morphy was Quicker
Just because Morphy was the first to truly understand the importance of seizing the initiative does not mean he did not understand that defense plays a role in chess too. He just did it in a way that allowed him to then seize the initiative. By Bruce Pandolfini
Among Paul Morphy’s contributions to chess was his understanding of the importance of fighting for the initiative by building a lead in development. Game after game he would find little ways to get out all his pieces, often with his opponent still having unmoved pieces in the final position. Nor would having to play defense for a bit deter him. In this game from 1859, for instance, Morphy must ward off Black’s early threat, but somehow winds up turning it around and completing his development, leaving several black pieces collecting dust. It all began as a Queen’s Pawn Counter Gambit: Latvian and Elephant Gambits (C40) Paul Morphy Augustus Mongredien Paris, 1859, 6th match game 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5
rnlqklnr ppp +ppp + + + + + +pp + + +P+ + + + +N+ PPPP PPP RNLQKL+R
Your starting position
Now make sure you have the above position set up on your chessboard. As you play through the remaining moves in this game, use a piece of paper to cover the article, exposing White’s next move only after trying to guess it. If you guess correctly, give yourself the par score. Sometimes points are also rewarded for second best moves, and there may be 14
Chess Life — January 2009
bonus points or deductions for other moves and variations. Note that ** means that the note to Black’s move is over and White’s move is on the next line. 3.
exd5
Par Score: 5
Also 3. Nxe5 (4 points part credit) is reasonable. The pawn capture (e4xd5) was approved by the books of the day (it still is). Morphy also had some previous experience playing it against Paulsen two years earlier. 3.
e4
…
After White takes at d5, Black still has to do something about his attacked e5 pawn. If 3. ... Qxd5 then 4. Nc3 (1 bonus point) loses time with the queen. And with 3. ... Bd6, the Elephant Gambit, Black’s position doesn’t stack up too well when White reacts vigorously in the cen ter, 4. d4 e4 5. Ne5 (1 bonus point). That leaves pushing the pawn.** 4.
Qe2
Par Score: 6
Black saved his pawn, advancing it to attack the knight. If White then casually moved his knight away, say 4. Nd4 (accept only 2 points part credit), then Black fol lows with 4. ... Qxd5, recovering his pawn with a fine game. General development principles frown on early queen moves, especially those that block in the f1 bishop. However, every position is subject to its own special rules and the player is expected to make the adjustment. Here the queen pins the e pawn and threatens to take it. If Black guards the pawn by 4. ... f5 or 4. ... Nf6, White ‘s intention is to attack it again by 5. d3 (1 bonus point). 4.
Qe7
…
Black guards the pawn and unpins it so that the knight is threatened once again.** 5.
Nd4
Par Score: 4
5.
…
6.
Nb5
6.
…
7.
d4
7.
…
8.
c4
8.
…
9.
Bd2
Qe5
With this move Black attacks the knight once again as well as the d5 pawn. White could retreat 6. Nb3 (accept only 3 points part credit), answering 6. ... Qxd5 with 7. Nc3, attacking the queen and e pawn, but it wasn’t Morphy’s style to move back ward when he could go forward.** Par Score: 5
Saves the knight and indirectly pro tects the d5 pawn with the c7 attack. Take 1 bonus point for having seen that 6. ... Qxd5? fails to 7. Nxc7+. Bd6
Black guards c7 and now threatens to remove the d5 pawn.** Par Score: 5
By vigorous play in the center Morphy is able to maintain his advantage. On 7. ... exd3 e.p. follows 8. Nxd6+ cxd6 9. Qxe5+ dxe5 10. Bxd3 (2 bonus points), preserving his extra pawn with a fine game. And if 7. ... Qxd5 White has two good moves: 8. N1c3 and 8. c4 (1 bonus point for either). Both moves lead to the win of the e4 pawn while gaining ground in the center. Qe7 Par Score: 5
White aims to trap the bishop by 9. c5 (1 bonus point). This induces Mongredian to trade his bishop before it gets lost. Bb4+
Black avoids the trap with a gain of time.** Par Score: 5
With so many points under White’s observation (b4, c7, e4) Black decides to reduce some of his responsibilities. uschess.org
Problem I
These problems are all related to key positions in this month’s game. In each case, Black is to move. The answers can be found in Solutions on page 71.
January exercise: In these days of perfunctory opening study players often hope to escape the “book” by employing black systems for white, judging the extra move to give the first player an edge. Thus we see a plethora of King’s Indian Attacks. Yet that opening has been analyzed to death and no longer is a revela tion. To explore less trodden paths try practicing the Caro Kann, French, and Modern Defenses in reverse, say, against chess software. You may be surprised by how many doors of rote logic the added tempo closes, but don’t be surprised by how many doors of keen perception it opens.
9.
…
Bxd2+
A question to keep in mind is which player winds up gaining time on all this.** 10.
Nxd2
Par Score: 4
Clearly, Morphy has benefited. Black traded a bishop already developed and Morphy was able to develop and exchange a bishop in the process. At the end, White also gets his queen knight developed. 10.
…
11.
Nc3
a6 Par Score: 4
Accept 2 bonus points if you thought about 11. d6 cxd6 12. Nxe4 axb5 13. Nxd6+ Kd8 14. Qxe7+ Nxe7 (14. ... Kxe7 15. Nxc8+) 15. Nxf7+. But Black has sev eral improvements along the way. First there’s 13. ... Kd7; and later Maroczy pointed out the possibility of 13. ... Kf8!, to answer 14. Nxc8 with 14. ... Qc7, gath ering up the knight. 11. 12.
… 0-0-0
f5 Par Score: 5
Here White could consider the under mining move, 12. g4 (3 points part credit), but what Morphy comes up with (castling) is even stronger. The idea is to pin the e4 pawn by Re1, then pile up and win it after f2 f3. Accept 1 bonus point if this was your plan too. 12.
…
13.
Re1
uschess.org
Nf6 Par Score: 5
Problem II
Fork
ABCs of Chess
k
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
l
+ + + +p+ + n P + + + + + + Q + + + K + + + +
Problem IV
…
14.
f3
+k+ +p+ + +l+ + + pp+ + + +P+ + + +L+ + +P+KP + + + + + +
+
…
15.
fxe4
0-0
Par Score: 5
b5 Par Score: 5
If White takes 15. cxb5 (no credit), he plays into Black’s hands. It would lead to the opening of the a file and a weakening of the d5 pawn. …
fxe4
If Black doesn ‘t take, White will push on to e5 (1 bonus point), driving the knight from f6. And the insertion of 15. ... b4 doesn’t really change anything. White will move his attacked knight to a4 and then settle in on c5 (1 bonus point).** 16.
Ncxe4
16.
…
17.
Qxc4
Problem VI Skewer
k + r + +p+ + + + + + + + q + + + p + + + + + + + +Q+PP + + R K
From White ‘s perspective everything is going according to plan. The e pawn is still pinned. If 14. ... exf3? then 15. Qxe7 (1 bonus point); nor can the e pawn be suf ficiently protected. If 14. ... Re8 then 15. fxe4 fxe4 16. Ncxe4 (threat 17. Nxf6+) 16. ... Nxe4 17. Qxe4 Qxe4 18. Rxe4 Rxe4 19. Nxe4, emerging two pawns ahead (2 bonus points). The reason for 16. Ncxe4, rather than 16. Ndxe4, is to avoid 16. ... Nxe4 17. Qxe4 Qg5+ by discovering on the queen (1 bonus point). 14.
r+ +kl + p + q +p + + + + + + + + + + + + + +n+ + + +Q+ P + LK+ NR
+
Discovery
+ +r+k+ +p+ q p +n+ + + + + + + + +Q+ + + N + + P + +P+ + K R + 13.
+
Removing the guard
Problem V
Discovery
15.
Problem III
Trapping
Par Score: 5 bxc4 Par Score: 5
r+ + +k+ + + + pp +p+ + + +ql + + + + + + + P +Q+ + + +PP +N+ +R+K
17.
…
18.
Bd3
18.
…
19.
Nxf6
19.
…
20.
Rhf1
20.
…
21.
Rxf8+
21.
…
22.
Qb4!
Kh8
Black decides to step off the diagonal and away from discovered check (d5 d6). Accept 1 bonus point if you noticed the possibility of it.** Par Score: 5 Bb7 Par Score: 5
Simply 19. Nc5 wins a piece (1 bonus point). Qxf6 Par Score: 6 Qd8 Par Score: 5 Qxf8
Now if White plays 22. Qxc7, Black can answer with 22. ... Bxd5. Meanwhile, Black needs just one more move to clear his home rank. He’s almost catching up in development.** Par Score: 6
Naturally, 22. ... Qxb4 allows a back row mate after 23. Re8+. And the attempt to save the bishop, 22. ... Qc8, fails for a similar reason after 23. Qxb7!. Accept 1 bonus point for seeing each variation. Scoring box on page 71. 22.
Black resigned.
Chess Life — January 2009
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15
Looks at Books
Pokétactics
Chess Life columnist GM Lev Alburt releases his second Chess Training Pocket Book. By Dr. Alexey Root, WIM
okémon are pocket sized monsters. They come in a variety of sizes and strengths, yet each Pokémon fits inside the same size Pokéball. So when a trainer throws a Pokéball at you, it could contain any one of 400+ Pokémon. GM Lev Alburt and Al Lawrence, chess trainers, throw 320 Pokéballs, metaphor ically speaking, at readers. And the reader does not know, from one Pokétactic (pocket tactic) to the next, whether the solution will be extremely hard or merely difficult. Compounding the challenge, about 10% of the Pokétactics are not tac tics but strategic or quiet moves. This really confuses the reader, who has become used to looking for tactics. Therefore, to be ready for Alburt and Lawrence’s Pokéball barrage, you should first master Reinfeld’s 1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and Combinations and 1001 Brilliant Ways to Checkmate. Like Alburt and Lawrence, Reinfeld offers chess problems in diagram form. In other words, board and pieces are not neces sary. Unlike Alburt and Lawrence, however, Reinfeld’s problems are organ ized by themes. Reinfeld has several pages in a row of queen sacrifices, several pages of discovered checks, etc. Thus, less experienced players know what type of solution to look for on particular pages. Alburt and Lawrence mix and match types of problems and difficulty levels on each four diagram page. Although the cover of Pocket Book II says the book is for all players, this categorization is unreal istic. Alburt and Lawrence write, “Under analytic training conditions [of spending 20 minutes on each problem], the goal for an expert player is to score at least 50% correct.” Therefore, this book is not suited for players rated below 1500, who would likely get one or no problems right after spending 80 minutes on a page. Alburt and Lawrence write that it is fine to get problems wrong, or to spend less time on problems, as long as the ideas become part of one’s repertoire. But I think lower rated
P
16
Chess Life — January 2009
Chess Training Pocket Book II (2008) by Lev Alburt and Al Lawrence. 208 pp., New York: Chess Information and Research Center. List Price: $18.95. Available on USCFsales.com with a member’s discount for $17.95
players (especially children) would get dis couraged by being consistently wrong. Pocket II is an improvement over Alburt’s Pocket I (2000). Pocket I repli cated many positions from other books. Of the 300 positions in Pocket Book I, only nine were from 1980 or later. In con trast, Pocket II has many positions that are not yet available in other books. 75 of the Pocket II positions are from 1980 or later, including 50 from 2000 2008. Pocket II adds a new chapter, “Tactics: the dirty dozen,” which clearly defines the 12 most important tactics. From this chapter I learned the difference between deflection (“diverts an enemy piece from a particular square”) and decoy (“diverts an enemy piece to a certain square”). Both Pocket I and Pocket II index posi tions by tactical theme (pin, desperado, etc.) Opposite from each four diagram page are the corresponding answers and
the game from which the position was taken. Listing the game source of each Pokétactic appeals to me, especially when I know the players involved. Thus “Youngsworth [sic] Seirawan, 1979” caught my eye. I know Yasser Seirawan, and my hus band Doug played against both players. According to Doug, before this particular game Perry Youngworth had been leading the 1979 U.S. Junior Championship, an invitational event. After Youngworth lost to Seirawan, Seirawan ended up winning the tournament. Seirawan later reflected, “I won the 1979 U.S. Junior Championship, which was to propel my career significantly. That victory sent me on to win the World Junior Championship.” Here is Seirawan’s Pokétactic, which I would classify as an average difficulty Pokétactic for Pocket Book II:
+r+ +k+ + + + +p p+ + +p+ +p+P P + P + n q+ + + + P + R + P L +Q+ +K
Black to play
Solution: “1. ... Rc1! (deflection) 2. Qxc1 Qf3+ 3. Kg1 Nh3, mate.” As illustrated by Youngworth Seirawan, Alburt and Lawrence’s game citations allow the reader to research the stories behind each Pokétactic. But the main point of Pocket Book II is chess improvement. For those rated 1500 and up, studying this Pokébook’s 320 Pokétactics should help you on the road to mastery.
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uschess.org
What’s The Best Move?
26th Sands Regency Western States Open By GM Larry Evans 252 Compete In Reno Despite a dismal economy and a reduced turnout (88 fewer players than 2007) indomitable organizer Jerry Weikel awarded $26,000 in prizes. GM Sergey Kudrin took clear first at 5 1 in the top section of 43 (including eight grandmasters and five international masters). Jaan Ehlvest, Melik Khachiyan and Enrico Sevillano trailed by a half point. In keeping with tradition every October, I kicked off the event with a lecture on the Anand Kramnik title match. Solutions on page 71. Readers are invited to send their posi tions in for possible consideration in this column. Send to whatsthebest
[email protected] or mail to Chess Life, c/o What’s The Best Move, PO Box 3967, Crossville, TN 38557.
1. White moves
+
+rr k p +n+R+ p q +p+ + pPp Pp +P+P+ P P +N+Q+ + + +K+ + + +R+
(a) Rxd7 (b) Qh3 (c) Rxf8+
3. Black moves
+r+ +k+ q +ppp + +p+ + p +nP + p Q n + +Pp + + P+ N PPP + RR+K+ +
(a) Qb7 (b) Qc6 (c) c2
2. White moves
rq+rlk+ p pl+p+ p + n p +LpPp + Q+ +P+pn + N L N PP + PPP + +RR K
(a) Qxa7 (b) Bxd7 (c) Nh5
4. Black moves
r+ k + r +p+ pQ+p p+np +p+ + +N+ q + lP+l+ +L+ +P+ PPPR +PP + +K+ +R
(a) Bd7 (b) Bc8 (c) Ne5
Thank You, U.S. Chess Trust!
The World Chess Hall of Fame in Miami thanks the U.S. Chess Trust for funding both the travel and hotel expenses of all three 2008 U.S. Chess Hall of Fame inductees and their wives. The U.S. Chess Trust’s support made possible the recent public celebration of the careers of GMs Joel Benjamin, Larry Christiansen, and Nick de Firmian.
The U.S. Chess Trust is an independent 501(c)(3), non profit organization. Created in 1967, the Trust was organized to promote, stimulate and encour age the study and play of the game of chess as a means of intellectual development. Its trustees act without compensation, and are dedicated to the U.S. Chess Trust’s mission. Your valuable contri butions help make a difference!
Joel Benjamin receives his Hall of Fame plaque from U.S. Chess Trust chairman Harold Winston (r.) and then World Chess Hall of Fame executive director Al Lawrence (l.)
Go to www.uschesstrust.org to make a donation today! uschess.org
13755 SW 119th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33186 Phone: 782.242.HALL Chess Life — January 2009
17
In association with Present
The Sixth Annual All-Girls Open National Championships April 24 – 26, 2009 – Dallas, Texas Awards The University of Texas at Dallas, www.utdallas.edu, has established an Academic Distinction Scholarship to the winner of the 18-years-old and younger section. The scholarship is valued at $80,000 for an out-of-state student. Trophies to top 15 individuals and top 3 teams in each section. 3 or more players from the same school to make a team (top 3 scores added to give team final standings). Every player receives a souvenir medal.
Special Appearance by Anna Zatonskih
Reigning U.S. Women’s Champion, WGM Anna Zatonskih is two-time U.S. Women’s Champion, Member of US Olympiad Women’s Team since 2004, Silver medalist of the 2004 World Chess Olympiad.
Main Event Saturday, April 25 9:00 AM–Opening Ceremony Rounds 1–4: 9:30–11:30 AM; 12:00–2:00 PM; 3:00–5:00 PM; 5:30–7:30 PM Sunday, April 26 Rounds 5–6: 9:00–11:00 AM; 11:30 AM–1:30 PM; 2:30 PM–Closing Ceremony Entry Fee $45 if postmarked by March 25th, $70 on-site. USCF membership required. All events will be hosted at Hyatt Regency Dallas at Reunion Blvd. Side Events Friday, April 24 3:00 PM– Blitz Tournament (G/5) $15 if postmarked by March 25, $25 on-site. 5:00 PM Bughouse Tournament, $25 per team. 7:00 PM–Simultaneous Exhibition by WGM Anna Zatonskih. Please bring clocks for all the events. Chess sets and score sheets provided for the Main and Side Events.
6-SS, G/60, Sections • 8-years-old and younger • 10-years-old and younger • 12-years-old and younger • 14-years-old and younger • 16-years-old and younger • 18-years-old and younger Entry & Info Make check payable to: Dallas Chess Club Attn: Barbara Swafford 2709 Longhorn Trail Crowley, TX 76036 Tel: (214) 632-9000 Online registration www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_ id=1643715 www.kasparovchessfoundation.org Hotel Hyatt Regency Dallas at Reunion Blvd. 300 Reunion Blvd., Dallas, TX 75207 Hotel Chess Rate: $109 (up to 4 people per room) if reserved by April 1, 2009 Hotel Reservations: Please call (800) 233-1234 or (214) 651-1234
Official Sponsor of the 2008 US Men’s and Women’s Olympiad Teams.
Kasparov Chess Foundation’s mission is to bring the many educational benefits of chess throughout the United States by providing a complete chess curriculum and enrichment programs.
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World Championship
Anand is M world championship title that had so far eluded him.
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Chess Life — January 2009
Vladimir Kramnik in a 12 game match in Bonn, Germany. Kramnik had held the world match title since deposing Kasparov in 2000 and had hung on to the crown in two nail biting title defenses in 2004 and 2006. As most readers will already know, Anand beat Kramnik 6½ 4½ to become the 15th world champion. However, few understand the intense year long prepa ration and teamwork that goes into a world title fight. Fortunately, the day after his victory in the Bonn world cham pionship match, Viswanathan Anand explained to Ian Rogers:
How I Beat Kramnik
Even before Viswanathan Anand won the FIDE world championship in Mexico City in September 2007 he already knew that the winner would probably be required to play a world title match against Vladimir Kramnik in Germany in 2008. To win such a match would require more than the help of his trusty lieu tenant Peter Heine Nielsen, Anand’s regular second since 2002; a much larger team was needed and Anand started creating Team Anand long before the con tract for the match against Kramnik was officially signed. uschess.org
ALL PHOTOS BY CATHY ROGERS
n a career lasting more than two decades, India’s Viswanathan Anand had won almost every title worth win ning, including world championships in lightning, rapid, knock out and tourna ment formats. The one title missing from Anand’s resumé was the most presti gious the match title which has been recognized as deciding world champions from 1886 until the present day. Anand had earned a single title shot in 1995 but had himself been shot down in flames by Garry Kasparov, 7½ 10½. In October 2008, Anand had a second chance to make history, taking on
By GM Ian Rogers
atchless
“Surya [Ganguly] I asked pretty early, in November 2007. In December I got Radek [Wojtaszek]’s details at a German Bundesliga match I am not sure if he knew why at the time. Rustam [Kasimdzhanov] was added in April; to get a former world champion on the team was great. Not since the match against Kasparov in 1995 have I worked with such a large team of seconds. “At first we had a structure certain tasks for each person, but it just didn’t work out that way; everyone was helping each other. The seconds must trust each other and get on with each other. Fortu uschess.org
nately everyone got along splendidly. “Most of our training camps were held in Frankfurt, lasting two to three weeks. In April I had a camp with Surya and [other top Indian players]. “I decided to play 1. d4 against Kram nik already last year. You can’t compensate for Vlad’s years of 1. d4 expe rience with a few months work, but I thought that if he had spent, say, 60% of his preparation on 1. e4, that would bal ance the chances. If he had spent 80% of his time on 1. e4, even better. Also it was interesting and new work for me, which is important when you are working so hard.”
Anand wasn’t too disappointed by his awful last place in the Bilbao Grand Slam Final just before the championship match. “I was able to put the Bilbao result in perspective. When you lack focus you need some luck. I think if I had won an early game I might still have done well in Bilbao but after I lost to Topalov I could n’t [do anything]. I had been working on 1. d4 so my 1. e4 was very weak. After Bilbao I did some work with [Nor wegian wonder boy Magnus] Carlsen. However he couldn’t come to Bonn. When Team Anand arrived in Bonn they took up residence in a wing on the third Chess Life — January 2009
21
World Championship
Team Anand
Peter Heine Nielsen, Denmark, grandmaster, age 35, rating 2662
Radoslaw Wojtaszek, Poland, grandmaster, age 21, rating 2599
Rustam Kasimdzhanov, Uzbekistan, grandmaster, age 28, rating 2672
Surya Ganguly. India, grandmaster, age 25, rating 2603
floor of the Bonn Hilton. Anand and his wife/manager Aruna occupied a suite with his seconds having rooms nearby. A separate ‘war room’ was set up with computers and it was here that Anand and his seconds would do their work. A typical Anand day before the match would involve time in the gym, work with seconds, lunch, work, dinner, work, fin ishing at around 11:00 at night. However, once the match started, Anand and his seconds’ workloads altered dramatically. “One problem is that you can’t work too hard yourself, especially not working too much with computers. You have to keep energy for the game and not get too used to playing ‘advanced’ chess dur ing a game you can’t just push the space bar.” (This is a reference to a ChessBase habit; pressing the space bar causes the computer engine’s suggested move to appear on the board.) “The night before a game I would dis 22
Chess Life — January 2009
cuss what I wanted to play the next day and my seconds would work and in the morning show me the problems and their solutions. There were a lot of all nighters. Only when I left for the game did my seconds have time to catch up on sleep.” There seemed to be an informal compe tition within the seconds as to who would go to bed last, with Nielsen and Ganguly seemingly able to survive on no sleep at all on some occasions. “I don’t know who worked on what. Sometimes they worked together, some times individually whatever works. If there was a major crisis then they would all come on to it. “The Nimzo Indian lines, 4. f3 and 4. Qc2 we worked out well in advance but there are always last minute problems. You look at a variation for months but five minutes before the game the varia tion collapses. And sometimes you see
things during the game that you didn’t see before working with computers. Maybe you are more concentrated. “Chess problems don’t break out in an easy order but when a problem arose, we solved it. Chess gives its mysteries away at its own pace.” Anand’s first scoreboard breakthrough came in game three, a game watched nervously by Anand’s team from the Hilton to see if their opening work would hold up in practice it did. “I had my successes in the opening, choosing 8. ... a6 rather than 8. ... Bb7 [in game 3] was one.” If 1. d4 had ruined 60% of Kramnik’s preparation with Black, Anand’s choice of variation in the Semi Slav, when he him self was Black, was another. A yet bigger shock for Kramnik was to come on move 14 of game 3 with the gambit 14. ... Bb7. “I found ... Bb7 myself but then I discovered that Rustam had worked on it independently last year; he had done much more work on it. Before hand I had decided to play 15. ... Rg8 but just before the third game I changed my mind.” Even with 15. ... Rg8 ready to go in game 5, it was nerve wracking for Anand and his team when Anand played the Semi Slav line a second time, knowing that Kramnik’s team would have sub jected it to intensive scrutiny over the previous two days. “I was very nervous in the fifth game, playing it again. Most variations have a short shelf life nowadays.” At the Hilton, Team Anand forewent sleep and there was great relief and hap piness when Anand obtained a satisfactory position and finally tri umphed thanks to a Kramnik blunder. The next few games went smoothly for Anand ”In the Vienna [game eight] I got my idea in first.” but then came a nerv ous game 9 and a disastrous loss in game 10. “18. Re1 was a big hit he got me with 18. Re1. I didn’t understand his idea; the plan Be3 f4 e3 is pretty impressive. “I was very concentrated during the games. Before the games I was very tense but my mind didn’t wander. Well, once; when playing 22. ... Bg4 in game 10 my mind wandered. Then when he played 23. Qa6 I woke up.” Still needing only a draw in the final two games, Anand endured a painful rest day wondering what Kramnik would try with black in game 11. “When your opponent is in kamikaze mode he could go anywhere. I played 1. e4 partly because his normal openings the Petroff and the Berlin were not possible [given the match situation].” After Kramnik had offered the draw which gave the title to Anand, Anand’s uschess.org
seconds raced to the playing hall, for the first time in the match. A bleary eyed Ganguly gave Anand a giant bear hug before watching the final press confer ence with his fellow seconds and Aruna. Team Anand celebrated that evening by eating at an Indian restaurant in Bonn, with teetotaller Anand even raising a glass of champagne. The next day, while Anand did a never ending round of media interviews, Ganguly expressed a feeling of empti ness. “We worked for Anand for 18 hours a day,” said Ganguly. “It was a tremen dous responsibility and a pleasure. We haven’t come to terms with the fact that we are not working now.”
“I spent time looking for something direct but in the end could not find any thing better than the queen exchange [which follows],” said Anand. “The endgame is a little awkward for Black as the c pawn is a bit weak.”
Anand’s Opening Surprise: 1. d4
16. Rg1 Rac8 17. Bg2 Ne7?! 18. Bb4! c5?
Nimzo-Indian Defense, Classical Variation (E34) GM Viswanathan Anand (FIDE 2783) GM Vladimir Kramnik (FIDE 2772) Bonn 2008, Game 6 1. d4!
By now, game 6, Kramnik would have been well aware that Anand’s move from his life long favorite 1. e4 to the queen pawn opening was not just a one off. What Kramnik could hardly have real ized were the number of surprises Anand had in store for Kramnik’s favorite Nimzo Indian Defense. 1. ... Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2
Varying from 4. f3 which Anand played in game 2. 4. ... d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. Nf3 Qf5 7. Qb3!? Nc6 8. Bd2 0-0
r+l+ rk+ pp p +p pp +n+p n + + + +q+ l P + + +Q N +N+ P P LP PP P R + KL+R
After 8. ... 0-0
So far a fairly normal position where White usually develops quietly with 9. e3. However Anand and his team have come up with a completely new way of playing the position.
11. ... Bb7 12. a3 Bxc3 13. Bxc3 Qd5 14. Qxd5 Nxd5
On 14. ... exd5, GM Anatoly Karpov’s suggestion of 15. Bd2! and 16. Bf4 looks strong. 15. Bd2 Nf6
A very calm move which accepts that White will have a small but persistent advantage. 15. ... f5!? was less healthy but also more testing for White. The passive 18. ... Rfe8 was neces sary. Now after ... 19. dxc5 Rfd8 20. Ne5
... Anand was a safe pawn ahead, which he converted into a point 27 moves later.
Anand’s New Gambit
Semi-Slav, Meran System (D49) GM Vladimir Kramnik (FIDE 2783) GM Viswanathan Anand (FIDE 2772) Bonn 2008, Games 3 and 5 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6!? 9. e4 c5 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5 axb5 12. exf6 gxf6 13. 0-0 Qb6 14. Qe2
r+l+k l r + +n+p+p q +p p + +p+ + + + p + + + +L+N+ P P +Q PP P R L +R K
After 14. Qe2
Black’s b5 pawn is under attack and, until this match, in almost all previous games Black has chosen to protect or move the pawn. However, Anand and Kasimdzhanov both realized that Black might be able to get away with ... 14. ... Bb7! 15. Bxb5
9. h3!!?
Intending to embarrass the black queen with 10. g4. 9. ... b6!? 10. g4 Qa5 11. Rc1 uschess.org
It Gets Worse For Kramnik ...
... and now in game 3 Anand tried 15. ... Bd6 and won a spectacular game see
the end of this article while in game 5 he tried the even more ambitious: 15. ... Rg8!?
That game was very tense until Kram nik walked into a spectacular combination, starting at the diagrammed position ...
+ + + + +l+n kp+p + +p q + +L+ + + P P p p Q+ + r +N+ + + P P P + + R K
White to play
29. Nxd4??
A tricky idea, but there is a sting in the tail which Kramnik has missed. 29. Nd2!? was playable. 29. ... Qxd4! 30. Rd1! Nf6! 31. Rxd4 Nxg4 32. Rd7+ Kf6 33. Rxb7 Rc1+ 34. Bf1
+ + + + +R+ +p+p + +p k + + + + + P P + p n+ + + + + + + P P P + r +L K
After 34. Bf1
The previous four moves had been played almost instantly but now Anand’s hand reached out to move his knight. Just before moving, Anand hesitated whereupon Kramnik saw, far too late, what was about to befall him and slumped back into his chair. 34. ... Ne3!! 35. fxe3 fxe3, White resigned.
Kramnik’s Big Hit
Kramnik reminds Anand why he is such a tough opponent and that this is, after all, a world championship match: Nimzo-Indian (E20) GM Vladimir Kramnik (FIDE 2772) GM Viswanathan Anand (FIDE 2783) Bonn 2008, Game 10 (see diagram next page)
Chess Life — January 2009
23
World Championship Tickets Please!
Paying to see a sporting event is hardly a radical concept, but when the Bonn organisers released tickets for the Anand vs. Kramnik World Champi onship match at prices ranging between $50 for the cheap seats to $400 for VIP tickets, many believed that the prices would be too high for most fans. Yet, with 400 500 seats available for each game, the theater in the giant Bonn Exhibition Hall was close to capacity on most days. 87% of all tick ets were sold and on some days desperate chess fans could be seen holding signs outside the venue asking for tickets.
Paying spectators could go from the playing hall, with the two players play ing below a giant demonstration screen, to the commentary room, where GMs Artur Yusupov and Helmut Pfleger explained the games, while $400 ticket holders also had the option of a VIP room with free drinks and personal commentary from GM Klaus Bischoff. Of course the majority of chess fans watched the match on the Inter net millions throughout the world on the official site and the many relay sites which included not just chess sites such as the Internet Chess Club and ChessVibes but also some of the biggest German media outlets. ~I.R.
play so well and not win. The answer is that his opponent simply played better. Semi-Slav, Meran System (D49) GM Vladimir Kramnik (FIDE 2772) GM Viswanathan Anand (FIDE 2783) Bonn 2008, Game 3 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6
Anand had previously tried 8. ... Bb7 against Kramnik last year. 9. e4 c5 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5 axb5 12. exf6 gxf6 13. 0-0 Qb6 14. Qe2 Bb7!?
“A novelty at least to me,” Kramnik admitted. 14. ... b4 and 14. ... Ba6 have been standard until now. 15. Bxb5 Bd6 16. Rd1
r+ + rk+ p + +p pp np+p+ + + + + +q Ql+P+ + + P + P P+ L PL P R +R+ K
After 17. ... Qh5
Anand is very familiar with this posi tion; not only did he successfully defend it against Garry Kasparov in 2000 but his “secret assistant” Magnus Carlsen is also experienced in the line. However Kramnik is now able to unleash his first big nov elty of the Championship. 18. Re1!?
A ridiculously subtle new move. “This is a novelty; not a crushing one but it offers Black a choice. Normally White commits his bishop immediately to e3 or f4. There are a lot of nuances in the position one piece here or there completely alters the position. Even for top players it is difficult to understand,” explained Kramnik. 18. ... c5 19. Qa5 Rfc8 20. Be3 Be2 21. Bf4 e5 22. Be3
“It looks as if I lost a lot of tempi with my Be3 f4 e3,” said Kramnik, “but I have managed to get Black’s pawn to e5 and his pieces are not coordinating well.” 22. ... Bg4?!
The first of two mistakes which leave Black’s position in dire straits. “Actually, I had no idea what he was doing,” admit ted Anand later “I thought I’d take control of c4 and be fine.” 23. Qa6! f6? 24
Chess Life — January 2009
r+r+ +k+ p + + pp Q n + p + + p p +q + +P+l+ + P L P P+ + PL P R + R K
After 23. … f6
24. a4! Qf7 25. Bf1! Be6 26. Rab1!
Now all the tactics work in White’s favor, e.g. 26. ... Bc4 27. Bxc4 Qxc4 28. Rxb6! or 26. ... Rc7 27. Rxb6! or Kram nik’s spectacular line 26. ... Kh8 27. a5 Nc4 28. Rb7 Qg8 29. Bh6!! gxh6 30. Bxc4. Depressed Anand races to his doom. 26. ... c4 27. a5 Na4 28. Rb7 Qe8 29. Qd6!, Black resigned.
An early resignation but Anand realized that after 29. Qd6 Bf7 (On 29. ... Nxc3 30. Re7 wins the bishop.) 30. Qb4 his knight is completely trapped and material loss cannot be avoided, e.g. 30. ... Qc6 31. Rd1 Rd8 32. Rxd8+ Rxd8 33. Rxa7 and Black’s cause is hopeless. The 2008 World Championship match produced one magnificent game, the third, which may in retrospect have decided the match psychologically. Anand sacri fices a pawn, Kramnik ups the ante with a multiple piece sacrifice and Anand even tually returns the material and more for a withering attack. Eventually Kramnik makes an unforced error and Anand scores a key point with the Black pieces. Kramnik, like Roger Federer after his epic loss to Rafael Nadal in Wimbledon in July, must have wondered how he could
The first tough decision for Kramnik, one which cost him half an hour. At first sight 16. Nxd4!? looks attractive but 16. ... Qxd4 (also playable after 16. ... Rg8 17. g3) 17. Rd1 can be well met by 17. ... Bxh2+ (17. ... Qc5 18. Be3 Qc7 19. Rac1 Qb8 20. Bxd7+ Kxd7 21. Qb5+) 18. Kxh2 Qh4+ 19. Kg1 Bxg2! when Black has at least a draw. 16. ... Rg8 17. g3
r+ +k+r+ +l+n+p+p q lp p + +L+ + + + p + + + + +N P P P +Q P P R LR+ K
After 17. g3
17. ... Rg4!!
The first new move, obliging serious material sacrifices. 17. ... Bc5 18. b4! was disastrous for Black in the only other game to have reached this position, D’Is rael Gerbelli, Americana 2000, which White won in 24 moves. 18. Bf4!!
Another half an hour disappeared on this inspired move, leaving Kramnik an hour behind on the clock. All the Internet kibitzers were crying out for 18. Nd2, their computer masters missing at first that Black can reply 18. ... Ke7!! 19. Bxd7 (19. Qxg4 Qxb5 gives Black excellent light squared play for the Exchange.) 19. ... Rag8 and a sacrifice on g3 is coming, e.g. 20. Bb5 d3 21. Qxd3 (21. Bxd3 Bxg3!) 21. ... Rxg3+ 22. hxg3 Rxg3+ 23. Kf1 uschess.org
Rxd3 24. Bxd3 Qd4 and Black’s queen runs rings around White’s uncoordinated pieces. “I couldn’t find any refutation of [Anand’s novelty] and the way I played looked entertaining,” Kramnik said. “I liked my position.” 18. ... Bxf4
“I spent a long time on 18. ... Rxf4 19. gxf4 Ke7 but after 20. Nh4! I think I am better,” Kramnik explained. 19. Nxd4!
Planning another sacrifice. 19. Rxd4 Kf8! 20. Bxd7 Rd8 looks bizarre but works out well for Black, e.g. 21. Rad1 Rxd7! 22. Rxd7 Bxg3! 23. hxg3 Rxg3+ 24. Kh2 Bxf3 25. Qc2 Rg2+ 26. Kh3 Bc6 and Black has nothing to fear because 27. Qxh7? loses immediately to 27. ... Rh2+!!. 19. ... h5
r+ +k+ + +l+n+p+ q +p p + +L+ + +p + N lr+ + + + P P P +Q P P R +R+ K
After 19. … h5
Now it was Anand’s turn to think, using up 40 minutes on this move; “I considered practically every legal move ... Rg5, ... Rg6, ... Rg8, but it seemed useful to have the pawn on ... h5.” 20. Nxe6!
20. Bxd7+ Kxd7 21. Nxe6+ Bd6 leads nowhere for White. 20. ... fxe6 21. Rxd7 Kf8!
Refusing to be tempted by the tricky 21. ... Ba6?! which gives Black a slight mate rial edge after 22. Rd6+ Qxb5 23. Qxe6+ Kf8 24. Rd7 Qxd7 25. Qxd7 but leaves his forces disorganized. 22. Qd3
r+ + k + +l+R+ + q +p p + +L+ + +p + + lr+ + +Q+ P P P + P P R + + K
After 22. Qd3 uschess.org
22. ... Rg7!
Anand’s second long think brought him level on the clock with Kramnik, both players now having just over 40 minutes to reach the time control at move 40. Kramnik considered the text move to be almost forced but Anand realized that he could force a draw if he wished by play ing 22. ... Bxg3 23. hxg3 h4 when 24. Qd6+ Qxd6 25. Rxd6 Rb4 26. Bc6 is dead equal. 23. Rxg7
“23. Rd1!? was also very interesting but I couldn’t figure out what was going on,” admitted Kramnik. 23. ... Kxg7 24. gxf4 Rd8! 25. Qe2
Played instantly, although 25. Qb3!? was a viable alternative. “My intuition tells me that White is OK with two extra pawns but of course my king is not so [safe],” Kramnik said. 25. ... Kh6 26. Kf1 Rg8 27. a4!
“I was intending 27. f5 but I had missed 27. ... Bg2+ 28. Ke1 Bh3 when I couldn’t make it work for White,” Kramnik explained. Kramnik’s intuition was right, even if his analysis was not perfect. In the variation Kramnik gives, White would still be alive after 29. Rd1! but in fact Black can force a win after 27. f5 Bg2+ 28. Ke1 with 28. ... Bc6!! 29. Qd2+ Kh7! 30. Bxc6 Qxc6 and the white king is too exposed to survive, e.g. 31. Ke2 Qb5+ 32. Kf3 Rg4 33. Re1 Qc6+ 34. Ke2 Qc4+ 35. Kf3 Rd4! 36. Qxd4 Qxd4 37. fxe6 Qg4+ when Black wins the e pawn and the game. 27. ... Bg2+ 28. Ke1 Bh3! 29. Ra3?
“Maybe the decisive mistake,” bemoaned Kramnik. “I was looking at 29. Rd1 and didn’t see anything clearly wrong with it.” After 29. Rd1! Anand should probably try 29. ... Rg1+, since the endgame after 29. ... Bg4 30. Qe3 Qxe3+ 31. fxe3 Bxd1 32. Kxd1 Rg2 33. Kc1! Rxh2 34. Bc6! offers chances mostly for White. However even after 30. Kd2 Rg2 White can hold, by a whisker, after 31. Qe3 Rxf2+ 32. Be2 Qa5+ 33. Qc3 Qf5 34. Qb4! with 35. Qf8+ to follow. 29. ... Rg1+ 30. Kd2 Qd4+ 31. Kc2 Bg4!?
“I couldn’t see a forced win after 31. ... Bf5+ 32. Kb3 Rc1 33. a5! Rc2 34. Qxc2 Bxc2+ 35. Kxc2 Qc5+ 36. Kb1 Qxb5 37. a6! and I certainly looked hard enough! so I decided to try 31. ... Bg4 first,” Anand explained. 32. f3
“After 32. Rd3!? Bf5 33. Kb3 I keep good drawing chances the Exchange down,” Kramnik opined. However whether
this is a better practical chance than the game continuation is a moot point, since 33. ... Bxd3 34. Bxd3 Qxf4 35. Qxe6 Qxf2 will not be simple for White to defend. 32. ... Bf5+
+
+ + + + + +p p k +L+ +l+p P+ q P + R + +P+ PK+Q+ P + + + r +
+
+
After 32. … Bf5+
33. Bd3?!
With only a couple of minutes left on the clock, Kramnik blunders and allows Black a choice of winning methods. On 33. Kb3!, Kramnik feared 33. ... Rc1 34. a5 e5!? but Anand believed that after 35. Ra4! White was still well in the game. “35. ... Qc5 is very difficult for White but I am not sure it is a forced win for me.” (Anand was right 36. Bc4! should hold.) “34. ... Qd5+ also flashed through my head, but it was all getting out of control.” Anand admitted that he might well have played 34. ... Rc2, as in the note to 31. ... Bg4, “when I can win the queen and [if necessary] take an immediate perpetual.” However with five minutes to reach move 40, Anand might just have found the forced win which was available with the move which flashed through his head 34. ... Qd5+!, when play could continue 35. Bc4 Qb7+ 36. Bb5 (36. Ka4 Rc2!) 36. ... Rc2!! 37. a6 Qb6 38. Qf1 Qe3+ 39. Ka2 Qd2! 40. Qa1 (On 40. Rb3 Rc1! ensnares the white queen.) 40. ... Qd5+ 41. Rb3 and now, with the time control reached, Anand would have had time to find 41. ... Rc5!! leaving White helpless. 33. ... Bh3
Crushing, though 33. ... Bxd3+ 34. Rxd3 (34. Qxd3 Rg2+) 34. ... Qc4+ 35. Kd2 Qc1 mate was simpler. 34. a5 Rg2 35. a6 Rxe2+ 36. Bxe2 Bf5+ 37. Kb3 Qe3+ 38. Ka2 Qxe2 39. a7 Qc4+ 40. Ka1 Qf1+ 41. Ka2 Bb1+, White resigned.
See another Anand game from 1987 in our profile of GM Gregory Kaidanov on page 26. More dispatches from the World Championship by Ian Rogers (including more annotated games) can be found on Chess Life Online, October archives. The website uschess.org is now running on a faster server. Chess Life — January 2009
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Cover Story
The Quiet Ke
By FM Mike Klein
he short list of famous Russians living in Lexington, Kentucky, begins and ends with Gregory Zinovyevich Kaidanov. His circuitous path to bluegrass pastures landed him half a world from his homeland, but he would not have it any other way. The grandmaster, 49, is eternally bearded with an unassuming smile that hides his complexity. Tournament photos of him are unique in that he is almost never straining while at the board. Kaidanov’s breadth of experience, euphoric and deflating, on the chess board and off, have endowed him with a unique perspective on how to man age the inner world of competition a skill he is slowly branding on America’s top junior players, and which he hopes will one day be his lasting legacy. Kaidanov, once ranked as high as a top 16 world player, has seamlessly transitioned to America’s premier chess trainer. At elite camps or at his home chess office, his approach to students is based on pedagogical techniques usually reserved for patients, not players. “I emphasize the importance of psy chology,” Kaidanov said of his methodology. “I hope that is something that will be my contribution to chess teaching.” Of course, Kaidanov covers the tradi tional areas too, but as he sees it, there is a chasm between chess teachers’ roles as providers of the game’s skillful ele ments and students’ needs for deeper analyses of recurrent mental weaknesses. He said his worldly adventures have sub stituted for any specific training in psychology. “Everybody has a different personal ity,” Kaidanov explained. “The approach
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Chess Life — January 2008
should be completely different. Time trou ble is a purely psychological problem. Depending on the reason you have to cor rect it differently. It is very hard to separate psychological problems from chess prob lems. They are usually linked together. It is kind of a difficult process to get into the mind of a student. “I draw on my experience from all my previous life. As a player and teacher you travel all over the world and interact with hundreds, if not thousands of people.” Kaidanov’s teaching acumen presents itself best when he combines his experi ences with charming anecdotes, though he will remain honest in his assessments. (When asked midway through the recent chess olympiad if he was satisfied with the play of the women’s team, which was 4 1 at the time, he said laconically, “No.”) A setting seemingly tailored to his gunny sack of skills is the U.S. Chess School, where Kaidanov has instructed since the inaugural meeting in 2006. IM Greg Shahade, the founder of the program, has hired Kaidanov for five of the sessions, which last about one week each and provide intensive chess training to America’s burgeoning young talents. “Gregory is very good at putting him self in the students’ shoes,” Shahade said. “Perhaps his best quality is his understanding of chess psychology, which is great, because this is the kind of thing that you don’t need to be very strong at chess to understand, thus mak ing him easily accessible to all levels.” This is not your Eastern European, dogmatic, sit and listen type oratory. Kaidanov does not hold forth from a lectern. He engages the student with per sonal stories and innovative approaches,
PHOTO: MATT MBARTON
The unassuming Gregory Kaidanov has quietly gone about building one of the most impressive
uschess.org
GM Gregory Kaidanov with students at the U.S. Chess School in Lexington, Kentucky.
ntuckian resumés in American chess.
uschess.org
Chess Life — January 2008
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Cover Story while keeping his lessons student cen tered. “I always try to keep my classes interactive,” he said. Doreen Tanaka, parent of a U.S. Chess School attendee, said, “He is a facilita tor encouraging dialog between the students, letting them drive the discus sion.” At one of the U.S. Chess School
The path to Kentucky began in Berdichev, Ukraine, where Kaidanov was born in 1959, thus making his life jour ney similar to that of the town’s most famous son, Joseph Conrad (though with out any Heart of Darkness). Like the peripatetic novelist, Kaidanov began trav eling early, as his family soon moved to
“I hope that [the importance of psychology] will be my contribution to chess teaching.” ~GREGORY KAIDANOV
meetings, in Lexington in 2007, he clipped an article related to the importance of admitting fault and apologizing, then amaz ingly parlayed it into a chess lesson on the principle of retreating from a failed plan. Sports metaphors, life experiences, pithy aphorisms they are all in play. “He suc cessfully teaches life through chess,” Tanaka said. “Rather than calling them lectures, it probably would be fair to say that we had discussions,” Kaidanov recalled about that camp. “Everybody contributed stories about their chess experiences, frankly talking about their strengths and weak nesses. I thought it was incredibly instructional for all kids to learn that many decisions they make over the chess board are based not only on their chess ability, but also depend on their person ality traits.” “When we flew to the U.S. Chess School in San Diego this past summer, I did not quite know what to expect from a Russ ian chess trainer,” said Daniel Velotti, parent of a past camper. “Over the course of the week. ... I found that Kaidanov had many wonderful qualities that I would find particularly suited to training juniors. He has a great sense of humor and a very affable personality. He is able to maintain a gentle demeanor, even when he is critiquing the students and going over their mistakes in their chess games.” Shahade holds his teacher in esteem for his determination (Kaidanov has been selected to teach more U.S. Chess School sessions than anyone else). “[Kaidanov] is ideal because he wasn’t some super tal ent who was a GM at 16 years old,” he said. “He became a GM relatively late in life, and clearly had to work very hard to do so. This kind of work ethic will hope fully rub off on his students, although admittedly I doubt that many young American players work anywhere close to how hard Gregory worked.” 28
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Kaliningrad, then Moscow, where he spent his formative years. His father taught him the game at age six and two years later he became a regular visitor to the Pioneer’s Palace, which he said had less mystique than most Westerners’ con ceptions would suggest. “There is a big myth of the Soviet chess school people think of it as very struc tured,” Kaidanov said. “It was not.” The invitation only Botvinnik Chess School might fit this mold better, but Kaidanov never attended. He compared Pioneers Palace to a community center, where chil dren could come after school to do a variety of different activities, of which chess held no more standing than knit ting. The teacher there, a woman on the short side of expert by today’s standards, was more of an organizer and story teller. “Like many GMs, we never had a formal coach. You can compare this to the cul ture of basketball in this country. If you are playing in the school team, you may not necessarily have a coach that is great, but you are playing with other people all the time and getting better.” Even so, recent research suggests that an osmotic approach alone is generally not enough to achieve Kaidanov’s level of success. In Malcolm Gladwell’s recent book, Outliers: The Story of Success, the statistical guru drew on the research of neurologist Daniel Levitin to postulate that it takes good, old fashioned hard work to become great in any field. He said the average person takes 10,000 hours to assimilate the elements to reach mastery, whether the activity is music, computer programming or chess (Gladwell bluntly defines chess success as the grandmaster [GM] title). Gladwell’s math works out to be three hours per day for about ten years. Kaidanov’s experience matches he said he attended Pioneers Palace three hours a day, three times per week. That’s only half of Gladwell’s equa
tion, but then, Kaidanov did not get his GM title until the age of 29, about 21 years after he began his chess studies. Twenty one years at nine hours per week equates to 9,828 hours nearly a per fect fit. Of course Kaidanov may have reached the threshold sooner had he not gone to college to study railroad engi neering (he also married wife Valeria and had a daughter, Anastasia, in 1983), but the formula likely would not have changed he may have received the title sooner, but roughly the same amount of actual study time would be required. Gladwell’s model continued: “The thing that distinguishes one performer from another is how hard he or she works. That’s it. What’s more, the people at the very top don’t just work much harder than everyone else. They work much, much harder.” Certainly the chess world contains exceptions to Gladwell’s out liers, but his point is clear. Kaidanov, like other subjects in the book, including Bill Gates and The Beatles, reached his field’s zenith with the typical but exhaust ing formula of time plus dedication. Kaidanov said his work ethic comes from his parents and from an incident when he was 14. “One of the masters moved into town. He gave me a notebook with his annotated games. This was a life changing experience and I saw how much work was involved. That’s what I do with my students. Unfortunately only a few can do this work.” He cited all the dis tractions of today’s children “Kids have too many interests. We didn’t have all this liberal arts education.” Accordingly, the privation of Russian youth may have been one of the leading catalysts of the glut of Soviet GMs. The gap between making master in 1978 and international master (IM) in 1987 involved a “lot of frustration.” Still, he turned professional in 1985, and after making IM, ascended to GM only one year later, which was not exactly a formal ity back then. Consider Kaidanov’s impressive performance at a tournament in Moscow in 1987. “This was like a miracle tournament for me,” Kaidanov recalled. Though he won with a +5 score and he beat two young IMs named Viswanathan Anand and Alexander Khalifman, both of whom went on to become world champions, his per formance was not even good enough for a GM norm. Considering the competition and the stunning coup de grâce, his win against the Indian super GM remains his most famous game ever. Played in a round robin tournament in Moscow, the lineup consisted of some prominent grandmas ters such as Evgeny Sveshnikov and a group of young IMs including Anand and Khalifman. uschess.org
Queen’s Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch (D42) IM Gregory Kaidanov (FIDE 2420) IM Viswanathan Anand (FIDE 2500) Moscow, Russia, 1987 Notes by Kaidanov
Despite being one of the lowest rated players in this event, I managed to win the tournament outright with seven wins, three losses and four draws. 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nc6
“Vishy” played incredibly quickly in those days, very rarely spending more than 20 minutes on the entire game. Needless to say, it led to a lot of mis takes. It’s amazing that despite this he still was already very strong! As Vishy acknowledged after the game, he intended to play 4. ... Nf6, but touched the wrong knight. 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. Nf3 e6 7. Nc3 Qd8 8. Bd3 Nf6 9. 0-0 Be7 10. a3 0-0 11. Re1
Now we reach a position which very often arises after different move orders, such as in the c3 Sicilian. 11. ... b6 12. Bc2 Ba6
A new move for me at the time, though a database search shows that it was played quite frequently. 13. b4 Bc4 14. b5 Na5 15. Ne5 Rc8 16. Re3
+r q rk+ p + lp pp p +p n + nP+ N + +l P + + P N R + +L+ PP P R LQ+ K
After 16. Re3
16. ... Rc7
Vishy belongs to the group of players called “intuitive.” It means that they choose the majority of their moves based on intuition, not calculation. Karpov is another example of such a player. On the other hand, Kasparov was a player who tended to start examining a position by calculating enormous amounts of variations. It doesn’t mean that Kasparov’s intuition was bad, it just shows a different approach to chess. By the way, Vishy’s calculation is incredibly fast. Anyone who has a chance to discuss variations with him can con firm that it is very hard to keep up with his speed. His last move is a pure “intu itive” decision. The rook is ready to protect uschess.org
f7 and can also be transferred to d7 if the white knight leaves e5. 17. Rg3 Re8 18. Bh6 Bf8
Now we can see the point of 16. ... Rc7.
19. Bg5 Be7 20. Bxf6
Nowadays I would probably prefer 20. h4 but back then I had less patience. This is not always a bad thing sometimes a lack of patience is simply the reverse of hesitance. 20. ... Bxf6 21. Bxh7+ Kxh7 22. Qh5+ Kg8 23. Ne4
+
qr+k+ +p p p +p l + nP+ N +Q +l PN+ + P + + R + + PP P R + + K p
r
After 23. Ne4
23. ... Bd5
The immediate 23. ... Kf8 was also pos sible. 24. Nxf6 gxf6 (White wins after 24. ... Qxf6 25. Rf3 Be2 26. Ng6+ Qxg6 27. Qxg6 Bxf3 28. Qg3.) 25. Rd1 The position remains unclear. Black should have no problems with White’s attack after 25. Qh6+ Ke7 26. Nxf7 Qxd4. 24. Rh3 Kf8
Played instantly. 24. ... g6 25. Nxg6 fxg6 26. Qxg6+ Bg7 27. Ng5 Kf8 28. Nh7+ Kg8 29. Ng5 should lead to a draw. Black loses if he tries to play for a win. 29. ... Qc8 30. Rh8+ Kxh8 31. Qh7 mate. 25. Qxf7+, Black resigned.
At this point Vishy looked up at me. There was so much pain in his eyes that I remember this look until today. A brilliancy for the new GM In 1988, newly crowned GM Kaidanov played a game that he said changed his life. Against countryman GM Mark Taimanov, his queen’s rook performed a “Prefontaine” run from a8 to h2. The bril liant maneuver sparked a spirited attack and the game won the brilliancy prize. “I received $4,000 and at the time it was like a huge amount of money,” he cheer fully reminisced. The Kaidanovs now numbering four as Valeria Kaidanov had recently given birth to one year old Boris used the winnings to buy a new apartment in Moscow. “This game really kind of set my whole life on track.”
English Opening (A13) GM Mark Taimanov (FIDE 2480) GM Gregory Kaidanov (FIDE 2535) Belgrade, Yugoslavia, 1988 Notes by Kaidanov
This game has an interesting story behind it. In the mid 1980s Garry Kas parov created the GMA (The Grandmaster Association). This organization held a series of very strong Swiss tournaments. Belgrade was the first one. In a short period between the second and fifth round I played Mark Taimanov, Samuel Reshevsky and Efim Geller. One of the participants jokingly noted that instead of the popular Informants (major preparation tools back then) I should have brought Bronstein’s book Zurich 1953! 1. Nf3 d5 2. b3 Nf6 3. Bb2 e6 4. c4 c5 5. e3 Nc6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bb5 Bd6 8. Ne5
We all know this principle: “In the open ing don’t move the same piece twice.” However, It doesn’t look so inappropriate here. After all, White creates an attack on c6. 8. ... 0-0
Black decides to sacrifice a pawn for an advantage in development. 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Be2
Played after some deliberation. GM Taimanov would rather attack than defend. Accepting the pawn sac was indeed dangerous. After the game we looked at the fol lowing variation: 10. Bxc6 Rb8 11. Bxf6 (11. 0 0 Bxh2+ 12. Kxh2 Ng4+ 13. Kg1 Qd6 14. f4 Qh6 [of course, 14. ... Qxc6 is good enough, but Black aims for more] 15. Re1 Qh2+ 16. Kf1 Ba6+ 17. d3 Qh1+ 18. Ke2 Qxg2 mate). 11. ... Qxf6 12. Nc3 d4 13. Ne4 Qg6 14. Nxd6 Qxd6 15. Bf3 Ba6 16. Be2 d3 17. Bf3 c4 18. bxc4 Bxc4 19. 0 0 Rb2 and Black is threatening 20. ... Qb4 to win the d2 pawn.
+
+ r k+ +p pp + q + + + + + + +l+ + + + +p PL+ P r P P P P R +Q+R K p
+
Analysis after 19. ... Rb2
Despite being down a pawn he is prob ably better. After 10. Be2, White hopes after castling to exploit the weakness of the c5 pawn. 10. ... Re8 Chess Life — January 2008
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Cover Story One of the reasons I like this game is that all of Black’s moves (up to a certain point) could be explained by classical chess principles. Here, after developing his minor pieces and castling, Black simply puts his rooks on open files. 11. 0-0 Rb8
During my lessons I constantly empha size the important of open files and activity of the pieces. Unfortunately, the majority of club players worry about such things as doubled pawns and weak squares, but they don’t worry about the fact that their pieces are passive. 12. d3
White’s plan now is to play Nd2, Rc1, Ba3 in a hope to win the pawn on c5. The problem is that he doesn’t have time for that. 12. ... Rb4
+l qr+k+ p + +p pp +p l n + + pp+ + r + + + +P+P P + P L +L PP P RN+Q+R K
After 12. ... Rb4
The queen’s rook is the only Black piece which is far away from the kingside. Black’s last move poses a dilemma for White: either to undouble Black’s pawns with 13. d4 or allow the rook to join the attack. 13. Nd2
A risky decision. 13. d4 cxd4 14. exd4 (14. Bxd4 c5 with a good game for Black) 14. ... Rb7 and the rook finds a new place of employment. 13. ... Rh4 14. g3
After both 14. h3 Bxh3 and 14. Nf3 Rh6 Black would have a strong attack. Still, it probably would be better than the game continuation. 14. ... Ng4
Already here I saw my 18th move.
15. Bxg4 Bxg4 16. f3
Both the rook on h4 and bishop on g4 are under the attack. Which one to save? The answer is: neither one! 16. ... Rxh2 17. fxg4
If 17. Kxh2, then ... Qh4+ 18. Kg1 Qxg3+ 19. Kh1 Qh2 mate. 30
Chess Life — January 2008
17. ... Rxe3
At this point my opponent picked up the b2 bishop and knocked it down on f6. 18. Bf6
+
q
+k+ p + +p pp +p l L + + pp+ + + + +P+ +P+P r P P+ N + r R +Q+R K
After 18. Bf6
Then he looked around as though ask ing: “Did everyone see this move?” I was lucky to calculate one move further. 18. ... Rh3
As loud of a statement as White’s pre vious move was (a long bishop move, made with a knock), it is answered by a quiet and unassuming Black response (a very gentle one square move). The con sequences are, however, devastating for White. 19. Rf3
A main line was 19. Bxd8 Rexg3+ 20. Kf2 Rh2+ 21. Ke1 Re3+ 22. Qe2 Rexe2+ 23. Kd1 Rxd2+ 24. Kc1 (24. Ke1 Rhe2 mate) 24. ... c4 (24. ... Rxd3 would win a fourth pawn; also not bad!) 25. dxc4 Ba3+ 26. Kb1 Rb2+ 27. Kc1 Rbf2+ 28. Kd1 Rxf1 mate). 19. ... Rxg3+ 20. Kh1 gxf6 21. Rxg3 Bxg3 22. Nf3 Qd7, White resigned.
White is down three pawns, about to lose the fourth one, so he resigned. This game was awarded a brilliancy prize of $4,000, at the time the largest in chess history. A tough transition to the west Even with the extra cash, the economic climate of the Soviet Union mitigated his newfound wealth. “There was no food in the stores,” Kaidanov said. “Compared to other people we had a pretty good life in Moscow. Other people suffered more. We had money but the problem was you could not buy anything.” It was time to explore more of the world and he jumped at the chance to take his game to the West. In 1990, Kaidanov and his wife traveled to New York City. The grand master entered a tough round robin tournament at the now defunct Manhat tan Chess Club, in which he sensationally shared first place by beating the tourna
ment leader, GM Efim Geller, in the last round. The celebration was short lived. At din ner the following evening, the Kaidanovs had all of their luggage stolen from the trunk of a car. The losses included ten years of chess analysis and Valeria’s entire wardrobe. “The most valuable things,” Kaidanov joked when asked whose loss was greater. The calm retelling of the incident almost embarrasses the grand master the robbery has superseded the tournament in fame, which is not entirely undeserved when you consider what hap pened the very next day at the corner of 42nd Street and Broadway. “We were walking down the street and I am sure we were behaving like typical tourists, stopping all the time,” Kaidanov said. A circle of men formed around them, and in a pre Giuliani Times Square, that could only mean one thing. “It was kind of funny because the robbers took all the dollars but they left the English pounds because they didn’t know what they were.” These stories have reached folklore sta tus. The Russian fish out of water story resembles Robin Williams in Moscow on the Hudson. The incidents tested the resolve of the Kaidanovs, who now had no clean clothes, very little money and no plane tickets (they were scheduled to fly to Chicago in a few days). So when the grandmaster tells his students he knows adversity, he may not explicitly cite these two days in New York, but he can be trusted nonetheless. “I am still missing those notes,” Kaidanov said. “Right now it is maybe not so much practical. It is more emo tional attachment. I still have notebooks with games as a little kid. Holding those notebooks in my hand is very special.” He sometimes brings his remaining child hood analysis to U.S. Chess Schools, hoping the sight of his earliest annota tions will have the power to inspire his students like an early Picasso sketch. The real test on that first sojourn to the U.S. was the days and weeks that fol lowed. Others in the same situation have taken the easy road by packing up and going home. Instead, Kaidanov, with GM Dmitry Gurevich and others, took his £300 and chess skill and engineered the oft told American success story. He con vinced the airline to reissue his tickets to Chicago. Gurevich phoned friend Ken Troutman in Kentucky to arrange a few exhibitions to make back his stolen money and possessions. Kaidanov entered a tournament in Louisville and then played a simultaneous in Lexington. Troutman told the Kaidanovs, “perhaps you will only be robbed here once.” “Visiting Kentucky after Chicago and New York was a completely different expe uschess.org
rience,” he recalled. “Both my wife and I fell in love with this place. At the time we lived in a completely broken country ... I didn’t want [Kentucky] to remind me of Russia.” But the Kaidanovs returned to Moscow, hoping to emigrate yet resigned to their unlikely chances. That is when Troutman and friends really got to work. “[Kaidanov] referred to Lexington as ‘heaven’s front yard,’” Troutman said. “This did not hurt our feelings. I was able to navigate the rules of the INS and get an H1 visa by explaining that no one in Kentucky had his skills in regard to chess training. This required a significant number of attempts. Explaining that people actually teach chess was not easy.” The following year, the family had a new home more than 5,000 miles away. Diplomacy proved the best defense for domestic chess players; once Kaidanov moved to the U.S. he wasted no time engraving his name on Grand Prix lists and winners’ trophies. He added to his 1990 win in New York with a trifecta in the summer of 1992 he won both the World Open and the U.S. Open outright (the first player ever to accomplish that in the same year), after beginning his run with a split of the National Open title. Kaidanov was to American chess what Garry Kas parov was to international chess in 1992 unbeatable. An American on the world stage From there he began to represent the U.S. in various team competitions. In 1993, Kaidanov helped the Americans to victory in his first event under the Stars and Stripes. Their win in the World Team Championships remains the only world title the U.S. has won as a team in more than 30 years. He went on to compete in six straight Olympiads for the U.S. From 1996 2006 he won three team medals and an individual silver in Calvia, 2004. Throw in another few medals at succes sive World Men’s Team Championships, including a personal gold medal in 1997, and you have the most decorated Amer ican team player since Isaac Kashdan’s run ended in the 1930s. This year, the Dresden Olympiad reduced the number of male players by one. Kaidanov, who scored the highest percentage of any team member at Turin, 2006, had his rating dip below 2600. The rise of young GMs Hikaru Nakamura and Varuzhan Akobian meant missing the team for the first time in a decade. But his presence was still needed. When the American women needed a coach, they all gravitated toward Kaidanov. “I have to say that it was not an easy decision for me,” Kaidanov said. “Finan uschess.org
cially I am probably better off sitting at home giving chess lessons. I kind of felt I had to honor their request.” He spoke effusively about the unity of the team and his pride in his selection, and has also said previously that he would con tinue teaching even if there were no money in it. GM Sam Palatnik, himself a past coach of U.S. teams, sat in on several of Kaidanov’s preparation sessions in Dres
“I am not very optimistic about it,” he said of competing in Siberia. “In order to do that I am sure I have to give up my teaching. You have to work a lot of hours, and as you get older you have to give even more hours than when you were younger.” So the students will continue to call and e mail. Kaidanov will cull all the stories Pioneers Palace, bread lines, dogmatic research, loss and perseverance. He will
den. He praised the coach’s style, saying Kaidanov is “good mannered and trusted” in his approach, strongly suggesting but never forcing information on his charges (Kaidanov would often stay awake until 3:00 a.m. preparing e mail dossiers for his players). He knows when to motivate and when to give more specific guidance. “He won’t crush their fighting spirit,” Palatnik said. For all of Kaidanov’s ease at the board, he resembled something closer to a nerv ous father in the playing hall of the Olympiad, pacing slowly, with folded arms and a pensive brow. Shortly before one round, his anxiety was evident when one player came close to forfeiture by nearly arriving late. After she hurried in, Kaidanov relaxed for a second, gave her a “you almost broke curfew” smile, and then resumed his paces. When Kaidanov returns to Lexington after Dresden, he will have only one child left living at home. Daughter Sonya was born eight years after Boris and is now 13 (both his son and Anastasia are away at college; all three children have nominal ratings). His students will eagerly phone and e mail to catch up on missed lessons. Kaidanov accepts students of all levels and says he is nearly booked solid, despite the grandmaster’s Herculean willingness to sometimes teach for more than ten hours at a stretch. At the next Olympiad, in Khanty Man siysk 2010, Kaidanov likely will be left off the squad again. While he might still be physically able his peak FIDE rating of 2646 was reached only six years ago after he beat four score of GMs to win the Aeroflot Open (and his highest USCF rat ing of 2749 was only four years ago) his love for teaching is beginning to trump personal ambition.
tell the story of the day before his tenth birthday, when he would have moved up one category at the chess club if not for being checkmated in six moves. But he will come back to the game’s human ele ment when he speaks of the “rain of tears” that followed. He will slyly package humanism in between his mention of outposts and outflanking. The messages will be furtively placed within the context of algebraic sequences, like a priest sub tly imparting moral instructions within homiletic allegories. And like the clergy, Kaidanov wants his students to employ his teachings in all their decisions. “I think the most important thing is to be analytical about the events in your personal life,” Kaidanov said. “I think this is where chess helps a lot. Many people do stupid things which may make their life experience difficult. Chess teachers help you to find the best solu tions. Unfortunately many chess players do this on the chess board but don’t do this outside it.” Chess fans will still see him reemerge and play in the occasional tournament. Kaidanov thinks chess teachers should stay active to remain attuned to the game’s practical considerations. “Obviously I achieved some success as a player but I am hoping that what I am doing as a teacher is kind of unusual for a grandmaster,” he said, as though fully acquiescing to the second stage of his chess life. He is now ensconced as a Ken tuckian, perfectly content to spend most days teaching from home. “Professional chess is brutal.”
The incidents tested the resolve of the Kaidanovs, who now had no clean clothes, very little money and no plane tickets.
.
The Kaidanov coached Women’s Olympiad team won a bronze medal in Dresden, finishing behind winner Georgia and runner up Ukraine, and beating Russia and Poland for the bronze on tiebreaks. Chess Life — January 2008
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Bronze for Shankland and Yang
2008 World Youth
Put down your chess books and pick up a knight, Team USA is gonna have a whole lotta fun way down yonder in Vietnam.
nce again I had the pleasure of being a coach at the World Youth Championship. The 2008 edition was hosted by Vietnam in the small seaside resort of Vung Tau from October 20 30. I’ve been traveling for chess many years now, but never this far. I took one look at my aisle seat and wondered if I’d survive! My flight on Cathay Pacific Airlines from New York’s JFK to Hong Kong was scheduled to take 15½ hours, followed by a two hour flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Amazingly, the travel came off without a hitch. A lot of boredom for sure, but zero problems. While waiting for my second flight, I even made two new friends, Glenn and Jonah Lee of Canada. Getting my Vietnam visa took awhile, but I didn’t mind. It was good not to be on an airplane. The three of us (Glenn, Jonah and I) were met outside the airport and immediately driven to our hotel. The drive took just over two hours through Ho Chi Minh City. The traffic jams would’ve
O
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made New York at rush hour look tame; never have I seen so many motor bikes, most disobeying the traffic laws! I’ve never been one to adjust to the time difference quickly (11 hours from EST) so arriving three days early was a must. Flipping the TV remote control I was pleasantly surprised to see the baseball playoffs live. That provided me with some pre tour nament entertainment. Now onto some chess! I wasn’t sure what to expect from our young and rela tively inexperienced team but I thought we had good medal chances in several age groups. Darwin Yang and last year’s world youth champion Daniel Naroditsky were two of my favorites, along with Sarah and Jonathan Chiang, Simone Liao, Daniel Ludwig and Sam Shankland. We defi nitely had one of the strongest support groups. The six coaches consisted of FIDE Senior Trainer (FST) Michael Khodark ovsky, FM Aviv Friedman, IM Armen Ambartsoumian, GM Dmitry Gurevich, GM Sam Palatnik, and myself.
At the coaches’ meeting, we divvy up the players (five per coach) according to rat ing and private students. We also consult each other on opening problems and game analysis. My daily routine started with Dan Ludwig at 9 a.m. and ended with Caroline Zhu at 11:30 a.m. A half hour per player isn’t a lot of time for preparation, but it had to suffice. The players started their games at 3 p.m. while the coaches set up headquar ters in the lobby at 4:30 p.m. for game analysis. From past world youths, we noticed a trend where other countries would prepare based on our earlier games. This made patching up the opening or correcting middlegame problems of great importance. Let’s now discuss our top finishers. Of our medal winners, Darwin Yang, who was ranked third in the boys under 12, had the highest expectations. Darwin raced out to 6½/7 including this fine fifth round win over eventual gold medal ist Sayantan Das. uschess.org
SHANKLAND BY BETSY DYNAKO; YANG COURTESY OF SUBJECT
By GM John Fedorowicz
Ruy Lopez, Archangel and Moller Defense (C77) FM Darwin Yang (FIDE 2182) Sayantan Das (FIDE 2112) 2008 World Youth, Vung Tau, Vietnam 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3
This safe move avoids a large body of Ruy Lopez theory including the Berlin and Archangel. 5. ... b5 6. Bb3 Bc5
The Archangel variation has become very popular and seriously theoretical in the past few years. Since White has already played d2 d3, the normal 6. ... Be7!? is close to equal. 7. 0-0 0-0 8. c3 d6 9. Nbd2 Bb6
This feels like a waste of time; the bishop is fine on c5. 10. Re1 Bb7?!
The bishop looks useless here. 10. ... Bg4?! 11. h3 Bh5 12. Nf1 and after White chases down the h5 bishop, White gains control of the light squares. Black's best is 10. ... Be6!?. 11. Nf1 Ne7 12. Ng3 Ng6 13. Nf5 d5!?
Black decides unwisely to sacrifice material. Keeping an eye on the f5 knight with 13. ... Bc8!? is an idea this also keeps open a ... Be6 idea. 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. Nxe5 Bxf2+
r+ q rk+ +l p +p pp p+ + +n+ +p+n NN+ + + + + +L PP+ + P P + lP P R LQ R K
After 15. ... Bxf2+
Entering into a very confusing situation where Darwin has seen a little further. 15. ... Nxe5 16. Rxe5 and Black has little compensation in a Marshall Attack like position. 16. Kxf2 Qf6 17. Bxd5!? Bxd5 18. Qh5 Be6 19. g4 Nxe5
Good for White is 19. ... Bxf5 20. Qxf5 Qh4+ 21. Kf1 Qxh2 22. Nf3 Qg3 23. Be3. 20. Rxe5! g6
Not 20. ... Qxe5?? 21. Ne7+.
21. Qg5
A faster way to win is 21. Qh4! Qxe5 22.
uschess.org
d4 Qe4 23. Ne7+ Kg7 24. Bh6+. 21. ... Qxg5 22. Bxg5 gxf5
OK for Black is 22. ... f6 23. Rxe6? (23. Ne7+ Kf7 24. Rxe6 Kxe6 25. Re1+ Kd7 26. Bh6 Rfe8 27. Nd5 when White will start munching Black's pawns thereby increas ing his material edge) 23. ... fxg5. 23. Bh6 Rfe8 24. gxf5 Bd7 25. Rg1+ Kh8 26. Bg7+ Kg8 27. Rc5 h5 28. f6 Bg4 29. Rxg4!, Black resigned.
After Black recaptures with 29. ... hxg4, 30. Rh5 mates.
Unfortunately for us and Darwin the last four rounds saw him score only three draws and a loss. His final score of 8 3 was good enough for the bronze. One very pleasant surprise was Sam Shankland’s tying for first place and win ning Team USA’s second bronze medal. Sam is already an experienced player despite his young age of 17. He has played previously in world youths, not to men tion the U.S. championship. Starting off ranked 17th in the boys under 18 made him a long shot, but Sam’s toughness showed up in the end. Sam’s strengths are his opening preparation and his intense approach to the game. This 10th round rout of his Indian opponent gave Sam an international master norm and put him into medal contention. Slav Defense (D19) IM Pandian Karthikeyan (FIDE 2402) Sam Shankland (FIDE 2436) 2008 World Youth, Vung Tau, Vietnam 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4
The Semi Slav is an extremely solid system for Black. 5. a4
Otherwise Black keeps the pawn with ... b7 b5. 5. ... Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Nbd7 8. Qe2 Bb4 9. 0-0 0-0 10. e4
White should play more slowly with 10. Rd1!?, yielding a slight edge. 10. ... Bg4!? 11. e5!?
Shankland criticized this move, but it's White's next that caused the problems. 11. h3? Bxf3 12. Qxf3 Nb6 13. Qd3 Bxc3 14. bxc3 Nxc4 15. Qxc4 Nxe4 wins a pawn. 11. ... Nd5 12. Na2?!
About equal is 12. Nxd5 cxd5 13. Bd3.
12. ... Ba5 (see diagram top of next column)
r+ q r k+ pp+n+p pp +p+p+ + l +n P + P+L P +l+ + + +N+ N P +Q PP P R L +R K
After 12. ... Ba5
At this point I prefer Black because of his better minor pieces. 13. Bxd5?!
Solving one problem in the short term, but opening up another can of worms. 13. Qe4!? puts White near equality. 13. ... exd5!?
The most aggressive reply. Along with Dmitry and Shankland, I liked 13. ... cxd5. Black would use the open c file and bishop pair. 14. h3 Bh5 15. g4?
White goes hog wild opening up his own king! 15. Qe3 breaking the pin is more prudent. 15. ... Bg6 16. h4 h6!
This calm move rebuffs White’s inten tions. 17. Bf4 Qe7 18. Nc3 Qe6 19. Nh2 f6 20. Bg3 fxe5 21. dxe5 d4 22. Ne4 Qd5 23. Nd6 d3 24. Qe3 Bb6 25. Qe1 Bd4 26. e6 Ne5 27. e7 Qxd6 28. exf8=Q+ Rxf8 29. Kg2 Qd5+ 30. f3 Nc4 31. Bf2 Re8 32. Qb4 Re2 33. Kg1 Bxf2+ 34. Rxf2 Qd4!, White resigned.
35. Rf1 Rxf2 36. Rxf2 d2 ends mat ters.
Two of our brighter hopes of the future are Jonathan Chiang and his sister Sarah. Jonathan finished in fifth place with eight points, while Sarah finished in 13th place on tiebreaks with seven points. Jonathan’s excellent score propelled the U.S. to a silver medal in the open under 8. In this round 10 game Jonathan fin ished off his opponent with some nice fireworks. Pirc Defense (B07) Jonathan Chiang (FIDE 1535) Dinh Nguyen Anh Le (FIDE Unrated) 2008 World Youth, Vung Tau, Vietnam 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Be3 Nf6 5. f3!?
This is a very dangerous system vs. the Pirc. White sets up a Yugoslav Attack Chess Life — January 2008
33
2008 World Youth type formation, going for a kingside pawn storm.
Black looks to lockdown the entire board with an equal position.
5. ... a6?!
10. Bh6 Kf8 11. Bxg7+
Already Black is struggling to find the proper idea. With 5. ... c6!? Black prepares ... b7 b5 counterplay and gets the queen involved.
As Aviv pointed out, this helps Black unravel. 11. h4!? is more accurate fol lowed by h4 h5, putting White in control. 11. ... Kxg7 12. h4 h5
Jonathan locks the center, which he must reopen later. 8. Nge2 keeps things fluid and allows White to start the pawn storm.
Better is 12. ... h6, which makes it hard for White to breakthrough. 13. g5 (13. h5 g5 would be a tough nut to crack) 13. ... Nh5 when White’s attack has stalled.
8. ... Ne7 9. g4 b6
13. g5 Nd7
6. Qd2 Nc6 7. 0-0-0 e5 8. d5?!
Black is wasting time. With 9. ... h5!?
Team USA Results Girls 8: Alisha Chawla 4, Reva Singh 6½, Hannah Liu 7, Sarai Guillen 4. (Team Bronze Medal) Girls 10: Simone Liao 7, Margaret Hua 4½.
Girls 12: Sarah Chiang 7, Caroline Zhu 5½.
Girls 14: Alena Kats 6½, Anna Matlin 6, Katherine Wu 4½. Girls 16: Karsten McVay 5½, Jennie Liu 4.
Open 8: Jonathan Chiang 8, Tommy He 7, Raymond Sun 6½. (Team Silver Medal) Open 10: Jeevan Karamsetty 7, Christopher Wu 6. Open 12: Darwin Yang 8 (Bronze Medal), Aleksandr Ostrovskiy 5½, Alexander Velikanov 6, Atulya Shetty 5½, Jarod Pamatmat 6, David Adelberg 6½. (Team Bronze Medal)
Open 14: Daniel Naroditsky 7½. Open 18: Sam Shankland 8 (Bronze Medal), Daniel Ludwig 6½, Matt Parry 5.
Coaches FIDE Senior Trainer IM Michael Khodarkovsky, FM Aviv Friedman, IM Armen Ambartsoumian, GM Dmitry Gurevich, GM Sam Palatnik, GM John Fedorowicz.
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r+l q + r + pn np k p p p +p+ + +P p Pp + +P+ P + N +P+ P PP Q + + + KR+L NR
After 13. ... Nd7
14. Bh3!
Jonathan is preparing f3 f4, his only break. 14. ... Qf8 15. Nce2 f5 16. Qc3!
Forcing Black to defend his c7 square.
16. ... Ra7
With the action on the kingside, it’s as if Black is down a rook. 17. f4
Now White is clearly on top.
17. ... Kh7 18. Rf1 Qg7 19. exf5 gxf5 20. fxe5 Nxe5 21. Nd4 Nxd5 22. Qb3 Ne7 23. Nxf5 Nxf5 24. Bxf5+ Bxf5 25. Rxf5 Qg8 26. Qa4 b5
Black's final chance was 26. ... Qc4!?.
27. Qe4! Qg6 28. Qf4 Kg7 29. Nf3 Nxf3 30. Qxf3 Qe8 31. Rf1 c6 32. Qc3+ Kg8 33. Rf8+, Black resigned.
For my student Reva Singh, this was her first big international tournament, and she played very well. Her 6½ points was a main reason for our bronze medal in the girls under 8. She was very proud of this game where she exhibits a good feel for attack.
d4!?
Already Reva is faced with a tricky mix ture of ideas. 5. 0 0 b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1 is the usual routine, which we’ve seen mil lions of times. 5. ... b5!?
Black reaches a safe position with 5. ... Nxd4 6. Nxd4 exd4 7. e5 Ne4 8. Qxd4 Nc5. 6. Bb3 exd4 7. 0-0 Bc5?!
I've warned Reva about keeping gam bit pawns! 7. ... d6!? looks like a solid choice. 8. Nxd4?? Nxd4 9. Qxd4 c5 fol lowed by ... c5 c4 falls for the famous “Noahs Ark” trap. 8. Re1?!
After sacrificing a pawn, White must be more aggressive. Now Black is fine. 8. e5! is very tough to deal with. 8. ... Ng4 (8. ... Ne4 9. Qe2 d5 10. exd6 f5 11. dxc7 Qxc7 12. Ng5 and Black’s king has no safe haven) 9. Bxf7+ Kxf7 10. Ng5+ Kg8 11. Qxg4 and Black is in difficulties. 8. ... 0-0 9. Bg5 d6 10. Bd5 Bb7 11. Bxc6 Bxc6 12. e5 dxe5 13. Rxe5 Bb6 14. Rf5 Kh8!
r+ q r k + p +p pp p ll+ n + +p+ +R L + p + + + + +N+ P PP+ P P P RN+Q+ K
After 14. ... Kh8
Anticipating White's Bxf6. Doubled pawns in front of the king isn't always bad. 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. Rf4 Rg8
Who's attacking now? Reva has turned the tables on her opponent. Black's devel opment, bishop pair, open g file and extra pawn spell trouble for White. 17. Rh4
White is struggling to find a plan.
17. ... Qe7 18. Qd3 Rg6
Easily sidestepping the mate threat.
19. Nbd2 Re8 20. b3 Ba5!
Ruy Lopez (C77) Shiri Binder (FIDE Unrated) Reva Singh (FIDE Unrated) 2008 World Youth, Vung Tau, Vietnam
Threatening to eliminate White’s defenders on d2 and f3.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5.
22. Qxd2 Bxf3 23. Qd3 Qe1+!
21. h3 Bxd2
Winning.
uschess.org
(
+
)
+r+ k + p +p+p p+ + pr+ +p+ + + + p + R +P+Q+l+P P+P+ PP+ R + q K
After 23. ... Qe1+
Finishing the game with style!
24. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 25. Qf1 Rxg2+ 26. Kh1 Rxf1 mate.
David Adelberg was a surprise medal contender for most of the tournament, but tailed off at the end. His round eight vic tory showed his attacking skills in an extremely sharp Najdorf. David’s fine per formance helped Team USA to a team bronze in the boys under 12. Sicilian Defense, Scheveningen/Najdorf (B87) Mikhail Antipov (FIDE 1887) David Adelberg (FIDE Unrated) 2008 World Youth, Vung Tau, Vietnam 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6
The Najdorf is considered a very aggres sive response to 1. e4. 6. Bc4
The Sozin was a favorite of Bobby Fis cher and numerous other grandmasters. 6. ... e6 7. 0-0
By not playing 7. Bb3 White avoids the ... Nbd7 c5 idea. 7. ... Nbd7 8. f4 Nc5 9. Qf3 b5 gives Black good counterplay. 7. ... b5 8. Bb3 Be7 9. Qf3 Qc7 10. Qg3 Nc6 11. Nxc6 Qxc6 12. Re1 Bb7
r+ +k+ r +l+ lp pp p+q pp n + +p+ + + + +P+ + +L N + Q P PP+ PP P R L R K
After 12. ... Bb7
13. Qxg7?!
Snatching this pawn allows Black an enduring initiative. 13. a3!? is safe and uschess.org
sensible. 13. ... 0 0 14. Bh6 Ne8 15. Rad1 Rd8 16. Rd3 (16. Bg5) 16. ... Kh8 17. Bg5 Bxg5 18. Qxg5 Nf6 19. Qd2 Rd7 was about equal in Dolmatov Polugaevsky, Moscow TV 1987. 13. ... Rg8 14. Qh6 0-0-0 15. f3
Black's king is safe and White will be on the defensive for a long time. 15. ... Rg6 16. Qh3 Kb8 17. Be3 Rdg8 18. g3 h5 19. Ne2 Qe8 20. Nf4 Rg5
+q+r+ k +l+ lp+ p+ pp n + +p+ + rp + +P N + +L+ LP PQ P PP+ + P R + R K
After 20. ... Rg5
21. Bf2
White should be happy with a repetition via 21. Nd3!?. 21. ... Bc8 22. Qf1?
The queen needs to keep an eye on g3.
22. ... h4! 23. Qd3
Very strong for Black is 23. g4 Nxg4 24. fxg4 Rxg4+ 25. Ng2 h3. 23. ... hxg3 24. hxg3 Nd7 25. Qe3 Nc5 26. Rad1
26. Kg2 was forced.
26. ... Rxg3+!
This fine Exchange sacrifice collapses White’s king position. 27. Bxg3 Rxg3+ 28. Kf2 Qg8 29. Rg1 Bh4! 30. Kf1 e5
Opening the diagonal for the c8 bishop.
31. Rxd6 exf4 32. Rb6+ Ka7 33. Rg6 Qxg6 34. Qxc5+ Qb6
Forcing everything off the board makes it easy for David. 35. Qxb6+ Kxb6 36. Rxg3 fxg3
The rest is a simple mop up operation.
37. Kg2 Be6 38. Bxe6 fxe6 39. b4 Be7 40. Kxg3 Bxb4 41. Kf4 Bd6+ 42. e5 Bb8 43. Ke4 Kc5 44. f4 Kc4 45. Kf3 Kd4 46. Kg4 Ke4 47. Kg5 b4 48. Kf6 Kxf4 49. Kxe6 Bxe5 50. Kd5 Bc3 51. Kc4 a5 52. a3 Ke3 53. axb4 axb4 54. Kb3 Kd2 55. Ka2 Kc1, White resigned.
After getting settled in I did one impor tant thing. I found the tournament hall. It was located 1½ miles away from the hotel, and with the heat and humidity was
a tough walk. It was an indoor arena similar to where a small time college bas ketball team would play. It easily housed the large group of players that came for battle. The pairings were always up on time. They could be found online or posted outside the hotel. Games of that day’s opponent could be found online as well. This aided our preparation greatly. Good “prep” gives our player more confi dence, and every little thing counts. The beach was right across the street along with a very large pool. Most of Team USA stayed at the Hotel Dic Star, a five star hotel. The food was pretty good with a lot of choices. I thought the tourna ment was very well organized considering all the things that could go wrong. Buses left before each round from the hotel and returned at regular intervals. I have a couple of gripes. My first one is the tournament hall’s air condition ing. In countries where the climate is very hot, a lack of air conditioning could prove to be unhealthy and dangerous. They tried hard to cool us, but even the fans and air conditioning were not enough. In the future FIDE needs to address this type of situation and keep it from occurring again. At our team meet ing, players were told that they must be seated at their board five minutes before the start of the round. If this rule wasn’t followed, they would forfeit! This rule is being used in the Dresden Olympiad as well. I’m interested in whether this stu pidity will be enforced. Another wonderful job by FIDE. Maybe they should think about more important matters. The most impressive country this year was India. Dominating the medal count with an unbelievable four world champi onships, I guess India is going through an “Anand Boom” where chess may be sup planting cricket as the top sport. While the USA is going through no such boom, we still have a very large and strong group of youngsters. With players like Darwin Yang and Daniel Naroditsky leading the way, we have hope in the future of com peting with countries like India. In closing I would like to thank a num ber of people. I’ll start off with Michael Khodarkovsky, our FIDE senior trainer, for dealing with all kinds of problems chess and otherwise. The other coaches were a lot of fun to hangout with as were Kimberly Doo, Sharon Senkiewicz, and Diane Parry. My friends Glenn, Jonah, Anna, Semen, William and Elizabeth kept me busy as well. With some good inter national chess experience under their belts, Team USA should return next year with renewed determination and hope. Till next year in Antalya, Turkey, play well and study hard! See more reporting from Vietnam on Chess Life Online, October archives.
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Chess Life — January 2008
35
Here and There
Hip Hop Variation Rap artist RZA is the latest figure to arise in an emerging trend towards aggressive chess marketing. By WGM Jennifer Shahade
F
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Chess Life — January 2009
for myself in a series of events hosted this summer by a non profit I co founded (see note at end of article), 9 Queens and WuChess, a hip hop chess server. At the 9 Queens knockout, a promotional event in Chelsea, New York, RZA started with the two hours late opening, a variation that is common for musicians but is offensive to chessplayers, who despite their propensity for sleeping in, know to be punctual when the clock is set. Despite the fools’ mate of a start, RZA was both charming and charmed when he arrived. He got a chance to meet an idol of his own GM Maurice Ashley, and because it was RZA’s birthday, he received a triple decker chess set from thechesspiece.com. He explained that his interest in founding WuChess and collaborating with 9 Queens was not just as an aspiring chess player, but also as a spokesperson for anti violence and foresight; “In our com munity ... if people think before they do ... they could avoid teenage pregnancy ... avoid crime, the penal institution; a lot of guys are in jail for 25 to life because they didn’t think before they did it. It was too spontaneous.” RZA and I played a tandem chess game (two partners take turns making moves, consultation is forbidden) against Brit tanie Uddin and Jasmine Fermin from I.S. 318, the junior high school championship Brooklyn team coached by Elizabeth Vic ary. I knew that the girls were probably underrated at 1400 and 1500. The 318 girls probably would have beat us if they played more quickly, because RZA seemed to be constantly searching for the perfect moves. Some may attribute his unhurried pace to too much herbal tea. I don’t think any of us were that experienced in team
chess or the unusual 12 minute time control, but I also think RZA lacked con fidence about his obvious natural talent. Jasmine and I started first and then switched moves. In the opening/ mid dlegame, RZA played well, with the exception of the purposeless 14. ... b6. 14. ... Na5 or 14. ... Rc8, immediately seizing the initiative against White’s main weak ness (the c4 pawn) were preferable. King’s Indian Defense (A48) Jasmine Fermin/Brittanie Uddin Jennifer Shahade/Bobby Diggs (aka the RZA) 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. Bd3 c5 5. b3 0-0 6. Bb2 Nd5 7. c4 Nb4 8. 0-0 Nxd3 9. Qxd3 d5 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. Qd2 dxc4 12. bxc4 cxd4 13. exd4 Nc6 14. Ne2 b6 15. Rac1 Na5 16. d5 Bxb2 17. Qxb2 Bd3 18. Rfe1 Nxc4 19. Qd4 Bxe2 20. Rxe2 b5 21. Qc5 Rc8 22. Qxe7
+r q r k+ p + Qp+p + + +p+ +p+P+ + +n+ + + + + +N+ P+ +R PP P + R + K
After 22. Qxe7
Move 22 was the most interesting of the game. RZA began to think for over 30 seconds then he passed the one minute uschess.org
PHOTO: BLAKE EICHENSEER
or over a year, rumors have swirled in the chess world that RZA, a founder of the rap group Wu Tang Clan, is serious about chess and wants to earn the master title. In addition to want ing to improve and inspire youth, RZA, who is interested in Asian culture and philosophies, sees chess as a way to self improve: “64 squares lined up in eight columns, we sit and meditate and calcu late on life problems.” RZA is not like a stand up comic who can’t stand being funny in real life he is a word artist on and offstage. Preten tious terms became simple while plain language is spiced up: RZA called team chess “doubles splash” and rejected “adjust” and “J’doube” in favor of, “Fix it.” If you haven’t heard of RZA, you’re not alone, he’s not the most famous rapper in America but his fans are fervid. Jay Z is to RZA as Spielberg is to Woody Allen. Don’t even ask where Kanye and Eminem fall in; my metaphor doesn’t stretch that far. I wrote a couple of articles for Chess Life Online about Hip Hop Chess Federation (HHCF) events such as the October 2007 King’s Invitational in San Francisco, which RZA won. I couldn’t find any game scores but was hoping to give CLO read ers an idea of his strength, so I asked IM Josh Waitzkin about RZA’s approximate ELO [rating]. Josh was promoting his book The Art of Learning at the HHCF events, which combine chess, martial arts and music. Josh wrote back with an estimate that he admitted might be generous but said: “I kind of have this feeling that it kills the vibe to slap a num ber on them.” I got a chance to see RZA’s chess skills
Jennifer Shahade and The RZA playing tandem chess in Camden, New Jersey.
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Chess Life — January 2009
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The RZA and Jennifer Shahade playing tandem chess against FM Mike Shahade and rapper the Monk. 9 Queens co-founder Jean Hoffman watches over.
mark. I stared nervously at the clock just like in bughouse, getting low on time is a strategic disaster in team chess. Besides, it seemed to me the only reason able move was 22. ... Qxd5, regaining our pawn. According to the rules of team games or “tandem chess,” talking to your opponent is strictly forbidden. But when RZA finally moved his fingers toward the d pawn, I heaved an audible sigh of relief that was as close as I could get to cheating. When I came home and began to reconstruct the game, I discovered that RZA correctly sensed a critical position. There actually is a far superior choice to 22. ... Qxd5 Black can play 22. ... Ne5!, win ning! The move defines mind boggling, and I’m pretty sure that in a quick time control, most players would lose in a few moves to variations such as 23. Qxd8 Nxf3+ 24. gxf3 Rxc1+ 25. Kg2 Rxd8 or 23. Qa3 Nxf3 24. gxf3 Qg5+. The least losing move is the sad 23. Rxc8 Qxe7 24. Rxf8+ Qxf8 25. Rxe5 when Black should win
even more easily than usual with the queen vs. rook and knight in quick chess. Instead the game continued ... 22. ... Qxd5 23. Qxa7 Qd3 24. Rce1 Ra8 25. Qe7
... and the position is balanced, but we were up almost two minutes at this point and won on time.
chose an offbeat but creative line against my father’s trusty English. He kept his king in the center and launched an ulti mately unsuccessful attack with h5, h4, Qc8, Bh3 and so on. I think RZA has the talent to become an expert chessplayer but the only way he can do that is to get in the trenches and play in real tourna ments. His real name is Robert Diggs. You may find yourself across the table from him at your next local tournament. RZA’s ties with chess go way back. RZA learned chess at the age of 11, to a girl who became more than just a girlfriend. On Wu Tang Clan’s 1993 debut album, Enter the Wu Tang (36 Chambers), the song, “Da Mystery of Chessboxin’” begins: “The game of chess, is like a swordfight; You must think first, before you move.” The chessboxing title was prescient in more ways than one not only did the leader of the Wu Tang get more and more into the violent rumble and tumble of
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Chess Life — January 2009
A few days later, RZA played some games with my father, FM Michael Sha hade at a “Learn Chess” day in Camden, New Jersey. My father started out with two great opening lines: “Who should I tell people I met today?” (repeated about four times) and “Let’s play for one of those” (pointing to the rocks on RZA’s fingers that looked like they could cover a down payment on a Manhattan loft). RZA laughed at both questions and
uschess.org
PHOTO: BLAKE EICHENSEER
To my shock ... I discovered that RZA correctly sensed a critical position.
318 students Jasmine Fermin and Brittanie Uddin team up against the RZA in Chelsea.
chess as a sport, but chessboxing now has a federation based in Berlin (World Chess Boxing Organization, WCBO), com petitions, titles, even a newswire. Although the sport has yet to hit the U.S. big time, Andreas Dilschneider of the WCBO predicts that there will be a more vibrant chessboxing scene here soon. David ‘doubleD’ Depto is from Los Angeles, where a future fight is planned, and the WCBO met with the Wu Tang in Berlin to discuss a U.S. collabo ration. Wu Tang Clan’s new album, 8 Dia grams (2008) includes even more references to chess including songs such as “Windmill” and “Weak Spot.” The attention that RZA brought to the game this summer is part of what seems to be a movement toward more aggressive promotional chess events. Imagine this: RZA plays a team game with Hikaru Nakamura in a spaceship where the pieces are shuffled in the back row. Their opponents U.S. Women’s Champ Anna
Zatonskih and T.V. detective Monk are playing their game on the bottom of the ocean while scuba diving. Meanwhile, Maurice Ashley and I comment on the action in a cave. Everything alluded to in that para graph actually happened, just not all at once. While at the Curacao Chess Festi
Ella Baron, organized a cave chess match deep in the Belizean jungle. Hikaru Naka mura won a 960 tournament in Mainz, Germany, coming ahead of 44 grandmas ters, including Rustam Kasimdzhanov and Sergei Movsesian. All these events offer one good photo op after another, throwing a knockout punch to the typical chess photos of “one vs. one” that show nobody’s face. The future of chess is obviously coming, and it’s going to become the present at the 2009 U.S. Championship set for the new and elegant Saint Louis Chess Club and Scholastic Center. I hope we’ll get to see Gata, Hikaru and “Alex O.,” our 2700+ triad, all vying for the 35K grand prize. I’m rooting for a lot of chess boxing on the board.
PHOTO: DANIEL MEIROM
“The game of chess is like a swordfight; you must think first before you move.”
uschess.org
val, Anna played a 30 minute game against the Dutch IM Robin Swinkels underwater the whole time and using scuba gear. NASA challenged USCF scholastic players to a chess game against astronauts in space, hosted on uschess.org. The hit USA detective show Monk featured a chess related murder mystery, “Mr. Monk and the Genius.” Belizechess, a non profit organization founded by former New York chess coach
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9 Queens (9queens.org) is a non profit organization that Jean Hoffman (from Tucson) and I founded in 2007. The name refers to the potential of all children and pawns to reach their eighth rank. Chess Life — January 2009
39
USCF Affairs January Volunteer of the Month: Dave Gavin
This month the USCF is pleased to name David P. Gavin, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army retired, our Vol unteer of the Month. Dave Gavin, or known to some as “Big Dave” (standing at 6 foot, 7 inches), had started directing USCF events as far back as 1965 and has been instrumental in the growth of U.S. military chess. Something Dave always strived for was Pittsburgh Chess Club director Bill Byland’s approach to chess: never make a spectacle of himself, always get the job done in a quiet, determined manner. This inspired confidence. As Dave states, even Bobby Fischer couldn’t rattle Bill. In Dave’s recent years, he would be called upon by a local base to be their tournament director (TD) for a base cham pionship, Armed Forces qualifying event, or a scholastic event, and he would only request a Mountain Dew in return for
his services. Dave always felt his meager contribution was the best way he could support the troops and kids. Dave’s inno vation and organizational leadership as a volunteer organizer helped to double the attendance of the Armed Forces Open chess championship in the recent years. Dave always found directing and organ izing enjoyable, especially for the military and the kids. Some of Dave’s accomplishment’s over the years have been: 1965-1967—High school team captain and club president 1965—Started directing USCF events (before certification program) 1968-1969—Membership director of the Pittsburgh Chess Club 1969-1970—President, Pittsburgh Chess League 1973-1976—TD at the Tainan Air Base Recreation Center in Taiwan 1978-1981—Vice president of the European Chess District (USCF affiliate) directing events all over southern Germany 1980—Led U.S. military (Army & Air Force) at the NATO team championship 1982-1990—Located and identified strong Army chess players and assisted them in getting into Army events leading to higherlevel events
1987-1988—Wrote the selection procedure that is still used today in deciding selection to the U.S. Army championship 1994-1995—Secretary of the Masonic Postal Chess Club 2003-2008—Assisted in building up the U.S. Armed Forces Open chess championship tournament
Unfortunately just this past year, Dave was diagnosed with cancer, seriously curbing his volunteer organizational activ ities, among other things. Dave should be remembered for being kind, considerate, and always ready to volunteer. He’s always been the U.S. Armed Forces gen tle giant, believing that chess is more than just a game or an art form, and that it is a tool to help people under stand each other. Dave believes he owes a lot to the Pittsburgh Chess Club and their library of chess books from when he was a kid, so he currently plans on donat ing his extensive chess library to them so that someone else may benefit the way he had. ~John Farrell The USCF Volunteer of the Month is named by a different member of the executive board each month. This month, Jim Berry named our honoree.
Membership Appreciation Program (MAP) More details and MAP standings will appear more frequently at main.uschess.org/go/MAP. Top standings will appear every two months in Chess Life.
Sc cholastic c Prizzes
State
Count
Name
State
Count
CONTINENTAL CHESS ASSN PAPERCLIP PAIRINGS MICHIGAN CHESS ASSOCIATION WESTERN PA YOUTH CHESS CLUB BAYAREACHESSCOM GRANADA GUARD EN PASSANT CHESS CLUB GATEWAY CHESS LEAGUE CHESS IN THE SCHOOLS LONG ISLAND CHESS NUTS OPTIMIST COASTAL BEND CHESS Small State Affiliate Standings
NY TX MI PA CA TX MO NY NY TX
1010 998 524 383 335 325 320 285 271 260
TX MI PA TX CA NY NY MO TX NY
934 465 371 308 303 265 259 238 230 222
Name
State
Count
PAPERCLIP PAIRINGS MICHIGAN CHESS ASSOCIATION WESTERN PA YOUTH CHESS CLUB EN PASSANT CHESS CLUB BAYAREACHESSCOM GRANADA GUARD CHESS IN THE SCHOOLS LONG ISLAND CHESS NUTS GATEWAY CHESS LEAGUE OPTIMIST COASTAL BEND CHESS NATIONAL SCHOL CHESS FOUND INC Member Standings Name
State
Count
MAINE ASSOC OF CHESS COACHES METRO CHESS NEW MEXICO SCHOL CHESS ORG NEW HAMPSHIRE CHESS ASSN SIOUX EMPIRE CHESS CLUB TALES TOLD TALL CHESS SOUTH DAKOTA CHESS ASSN IDAHO CHESS ASSOCIATION WELLS MEMORIAL SCHOOL MESA CHESS CLUB Regular Prize es
ME DC NM NH SD NH SD ID NH NM
157 102 69 48 43 30 29 26 26 24
TORRES, CHRIS ELLIOTT, CAROL MAXHEIMER RYAN, BEN J CHENEY, WILLIAM G NAVARRO, DANIEL A HODINA, JAMES D BARRETT, DAVID CHRISTOPHER ARMSTRONG, ROBERT L BADY, GLENN BERRY, FRANK K
CA IA NE AZ TX IA TX KY PA OK
63 18 18 14 14 12 11 10 9 8
Name
State
Count
CONTINENTAL CHESS ASSN JERSEY SHORE HS CHESS LEAGUE PENNSYLVANIA ST CHESS FED DALLAS CHESS CLUB NEW JERSEY ST CHESS FED SAN DIEGO CHESS CLUB GATEWAY CHESS LEAGUE MINNESOTA ST CHESS ASSN CHESS CENTER OF NEW YORK MARSHALL CHESS CLUB
NY NJ PA TX NJ CA MO MN NY NY
880 170 130 105 88 85 82 67 65 64
40
Chess Life — January 2009
PC CT Gain Standing gs State
Dec07
Aug08
Pct
State
VT RI DC UT IA
202 244 217 494 644
282 295 246 539 702
39.6 20.9 13.4 9.1 9.0
GA WI SC TX NJ
Dec07
1567 1192 474 7767 3170
Aug08
1704 1293 514 8314 3356
Pct
8.7 8.5 8.4 7.0 5.9
uschess.org
PHOTO: ERNIE SCHLICH
Overall Affiliaate Standings
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Chess Life — January 2009
41
Back to Basics
Tal is Smiling
Those who like to attack and who believe that “tempo is gold” will enjoy, and greatly benefit from, the writings and games of their patron saint: Mikhail Tal. This month’s winner already has the spirit. By GM Lev Alburt
The winner of this month’s award, Michael Coon (the namesake of the 8th World Champion; “Mikhail” being the Russian spelling of the great Archangel’s name) knew little of Smith Morra theory when he employed this gambit on a friend’s advice. But Michael’s instincts were just fine. Writes Mr. Coon: I am 54 years old. This tourney was held in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Septem ber 7, 2008. My ranking was 1418 on the label of the September Chess Life magazine. My opponent was Michael Dang, rated 1588. This was the third round game. We were each 1 1. (As usual, Lev’s comments will be in italics). Sicilian Defense, Smith-Morra Gambit (B21) Michael Coon (1418) Michael Dang (1588) Ann Arbor, MI, 9/2008 1. e4 c5
The Sicilian again. My first round oppo nent, a 1612, had soundly thrashed me when my attack failed. But I was deter mined to play better this time. 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3
rnlqklnr pp+ppppp + + + + + + + + + +P+ + + N + + PP + PPP R LQKLNR
After 4. Nxc3
I played a gambit suggested by a friend of mine who said it fit my attacking style. 42
Chess Life — January 2009
For his pawn, White gets several tem pos a knight on c3, open lines for the queen and both bishops. 4. ... d6 5. Bc4 Nc6 6. Nf3 Nf6
r+lqkl r pp+ pppp +np n + + + + + +L+P+ + + N +N+ PP + PPP R LQK +R
After 6. ... Nf6
7. 0-0
So far, so good. I castled at this point so my attack could not be ruined later on by a surprise check that would bail out my opponent. Also this would eventually enable me to develop my rook to e1 where it can be useful in controlling the center. Black’s sixth move is viewed as inaccu rate, as it allows 7. e5!, with some advantage for White. Black, of course, shouldn’t lose a queen after 7. ... Nxe5? 8. Nxe5 dxe5 9. Bxf7+; but even more stub born 7. ... dxe5 8. Qxd8+! Nxd8! (8. ... Kxd8? 9. Ng5!) and 7. ... Ng4 8. exd6 (opening the position while ahead in devel oping is usually good; 8. e6 also is promising) all favor White. Mr. Coon, not knowing the theory, follows opening prin ciples (early castle) the right strategy under such circumstances! 7. ... g6 8. Ng5
Here I jumped on the opportunity to start to attack. After 7. ... g6 (safer was 7. ... e6, trans ferring to ”normalcy”) 8. e5 gains even more in strength, compared to 7. e5 (as in my earlier comment). 8. ... Ne5 9. Qb3
r+lqkl r pp+ pp+p + p np+ + + n N +L+P+ + +QN + + PP + PPP R L +RK
After 9. Qb3
Protecting the bishop and bringing another piece to bear on his f7 pawn. 9. ... Nxc4
This loses. The only defense was 9. ... e6. 10. Qxc4
He traded pieces but the threat is still there. Two threats and there is no way to stop both. 10. ... e6
He shut the door on that threat but ...
11. Nb5
r+lqkl r pp+ +p+p + ppnp+ +N+ + N +Q+P+ + + + + + PP + PPP R L +RK
After 11. Nb5
The other knight rides into battle, threatening the rook and king fork. I did not see a way for him to counter this and was sure I would at least win the uschess.org
Exchange. Black could try 11. ... Rb8, but White’s position will be overwhelming after either 12. Be3 (eyeing the a7 square and thus the rook) or 12. Rd1. 11. ... d5
A queen threat will usually put a tem porary halt to things while the queen is moved to safety. Black’s counterattack required White to play accurately, and boldly and White did. 12. Nc7+
The knight’s quest was not going to be delayed; besides, I wanted his king stuck in the center where I could easily get at him. Excellent! 12. ... Ke7
If 12. ... Kd7, White had many pleasant choices: the simple 13. exd5, the “greedy” 13. Nxf7, and the strongest 13. Qb5+ Kxc7 14. Bf4+ (or first 14. Nxf7). 13. exd5
I considered checking the king again, but after he moves it, my queen is endan gered again and I lose a tempo. If you are an attacker like me, sometimes a tempo is worth more than a minor piece and cer tainly more than a pawn. The moves 13. Qc5+ Kd7 14. Qb5+ transfer into my comment to Black’s 12th move (White wins). But 13. exd5 is equally strong. 13. ... Nxd5 14. Nxa8
Mission accomplished. Well done!
14. ... Bd7
N+ q l r pp+lkp+p + +p+p+ + +n+ N +Q+ + + + + + + PP + PPP R L +RK
After 14. ... Bd7
15. Bf4
I wanted to send the message “take the knight now or risk losing your chance forever.” After accomplishing an important mis sion, a natural human tendency is to relax (just a bit) on well deserved laurels. To be truly successful, this tendency must be fought tooth and nail search for the uschess.org
best move as hard as you can! Why sur render your brave knight so easily? After the simple 15. Qc5+ and 16. Qxa7, the game would be practically over. Of course, 15. Bf4 also wins, but more effort would be required. 15. ... Qxa8
The temptation was too great. Now I have his queen virtually out of the game at a8. This should give me a couple of moves to operate before she can return to the action. Tempo is gold. 16. Rfe1 Nxf4
Playing Black, I’d try here 16. ... b5.
17. Qxf4
The attack has returned to f7, and the king’s rook on e1 is sure to come in handy later. 17. ... Qe8
Now the mighty queen is tied down to a lowly pawn and still is of no use as an offensive threat. 18. Rad1
of her hole, is alone against the white queen and two rooks. The black rook and bishop are still in the starting blocks. 21. ... f5
+ + l r pp+ k +p +q+p+p+ + + +p+ + R Q + + + + + PP + PPP + +R+ K
After 21. ... f5
22. Qg5+
The lights are starting to flicker as the black king fights for his life. The final assault is coming. 22. ... Kf7 23. Rd7+ Kg8
King to e8 would have been the end. Yes, after 24. Qd8, checkmate.
Grabbing the open file, threatening the bishop, and cutting off the king’s later retreat.
24. Qf6
18. ... Bc6
24. ... Qxd7 25. Rxd7 Be7
+ +ql r pp+ kp+p +l+p+p+ + + + N + + Q + + + + + PP + PPP + +RR K
After 18. ... Bc6
Hoping to somehow untangle his pieces.
19. Ne4
Threatening mate with the queen by covering the king’s escape route and free ing the white queen for action. Good move but 19. Qd6+ Kf6 20. Qe5+ Ke7 21. Qxe6+! wins even faster. 19. ... Bxe4 20. Rxe4
Well, there goes another mate threat. But if I can double my rooks on the d file, I can still cause some mischief. White is ahead in material (an Exchange for a pawn) in addition to the black king being stuck in the center. Not surprisingly, White is winning. 20. ... Qc6 21. Red4
The rooks are doubled up and it’s three against one. The black queen, finally out
Now Qf7 is mate. Delaying the inevitable.
.
26. Rxe7 h5 27. Qg7 mate.
The king is dead, long live the king!
Send in your games!
If you are unrated or were rated 1799 or below on your Chess Life label, then GM Lev Alburt invites you to send your instructive games with notes to: Back to Basics, c/o Chess Life PO Box 3967 Crossville, TN 38557 3967
Or e mail your material to
[email protected] GM Alburt will select the “most instructive” game and Chess Life will award an autographed copy of Lev’s newest book, Chess Training Pocket Book II (by Lev Alburt and Al Lawrence) to the person submitting the most instructive game and anno tations. Do not send games with only a few notes, as they are of little instruc tive value and can’t be used. Writing skills are a plus, but instructiveness is a must! Make sure your game (or part of it) and your notes will be of interest to other readers.
Chess Life — January 2009
43
Endgame Lab
The 2008 Women’s World Championship
As a conflict took place between Russian and Georgian troops, the women’s world championship lost competitors to the political fallout. One consequence is the imprecision of many of the championship-level endgames. By GM Pal Benko
The 2008 Women’s World Champi onship began in controversy as six Georgian participants declined to play in Nalchik, Russia due to their nation’s con flict with Russia. Instead of 64 players, only 53 started. The Georgians called on others to follow their boycott, which two time U.S. women’s champion IM Irina Krush joined, while our current women’s champion, IM Anna Zatonskih, and WGM Katerina Rohonyan participated. Russian GM Alexandra Kosteniuk, who lives in Miami, Florida part of each year, became the champion with zero losses over the course of the event. However, it was not a precision effort as she missed some winning opportunities during some of her endgames. Passed pawns GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (FIDE 2510) IM Tatiana Kosintseva (FIDE 2511) Nalchik, 2008
r
+ + + + +n+ +k l+ + + + +pnPp p + +P+N+ + P + +P +L+ PP+ +R+ + K
White to play
Here, White has sacrificed a piece for an attack that was repulsed. However, White has at least three pawns as compensation. For the time being, these pawns cause Black no problems, so she takes the time to go after the vulnerable c3 pawn. This is not an easy task. 41. g3
Better is 41. f3 followed by Kf2.
41. ... Kg7 42. f3 Nb7 43. Bd3 Nbc5 44. Bc2 44
Chess Life — January 2009
Rb6
Kosintseva is not satisfied with a draw, but better here is 42. ... Na4 since after 43. Nxe5 Nxe5 44. Bxa4 Nxf3+ may have come. However, either 43. Ra1 or 43. c4 could have been playable for White. 45. Kf2 Na4? 46. Nxe5! Nxe5 47. Bxa4 Rh6 48. Bd1
Now White is better because of the con nected passed pawns, though 48. Bxb5 Rb6 49. c4 was simpler. 48. ... Rxh3 49. Ra1
More accurate is 49. Be2 since now 49. ... Rh1 was a possible alternative. 49. ... Rh6?! 50. Be2 Rb6 51. Ke3 Kf7 52. Kd4 Nd7 53. e5 Nb8 54. f4 gxf4 55. gxf4
With three connected passed pawns arrayed against her, Black is in trouble. 55. ... b4 56. e6+
Here 56. c4 b3 57. Kc3 was simple but strong. 56. ... Ke7 57. Bxa6 Nxa6
In case of 57. ... Rxa6 58. Rxa6 Nxa6 59. cxb4 Nxb4 60. f5 wins. 58. cxb4?
Missing the win that comes with further centralizing the king: 58. Ke5!. For exam ple, 58. ... b3 59. Rh1 b2 60. d6+ Rxd6 61. Rh7+ Kf8 62. e7+ wins. 58. ... Kd6!
This blockade assures the draw since 59. b5 can be answered by 59. ... Nc7 as satisfactory defense. 59. e7 Kxe7 60. Re1+ Kd7 61. f5 Nxb4 62. Rh1 Rd6 63. Rh7+ Kd8 64. Ke4, Draw.
Feeble Pawn GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (FIDE 2510) GM Pia Cramling (FIDE 2544) Nalchik, 2008
k + + r np+l+ pp p+ +p+ + + rpP +P P+ + + + + PL+N+ + + PP+ +R+ K +R
White to play
22. Bxa6 Rc7 23. Kd2 Bxa4 24. Rb4 Bd7 25. Rhb1 Bc8 26. Nd4
The knight dominates, permanently keeping pressure on the feeble e6 pawn. This assures a long term advantage for White. 26. ... Re8 27. f4 Ree7
There are no better moves. 27. ... Ka8 does no good since taking on a6 is not a threat due to the simple Rb8 mate. 28. Rb6!
Prevents ... Nc6 and puts further pres sure on e6. 28. ... h6 29. g3 Re8 30. Rd6 Ree7 31. Bf1!
The target remains e6.
31. ... Bd7
Here 31. ... Re8 would have put up more resistance. For example: 32. Bh3 Rce7 33. Rbb6 Bd7 34. Bxe6 Nc8 35. Rxb7+! Kxb7 36. Rxd7+ Rxd7 37. Bxd7 Rd8 38. Bc6+ Kb6 39. Ne6 Rg8 40. Bxd5 and White should win too but it takes much longer with practical difficulties along the way. 32. Bh3 Nc8 33. Bxe6! Nxd6 34. exd6 Bxe6 35. dxe7 Bd7 36. Nf5, Black resigned.
In this same round the surprise girl of the event, the 14(!) year old Chinese Yifan Hou, was fighting for much longer against uschess.org
Benko’s Bafflers Most of the time these studies resemble positions that could actu ally occur over the board. You must simply reach a theoretically won position for White. Solutions can be found on page 71. Please e mail submissions for Benko’s Bafflers to: pbenko@ uschess.org
the Indian Koneru Humpy (2622). Hou finally defeated her in the lightning games after two regular and another two rapid games finished tied. In the finals, there were four regular games to play. Hou lost the first and was in trouble in the follow ing two games as well but she succeeded in saving the draws. Three Pawns Down GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (FIDE 2510) GM Yifan Hou (FIDE 2557) Nalchik, 2008
+k+ + + + + + + +lr + + +p+ +p+ +Pnp+p+ + + N P PP +L+ P +K+ R +
White to play
The queens have just been exchanged and White snags a second extra pawn and so should win but ... 38. cxb5 Nxe2 39. bxc6
Not bad but even stronger was the intermediate move 39. Nxf5!. 39. ... Nd4 40. Rf1 Kc7 41. Nxf5 Nxf5 42. Rxf5 Kxc6 43. Re5
The rook ending can be won in any of several ways but White plays inaccu rately. The best here is 43. Kc1 (if 43. Kc2 Rh6 or 43. Rf4 Kd5; 43. Rg5 Rd2). 43. ... Rd4 44. Kc1
The right path here was either 44. Rg5 or 44. Kc2 Kd6 45. Re8 Kd7 46. Rf8 since after 46. ... e3 47. Rf4! could have come. 44. ... Kd6 45. Re8 Kd7 46. Rf8 Ke6 47. Rf4 Ke5 48. Rxg4? uschess.org
Problem I
Colin McRae, Maryland
+ + + k +p+ +ppp + + + + P + + PP +pr + + +pR +L+ +P+ n + + K + +
Black to play, White wins
Once again it is proven true that it is not the quantity of pawns, but their qual ity that is most important. After this greedy capture, Black’s last pawn becomes a super power. The position was still possible to improve by playing 48. Rf8 Rd6 49. Re8+ Kf5 50. Rb8 Rh6 51. Kd2 Rxh2+ 52. Ke3 Rg2 53. Rb5+ Ke6 54. Kxe4, with winning chances. 48. ... Rd8 49. Rg5+ Kf6 50. Rc5 e3 51. Rc2 Kf5 52. a4 Ke4 53. Rc4+ Kd3 54. Rc3+ Ke4
There was nothing better left for either party than to repeat moves, holding on for a draw. Thus 54. ... Ke2?! 55. Rc7 Kf2 56. Rf7+ Ke1 57. b4 e2 58. Kc2 could have been dangerous for Black. 55. Rc4+ Kd3 56. Rc3+ Ke4 57. Rc4+ Kd3, Draw.
Two Pawns Less GM Yifan Hou (FIDE 2557) GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (FIDE 2510) Nalchik, 2008
+
+r+ + + + +k+ p+ +lp + + + l p +p+N+P+ + + L + PP + PP+ + + R K
After 29. ... bxc4
Black had sacrificed a pawn but should retrieve it with two white pawns under fire. 30. Rd1?
After 30. Bd4! White could have the upper hand (netting a pawn) 30. ... Bxg4 31. Bxe5 (31. Nxg5+ fxg5 or even 31. ... Kg6 does not give much for White) 31. ... Rxe5 32. Re1 f5 33. Nd6+ Ke6 34. Rxe5+
Problem II
Richard Becker, Oregon
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ + + + + + + + p+ p + + + p + + kN + + + +R+K+ +
White to play and win
Kxe5 35. Nxc4+ Kd4, winning a pawn, though the black king becomes quite active. 30. ... Rb8!
After this it is White who must strug gle to survive. 31. b3 cxb3 32. axb3 Rxb3 33. Bd4 Bxg4 34. f3 Bxd4+ 35. Rxd4 Be6 36. Rd6
Though a pawn down, White has suc ceeded in getting rid of the bishop pair. The rook naturally intends to get behind the passed pawn. 36. ... a5 37. Nc5 Rb1+ 38. Kf2 Bf5 39. Ra6 Rb5 40. Ne4 Bxe4 41. fxe4
White has managed to escape into a theoretically drawn rook endgame. The black king is chained to the f6 pawn and even trading it would not help. 41. ... Rb2+ 42. Kf3 Ra2 43. Kg3 a4 44. Kf3 a3 45. Kg3 Ra1 46. Kh2 a2
Liberating the black king, but placing the rook in the pillory. 47. Kg3 Ke7 48. Kh2 Kd7 49. Kg3 Kc7 50. Kh2 Kb7 51. Ra3 Kb6 52. Ra8 Kb5 53. Rb8+ Kc4 54. Ra8 Kd4 55. Ra4+ Kd3 56. Kg3 Ke3 57. Kh2 Kf4 58. e5+! Kxe5
Black’s achievements are but an illu sion. This is drawn despite the two pawns plus. 59. g4! Kd5 60. Kg2 Kc5 61. Ra8 Kb4 62. Ra6 Kc4 63. Ra3 Kd4 64. Ra6 Ke5 65. Ra4 Ke6
Even if Black could trade the f6 pawn for the g4 one, the position is a draw. 66. Ra8 Ke5 67. Ra4 Re1 68. Rxa2 Kf4 69. Rf2+ Kxg4 70. Rxf6 Re2+ 71. Kg1 Kg3 72. Rf1, Draw.
Kosteniuk ironically commented that Tarrasch was right in saying that every rook ending is a draw. She also expressed her belief that Hou will be a world cham pion one day. See p. 5 for all of your USCF membership option.
.
Chess Life — January 2009
45
2008 WORLD CHESS LIVE GRAND PRIX SUMMARY World Chess Live sponsors $20,000 at the 2008 Grand Prix!
Welcome, Welcome to World Chess Live (WCL), a new familyfriendly service with special benefits for USCF members. WCL is pleased to sponsor USCF’s 2008 Grand Prix (GP) and 2008 Junior Grand Prix. We’re providing prize funds of $20,000 and $7,500 (in cash, merchandise, and memberships), and will also be running online grand prize satellite events throughout the year. In 1991, American long-jumper Mike Powell leapt an incredible distance of 29 feet and 4.4 inches at the world championship in athletics, held in Tokyo, Japan. Seventeen years later, in 2008, GM Alexander Shabalov leapt from tenth place in the World Chess Live Grand Prix to fifth place in a single month. And keeping in that same
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leap-frog spirit, Shabalov did it in a single tournament— the 17th Annual King’s Island Open in Cincinnati, Ohio! This 120 Grand Prix Point tournament ended in a threeway tie, giving Shabalov the points he needed to continue his Grand Prix rampage. Shabalov has earned his Grand Prix points from scoring big wins in big-ticket item tournaments. Amazingly, all of his 159.91 points came from just four events! He received major prize money early in the year at the Eastern Class Championships (100 GPP) and kept rolling ahead with Foxwoods (200 GPP). He didn’t score again, however, until he shared first at the U.S. Open in Dallas, Texas this August. His King’s Island win catapulted him
ahead of a grandmaster-packed Grand Prix field to put him back in the limelight. Other major jumpers include the current front-runner, GM Sergey Kudrin—who let loose and tore through the scoreboard, going from 204.54 to 251.21—and GM Jaan Ehlvest, who moved from a disappointing 11th place last month to a respectable seventh this time around. As these chess athletes prepare for their final sprint to the finish line, the question is: Who will leap the farthest? You can follow the action at www.uschess.org/datapage/GP-standings. php. For more on Shabalov’s win at the King’s Island Open, see Tim Moroney’s article in the November Chess Life Online archives. ~Jonathan Hilton
2008 WORLD CHESS LIVE GRAND PRIX STANDINGS The following point totals reflect all rated event information as of November 25 for the 2008 World Chess Live Grand Prix. All Grand Prix updates are unofficial and subject to change during the year or until year-end tabulation is complete.
OVERALL STANDINGS NAME 1 GM Sergey Kudrin 2 GM Alexander Ivanov 3 GM Julio Becerra 4 IM Alex Lenderman
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
GM Sergey Erenburg GM Jaan Ehlvest GM Melikset Khachiyan IM Enrico Sevillano GM Mark Paragua GM Alex Yermolinsky IM Kirill Kuderinov
JUNIOR CATEGORIES STATE CT MA FL NY
MD NY CA CA NY SD TX
PTS. 251.21 235.01 205.93 205.76
150.54 150.38 150.25 147.08 141.63 136.96 131.11
SENIOR CATEGORY GM Alexander Shabalov jumped five places this month in the WCL GP standings, largely on the strength of his performance at the 17th Annual King’s Island Open.
Players born 1943 and before: 1 FM John Curdo 2 GM Anatoly Lein 3 FM Isay Golyak
MA OH NY
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PTS. 131.11 83.00 66.71
Players born between 1988 and 1990 inclusive: 1 IM Alex Lenderman NY 205.76 2 GM Alejandro Ramirez TX 98.50 3 IM Salvijus Bercys NY 48.58 Players born between 1991 and 1992 inclusive: 1 FM Daniel Yeager PA 2 IM Robert Hess NY 3 FM Warren Harper TX
45.66 36.80 36.00
Players born between 1993 and 1994 inclusive: 1 IM Ray Robson FL 2 Mark Heimann PA 3 Steven Zierk CA
88.01 43.50 26.25
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26.25 12.00 12.00
CA TX CAN
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The first place JGP winner will also receive U.S. Open entry and a plaque from the USCF. 1st 10th place winners will receive 2 year WCL junior and USCF Young Adult memberships; 11th 20th place winners will receive 1 year WCL junior and USCF Young Adult memberships. Each state JGP winner will receive 1 year WCL junior and USCF Young Adult memberships and a $20 WCL store gift certificate.
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World Chess Live, a new family-friendly online chess service, is sponsor of the 2008 World Chess Live Junior Grand Prix (JGP). Official standings for events received and processed by December 4, 2008 are unofficial and subject to change during the year or until year-end tabulation is complete. There are currently 4,678 players with JGP points. 459 JGP events resulted in points earned. Top prize includes free entry and $1,000 in expense money to the 2009 U.S. Open as well as a plaque. Other prizes awarded to the top 20 finishers and the top individual in each state.
2008 World Chess Live
Junior Grand Prix Top Overall Standings Name PENA, JOEL ANTHONY U HEUNG, CHRISTOPHER GIANNATOS, PETER KUTIKOFF, ADAM PINKERTON, JAMES CARL HUTTON, JACK SREENIVASAN, RAMANUJA BODEK, MICHAEL H ZHAO, SHICHENG DEJONG, ANDREW ROSENTHAL, NICHOLAS SINGH, REVA SHREE PAPALIA, STEVEN A VIRKUD, APURVA TROFF, KAYDEN WILLIAM HARMON-VELLOTTI, LUKE CHEN, JEREMY POLSKY, RYAN CHIANG, MICHAEL SCHNEIDER, THOMAS GEORGE
State NJ FL NC FL MD NY MD NY VA NC FL NY UT MI UT ID NJ CA-S NY WI
JGP Pts. 225 210 180 175 175 150 150 150 150 145 145 145 140 140 135 125 125 125 120 120
Name SHEINWALD, NOWELL R DANG, MICHAEL KLEINMUNTZ, ROBBIE S COGHLAN, TOMMY J GRAIF, WILLIAM AGARWAL, ROHAN CACHAY, JOHN JEFFERSON BAT-AMGALAN, MARAL DELLOMARGIO, ANGELO AMARASINGHE, PRASHANTHA N LARSON, ERIC DANIEL LI, BRIAN S GUREVICH, DANIEL FINNEY, STUART S HELLWIG, LUKE GURCZAK, JOHN MC CLANAHAN, GAVIN JACOB TALWAR, JAMES V EDGERLE, IAN FISHER, WILLIAM
State NY MI IL NJ NY CA-N CA-S CA-N PA MI MI VA GA RI AL AZ IL NY MI PA
JGP Pts. 120 115 110 110 110 110 110 110 110 110 110 110 110 105 105 105 105 105 105 105
A new family-friendly online chess service from the Internet Chess Club, is pleased to welcome our friends from the U.S. Chess Federation. To celebrate its launch, this year WCL will be:
• Sponsoring the USCF’s 2008 Grand Prix and Junior Grand Prix • Running weekly and monthly Online Grand Prix tournaments • Giving every USCF member a free six-month subscription to WCL • And more...
For details, go to www.worldchesslive.com/uscf uschess.org
Chess Life — January 2009
47
Tournament Life
Information for Organizers, TDs, and Affiliates To qualify, an event must be USCF rated (regular or quick) and meet these criteria: • All USCF rated players over 2199 must be eligible to play in the top (or only) section. • The prize fund for which all masters are eligible must equal or exceed $300 guaranteed. • Class prizes for Under 2300 or a higher rating requirement qualify towards GP points, but if they exceed 25% of the total qualifying Grand Prix money, they count as 25% of the total. • Other than entry fees and USCF dues, no charges over $25 are permitted. • The tournament must be submitted for the Tournament Life section of Chess Life and designated by the submitter as a Grand Prix tournament. • Only players who are USCF members during the tournament may earn GP points. Foreign GMs, IMs, WGMs, and WIMs can play without being members, but they will not obtain Grand Prix points unless they join. • Conditions concerning USCF Grand Prix tournaments are subject to review and adjustment by the USCF Executive Director. The top prizes must be unconditionally guaranteed (or if a Grand Prix event’s prize fund is based on entries, only the absolutely guaranteed minimum payout counts for point awards) and announced in Chess Life. Even if prizes are raised at the tourna ment, no additional points can be awarded because the bonus would be unfair to players who may otherwise have entered. If you have questions about the Grand Prix, please contact Chuck Lovin good at
[email protected] or 931 787 1234 ext. 148. Organizing a 2009 Grand Prix Event
The tournament director has the right to shorten the basic time control, in min utes, by the time delay used, in seconds. Example: Clocks for G/60 with 5 second time delay (t/d5) may be set at 55 min utes instead of 60. There is no requirement to advertise this option in advance. It may also be used for games starting later than the official starting time of any particular round even when not used otherwise. Tournament Directors
To speed up the processing of rating reports, USCF now asks that wherever possible these reports have IDs for every player. If you collect a new membership, do not submit your rating report until your disk and paper reports include that player’s ID number. To assist TDs in doing this, we have made several enhancements to our web server which will speed up online mem bership processing and give TDs a quick way to obtain USCF IDs for new member ships. We also recommend that TDs use the Member Services Area to check for mem ber IDs. The search capabilities of MSA have been enhanced to assist TDs in find ing existing member IDs. For more details, please check the USCF website: www.uschess.org/rtgchange.php. Organizers, TDs and Affiliates
Professional Players Health and Benefits Fund
Many Grand Prix tournament organiz ers will contribute $1 per player to the Professional Health & Benefits Fund. All Grand Prix tournaments that participate in this program are entitled to be pro moted to the next higher Grand Prix category for example, a 6 point tourna ment would become a 10 point tourna ment. Points in the top category are promoted 50%.
Guaranteed Grand Prix points awarded for: Top Prizes
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
$300-$499
6
Tot
$500-$749
8
2
10
$750-$999
10
5
15
$1,000-$1,499
12
8
20
$1,500-$1,999
14 10 6
30
$2,000-$2,499
16 12 8
$2,500-$2,999
18 14 10 6
2
$3,000-$3,999
20 16 12 8
4
$4,000-$4,999
22 18 15 12 8
$5,000-$5,999
24 20 17 14 11 8
$6,000-$9,999
26 22 19 16 13 10 8
6
4
40 50 60 5
80 6
100 6
120
$10,000-$29,999 30 26 23 20 16 13 10 8
4
150
$30,000 & up
36 32 29 26 21 18 14 12
8
4
200
$ (Enhanced)
54 48 44 39 31 27 21 18
12 6
300
Points involved divided equally (rounded to two decimal points) among tied players. uschess.org
Chess Life TLA Deadlines Cover date
TLA must be received by
Tournaments beginning
Expected release
Jan. Feb. March April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Nov. 10 Dec.10 Jan. 10 Feb. 10 March 10 April 10 May 10 June 10 July 10 Aug. 10 Sept. 10 Oct. 10
Jan. 15 Feb. 15 March 15 April 15 May 15 June 15 July 15 Aug. 15 Sept. 15 Oct. 15 Nov. 15 Dec. 15
End Dec. End Jan. End Feb. End March End April End May End June End July End Aug. End Sept. End Oct. End Nov.
No Tournaments in your area? Why not organize one?
It’s not much work to hold a small tournament, and there is little risk if you use a low cost site and avoid guaranteed prizes. You might even make a profit! Either a based on Swiss with projected prizes up to $500, a Quad format, or a tro phy tournament will virtually guarantee taking in more in fees than you pay out in prizes. The affiliation fee is just $40 a year. You will receive the annual rating supplement and have access to the TD/Affiliate area of our website. Remember, you can both run and play in a small event. Many of them wouldn’t be held if the organizer/TD couldn’t play. Want to know more? Contact Joan Du Bois at
[email protected]. We’ll be glad to help you be part of the promotion of American chess! If at all possible, please e mail your TLAs. This will help to reduce errors.
[email protected] fax: 931 787 1200 TLA Department U.S. Chess Federation PO Box 3967 Crossville, TN 38557 Submissions
TLAs received after the 10th of the deadline month will not appear in the issue currently being processed.
.
USCF Membership Rates Premium (P) and Regular (R) (U.S., CANADA, MEXICO) Type Adult P Adult P (online purch) Adult R Adult R (online purch) Senior (65+) Young Adult P (U25) Youth P (U16) Scholastic P (U13) Young Adult R (U25) Youth R (U16) Scholastic R (U13)
1 yr $49 $42 $36 $29 $36 $32 $27 $23 $24 $20 $16
2yr $85 $78 $59 $52 $65 $59 $49 $42 $43 $36 $28
3yr $120 $113 $81 $74 $93 $85 $70 $60 $61 $51 $39
Premium membership provides a printed copy of Chess Life (monthly) or Chess Life for Kids (bimonthly) plus all other benefits of regular membership. Regular membership provides online only access to Chess Life and Chess Life for Kids; TLA Bulletin will be mailed to adults bimonthly and to scholastic members three times per year. Youth provides bimonthly Chess Life, Scholastic bimonthly Chess Life for Kids, others listed above monthly Chess Life. See www.us chess.org for other membership categories. Dues are not refundable and may be changed without notice. Chess Life — January 2009
49
Tournament Life
Information for Players If not a member, add dues to advance entry fee or pay them with entry fee at site. U.S. Championship Qualifier. Tournament in which qualification spots for the U.S. Championship are awarded. American Classic. Generally, an event that has been held by one organizer for the last three years and has attracted more than 400 players each year. Heritage Event. Tournament held for at least 25 years. Quick Chess. Tournaments with time con trols of G/5 to G/29. There is a separate “quick” or “overall” rating system that includes these events, and games played in these tournaments will not affect a player's regular rating. Games played with a time control of G/30 through G/60 will be rated in both the quick/overall system and the regular system. USCF MEMBERSHIP IS REQUIRED FOR ALL EVENTS.
In most events, you don’t have to win the tournament to win a prize you can win a class prize as a top scorer of your rating group, or a section prize in a section restricted to your rating group. These rat ing groups are: Rating Classes
Senior Master - 2400 & up Master 2200-2399 Class C Expert 2000-2199 Class D Class A 1800-1999 Class E Class B 1600-1799 Class F
1400-1599 1200-1399 1000-1199 800-999
Class G 600-799 Class H 400-599 Class I 200-399 Class J 199/below
Some tournaments use different groups such as 1900 2099, and some have “under’’ prizes or sections including all below a specified level. You never lose your rating, no matter how long it has been since you last played. If you return after a long absence, please tell the director and USCF your approxi mate rating and last year of play. If you have a FIDE rating, or a rating or category from any other country, no mat ter how many years ago, you are not unrated. FIDE or foreign ratings may be Ratings Information
rejected or have adjustment points added. If details are not announced, players wish ing to use such ratings should contact the organizer in advance. For foreign players with multiple rat ings (USCF, FIDE, CFC, FQE, other foreign), the highest rating is used, with possible adjustment points added, unless otherwise announced. Ratings based on 4 25 games are called “provisional ratings” to indicate they are less reliable than established ratings. How ever, such ratings are valid for pairing and prize purposes at all USCF rated events, unless otherwise stated. A Director may assign an estimated rat ing to any player, and may expel an improperly rated player from an event.
TLA ads for entering options. Along with entry fee, send full name, address, USCF ID number, expiration date, and section desired (if any). Also, give your last official USCF rating from your magazine label (first 4 numbers on top row). If you are unrated, or have a rating from many years ago, be sure to indicate this. Your official USCF rating is on the top line of your mailing label: Regular, Quick, and Corre spondence. Mailed entries are usually not acknowl edged unless you enclose a self addressed postcard. If entering online, print confirma tion of entry. They are refundable if you withdraw before Round 1 is paired, unless otherwise stated. For National Events, refund requests must be submitted in writing no later than Hotel-Motel Rates 30 days after the tournament ends. Any Rates listed are often special chess requests made after this date may not be rates you must request “chess rates’’ or honored. you will be charged more. The chess rates may be unavailable if not reserved sev If You Must Withdraw If you enter by mail and cannot attend, eral weeks in advance, or if the block of chess rooms is used up. Hotel desk per or must drop out of a tournament in sonnel are often poorly informed about progress, it is important you give notice chess rates if that is the case, ask for the before pairings are started, so no one is Sales Office or contact the tournament deprived of a game. Mail entrants should send withdrawal notices at least a week organizer. beforehand phone any later than this. What to Take to a Tournament To withdraw by phone on tournament day, Along with a pen or pencil and your call the site and ask specifically for “the USCF ID card (or current Chess Life), take chess tournament.’’ E mail withdrawals a chessboard, set, and clock if you have several days in advance are acceptable if them. the TD’s e mail address is listed. Any later For prizes of $600 or more, bring your than this, both e mail your withdrawal U.S. Social Security card. If you have no and call the tournament site as the TD Social Security number, the organizer might not have access to his (her) e mail must deduct 30% from your prize for the account. If you forfeit without notice, you IRS (this includes foreigners). may be fined up to the amount of the Warning! The use of a cell phone in the entry fee. tournament room is prohibited at most tournaments. If your cell phone rings in a Tournament Directors Tournament Director Certification is an room with games in progress, you could be endorsement of professional competence penalized, or even forfeited. only. Such certification does not in itself How to Enter in Advance render any Tournament Director an agent Entering by mail or online (if available) of the USCF, nor is any Affiliate an agent is easier for both you and the tournament of the USCF. organizer and often costs less. Check the
.
Tournament Life Abbreviations & Terms All tournaments are non-smoking with no computers allowed unless otherwise advertised by S and/or C (see below for explanations). QC: Quick Chess events. $$Gtd: Guaranteed prizes. $$b/x: Based-on prizes, x = number of entries needed to pay full prize fund. At least 50% of the advertised prize fund of $501 or more must be awarded. Bye: Indicates which rounds players who find it inconvenient to play may take ½-point byes instead. For example, Bye 1-3 means ½-point byes are available in Rounds 1 through 3. C: Computers allowed. CC: Chess club. EF: Entry fee.
50
Enhanced Grand Prix points (see previous page). Ent: Where to mail entries. FIDE: Results submitted to FIDE for possible rating. G/: Game in. For instance, G/75 means each side has 75 minutes for the entire game. GPP: Grand Prix Points available. HR: Hotel rates. For example, 60-65-70-75 means $60 single, $65 twin, $70/3 in room, $75/4 in room. JGP: Junior Grand Prix Memb. req’d: Membership required; cost follows. Usually refers to state affiliate. Open: A section open to all. Often has very strong players, but some eligible for lower sections can play for the learning experience.
Chess Life — January 2009
OSA: Other states accepted. Refers to state dues. PPHBF: Professional Players Health and Benefits Fund. Quad: 4-player round robin sections; similar strength players. RBO: Rated Beginner’s Open. Rds: Rounds; scheduled game times follow. For example, 11-5, 9-3 means games begin 11 a.m. & 5 p.m. on the first day, 9 a.m. & 3 p.m. on the second day. Reg: Registration at site. RR: Round robin (preceded by number of rounds). S: Smoking allowed. SASE: For more info, send self-addressed stamped envelope.
SD/: Sudden-death time control (time for rest of game follows). For example, 30/90, SD/1 means each player must make 30 moves in 90 minutes, then complete the rest of the game in an hour. Section: A division of a tournament, usually excluding players above a specified rating. Players in a section face only each other, not those in other sections. SS: Swiss-System pairings (preceded by number of rounds). T/Dx: Time delay, x = number of seconds. Unr: Unrated. USEF: Combined entry fee & USCF dues. W: Site is accessible to wheelchairs. WEB: Tournaments that will use a player’s on-line rating.
uschess.org
Tournament Life
August 1 9 • Indianapolis, Indiana
USCF National Events
110th U. S. Open
See TLA in this issue for details: 2009 U.S. Amateur Team - South
2009 National Scholastic K-12
Feb. 13 15 or 14 15 • Orlando, Florida
Feb. 13 15 or 14 15 • Waukesha, Wisconsin
2009 U.S. Amateur Team - North
Feb. 14 16 • Woodland Hills, Califor nia
2009 U. S. Amateur Team - West
World Amateur Team & U.S. Team East - 39th Annual February 14 16 • Parsippany, New Jersey
Feb. 28 Mar. 1 • Anderson, Indiana
2009 U.S. Junior Chess Congress April 3 5 • Nashville, Tennessee
2009 SuperNationals IV
April 24 26 • Dallas, Texas
2009 All Girls Open Championships May 23 25 • Tucson, Arizona
2009 U.S. Amateur - West
June 4 • Las Vegas, Nevada
2009 U.S. Game/10 Championship June 4 7 • Las Vegas, Nevada
2009 National Open Chess Festival Future Events (Watch for details) 2009 U.S. Championship May 2009 • St. Louis, Missouri
July 6 10 • Crossville, Tennessee
2009 U.S. Cadet
July 17 19 • Waukesha, Wisconsin
December 11 13 • Dallas, Texas
2010 National Elementary (K-6) Championship May 7 9 • Atlanta, Georgia
2010 National Scholastic (K-12) Championship Dec. 10 12 • Lake Buena Vista, Florida
2011 National Elementary (K-6) Championship
May 6 8 • Dallas, Texas Noote: Organizers previously awarded options for USCF National Events must still submit proposals (including sample budgets) for their events. Bids on the following tournaments are past deadline and will be considered immediately: 2009 U.S. Amateur (South, North, East) 2009 U.S. Senior Open 2009 U.S. G/15 (QC) 2009 U.S. Action G/30 2009 U.S. G/60 2009 U.S. Masters 2009 U.S. Class Championships 2009 National Youth Action 2009 Pan Am Intercollegiate 2009 Collegiate Final Four 2010 U.S. Open*
Overdue Bids
2009 U.S. Junior Open
Bids due by June 15, 2009:
July 19 23 • Waukesha, Wisconsin
Bidding Deadlines
2009 U.S. Junior Closed
2009 GM Susan Polgar National Invitational Tournament for Girls July 26 31 • Lubbock, Texas
2009 Denker Tournament of State High School Champions
August 1 4 • Indianapolis, Indiana
2009 Tournament of College Champions
August 1 4 • Indianapolis, Indiana
2011 U.S. Open*
Please contact the National Office if you are interested in bidding for a National Event. The USCF recommends that bids be submitted according to the following schedule. However, bids may be considered prior to these dates. *USCF reserves the right to decline all bids and organize the event itself.
Tournament memberships not valid for National events Junior Tournament Memberships (JTMs) Available
USCF’s Tournament Membership (TM) program, which allows players the option of joining for only one event at a greatly reduced rate, has been modified. Junior TMs for age 24 or below may be purchased from affiliates and are now available to them for $7 online with rating report submis sions. They include one issue of Chess Life or Chess Life for Kids, and $5 of this fee may be applied to a full membership within 60 days. JTMs not valid for National events. Many scholastic tournaments exist that are not USCF rated, and the USCF is concerned that the reason is that organizers fear losing players unwilling or unable to pay entry fee plus dues. The availability of a $7 option should cause some of these events to switch to being USCF rated, pro moting membership. The idea behind the TMs is not to sign up a lot of them, but rather to cause more USCF rated tournaments to be held. More details on uschess.org. Rating supplements will be updated EACH MONTH on the USCF website, and each monthly rating supplement will be used for all tournaments beginning in that month, unless otherwise announced in Chess Life. The USCF website at www.uschess.org also frequently lists unofficial ratings.The purpose of unofficial ratings is to inform you of your progress; however, most tourna- ments do not use them for pairing or prize purposes. If you would otherwise be unrated, organizers may use your unofficial rating at their discretion, even without advance publicity of such a policy. uschess.org
The TLA pages “Information for Organizers, TDs, and Affiliates” and “Information for Players” can now be found online at main.uschess. org/ go/tlainfo.
ATTENTION AFFILIATES The United States Chess Federation has partnered with R.V. Nuccio & Associates Insurance Brokers, Inc. to provide USCF affiliates with affordable annual liability and short term event insurance. The liability coverage is available for approximately $265 per year for a $1,000,000 limit of insurance. Also available is contents property and bonding insurance. For more information, please go to www.rvnuccio.com/chessfedera tion.html. For event insurance, please go to www.rvnuccio.com.
TheTournament Announcements on the following pages are provided for the convenience of USCF members and for informational purposes only. Unless expressly indicated otherwise, neither the U.S. Chess Federation nor Chess Life warrants the accuracy of anything contained in these Tournament Announcements. Those interested in additional information about or having questions concerning any of these tournaments are directed to contact the organizer listed. Chess Life will exercise all due diligence in providing accurate typesetting of non-camera-ready copy but assumes no responsibility for errors made in such work. SUBMISSIONS: If possible e-mail your tla to:
[email protected] (Joan DuBois). For tla deadline schedule, formatting help and Grand Prix information see October 2008 pg. 52-53 or check www.uschess.org/tla/grprixstdarc.php and click on a WCL GP Summary. Payment can be done online through the TD/Affiliate area or sent to: U.S. Chess, TLA Dept., PO Box 3967, Crossville, TN 38557.
Nationals
All tournaments listed in Tournament Life are USCF rated. USCF MEMBERSHIP IS REQUIRED FOR ALL EVENTS. If not a member, add dues to advance entry fee or pay them with entry at site. Feb. 13-15 or 14-15, Florida 2009 U.S. Amateur Team - South 5SS, G/120 (2-day option, rd 1 G/60). Orlando International Airport Hotel & Conference Center, 3835 McCoy Road, Orlando, FL 32812. 4-player teams (plus alternate). 2 Sections (using Yr-end ratings): OPEN, Team Avg rtng below 2200. SCHOLASTIC, Game/60, Team avg below 1200. 2008 Annual USCF List. Players need not be from the same school. Teams can be formed on-site. ***FCA members in Open are eligible for FL GP Points. *** Winning Open team competes in national playoff online. EF: per player: OPEN $30 by 2/6, $40 later. SCHOLASTIC $20 by 2/6, $25 later. SPECIAL EF: 5-player team $140 by 2/6, $180 later. PRIZES: OPEN 1st,2nd teams: plaque and four Excalibur “specials”, 3rd: plaques; SCHOLASTIC 1st, 2nd teams: plaques and four Excalibur “specials”, 3rdTrophy Board Prizes: each section: Brds1-4, Excalibur “specials”; Class Prizes: OPEN: U2000, U1800, U1600, U1400; Scholastic: U1000, U800Trophies. Other awardsTBD. Schedule: OPEN 3-day: rds 8, 1-7, 9-3, 2-day: rds 10-1-7, 9-3; SCHOLASTIC (Sat & Sun): 101-4, 9-12, Awards 2:30. HR: $85 (Interior) 407-859-2711; $69 (exterior) 407-367-4225; (mention “Chess”) Reserve by Jan 30, ALL HOTELS FILL UP USATS WEEKEND! ENT: CFCC, 921 N. Thistle Ln., Maitland, FL 32751 or online usats2009.eventbrite.com. See www.centralflchess.org for details or call (407)629-6946. WCL JGP (Open Section). 2009 USAT Playoff is scheduled for March 21, 2009 on ICC. More details will be posted soon.
Feb. 13-15 or 14-15, Wisconsin 2009 U.S. Amateur Team Championship – North Two sections: Open and Scholastic (Saturday only) 5SS, 30/90, SD/60 (rounds 1-2 for 2-day schedule G/60; scholastic section G/60 all four rounds). Milwaukee Marriott West, W231N1600 Corporate CT, Waukesha, WI 53186. Chess Rate of $85.99 is valid until Feb. 1st. Reserve early (262) 574-0888. OPEN: Open to 4 player teams with one optional alternate (individuals can enter and be assigned teammates). Team average (4 highest ratings—2008 Annual Rating list) must be under 2200. EF: $140 ($141 if 2-day schedule) postmarked by 2/5/09; $180 after or at door. Prizes: 4 clocks to top two teams, 4 clocks to top teams with average rating u1900, u1600, and u1300. Prizes to best team composed of juniors (high school and younger). Special prizes to top score on each board. Best game prize. Schedule: 3-day: Late Registration: 6-7pm on 02/13. Rounds: 7:30pm; 10:00am-4:00pm; 10:00am-4:00pm. 2-day: Late Registration: 9-10:30am on 02/14. Rounds: 11:00am-1:30pm-4:00pm; 10:00am-
Chess Life — January 2009
51
SEE PREVIOUS ISSUE FOR TLAS APPEARING JANUARY 1-14
Tournament Life 4:00pm. Saturday Night Special: dessert + blitz tournament with $$ prizes. SCHOLASTIC: Open to 4 player team with one optional alternate (all players must be High School age or younger; individuals can enter and be assigned teammates). Team average (4 highest ratings—2008 Annual Rating list) must be under 1200. EF: $120 postmarked by 2/5/09; $150 after or at door. Prizes: Prizes to top team overall, top three High SchoolTeams, top three Middle School Teams, top three Elementary SchoolTeams. Special prizes to top score on each board. Schedule: Late Registration: 8:30-9:30am on 02/14. Rounds: 10:15am1:00pm-3:30pm-6pm. Saturday Night Special: dessert + blitz tournament with $$ prizes. Information/Help with Teams:
[email protected], 414-2341005 or
[email protected]. Make Checks Payable to and Send Entries to: VICA, 6822 North Crestwood Dr, Glendale, WI 53209. Please include captain’s email and phone number. WCL JGP (Open Section). 2009 USAT Playoff is scheduled for March 21, 2009 on ICC. More details will be posted soon.
A Heritage Event! Feb. 14-16, California Southern 26th Annual 2009 U.S. Amateur Team - West 6-SS, 40/2, SD/1. Warner Center Marriott, 21850 Oxnard Street, Woodland Hills, CA 91367. Four-player teams plus optional alternate, average rating of four highest must be U/2200, diff. between bds. 3 & 4 may not exceed 1000. Dec. list used. EF: $118 per team if received by 2-13, $30 individual (on line only), $136 at site, under age 18 $86 by 2-13, $100 site. EF: $118 per team if received by 2-15, $30 individual (on line only), $136 at site, under age 18 $86 by 2-15, $100 site. Trophies and 4 clocks to top 3 teams, U2100, U2000, U1800, U1600, U1400/unr. Trophies (1 large, 4 small) to top college, industrial, junior (under 18), Senior (over 55), U1200. Clocks to best score each board, alternate, and any 6-0. Gift certificate prizes for best team names (1st/2nd). Reg.: 8:30-10 a.m. 2-14. Rds.: 11-6, 11-6, 10-4:30. On-line entry, help in forming teams, advance entry list: www.westernchess.com. HR: $119, 800-228-9290, ask for Western Chess. Reserve by Jan. 23 or rates may go up. Parking $6. Ent: SCCF, c/o John Hillery, 835 N Wilton Place #1A, Los Angeles, CA 90038. NS, NC, W. F. WCL JGP. 2009 U.S. Amateur Team Playoff will be held March 21, 2009 on ICC. More details will be posted soon.
A Heritage Event! Feb. 14-16, New Jersey World Amateur Team & U.S. Team East 39th Annual – Celebrate the 60’s! 6SS, 40/2, SD/1. Parsippany Hilton, 1 Hilton Ct., Parsippany,N.J. 07054. Chess Rate valid until 1/16. Reserve early 973-267-7373 or 1- 800-HILTONS. Morris/Essex train to Morris Plains 1.5 miles. Open to 4- player teams with one optional alternate.Team average (4 highest ratings—2008 Annual Rating list) must be under 2200, no more than 1000 points between 3rd & 4th board if team average over 2000. EF: $140 postmarked by 2/5/09. $180 after or at door. — all teams, any changes at site $25 charge. Check out official website www.njscf.org. Prizes: 1-5th Place teams, plaque and 4 digital clocks;TopTeam (Denis Barry Award) U2100, 2000, 1900, 1800, 1700, 1600, 1500, 1400, 1300, 1200, 1000 each plaque and 4 Digital Clocks; Top college team (same school) 4 Digital Clocks & plaque; Top HS team (grades 9-12 same school), Top Middle School (grades 5-9 same school), Top Elementary School (grades K-6 same school), Top 2 Scholastic Teams (mixed schools okay) (Collins Award), Mixed Doubles (2 males, 2 females-no alternates), Seniors (all players over age 50), Military, each plaque & 4 Digital Clocks to top team; CompanyTeam (same employer) Old Timers Trophy (all players over 65), Family (4 family members), State teams—CT, DE, MD, MA, NJ, NY, (Benjamin Award), PA, VA, NC, Canada, Ethel Collins Perseverance (lowest scoring scholastic) each plaque top team; Best Player 1-4 and top alternate, All 60 scores each Digital clock. Biggest Individual upset each round Engraved Cross pen; Entry fee refunded to team with Best “Chess related” name, Sunday night— Best “Chess Related costumes or gimmick—1960’s theme”—gourmet dinner for four. Reg. 9-12 Sat 2/14. Rds. 1-7:30, 11-6, 9-3:30. Special Events!! Surprises and special give-aways each round. Sunday night— Bughouse $20 per team-cash prizes, Sunday Morning— 960 Tournament 8AM-Two Person team event $20 per team—prizes per entries. HR: Parsippany Hilton, chess rates expire 1/16/2009. Rates $117 (up to 4 in room) 2nd hotel now attached to Hilton also up to 4 in room $112 per night-Hampton Inn— -includes breakfast for 4 each day. For help forming teams and more information contact
[email protected]: Chks payable to NJSCF, mail by 2/01 to: E.Steven
Doyle, 17 Stonehenge Road, Morristown, NJ 07960. (Include Team name, Captain, players full names, USCF Expiration, ID numbers and ratings in board order). Include SASE for confirmation if wanted, No registered or certified mail accepted. NS, NC, W. WCL JGP. 2009 USAT Playoff will be held March 21, 2009 on ICC. More details will be posted soon.
Feb. 28-Mar. 1, Indiana 2009 U.S. Jr. Chess Congress 6SS, Rds. 1-4 G/60, Rds. 5-6 G/90. East Side Middle School 2300 Lindberg Rd. Anderson, Indiana 46012. 6 Sections based on age! 18 & Under, 16 & Under, 14 & Under, 12 & Under, 10 & Under, 8 & Under. CLUBETEAMS are welcome! Club and school teams are the top 3 scoring team members (minimum 2). Schedule: Opening Ceremony Sat. 2/28 at 8:30 am, Rds 1-4 at 9am, 11:30am, 2pm, 4:30pm. Sun 3/1 Rds. at 9am, 12:30pm. Awards at 4pm. Entry Fee: $40 by 2/16/09, $55 by 2/23/09, $75 after and onsite. Register: Make checks payable to East Side Middle School Chess Club and mail to: c/o 2009 Chess Congress, East Side Middle School, 2300 Lindberg Rd., Anderson, IN. 46012. Email entries to
[email protected]. EMAIL ENTRIES are NOT confirmed until receipt of entry fees. Entries will be posted at www.2009ChessCongress.com as they are received. Onsite entries will be accepted from 6:30am to 8:00am on Sat. morning. Any player not registered by 8am will receive a half-point bye for round one and begin play in round two. Side event: Bughouse tournament Sat. evening 2/28 at 7:00 pm. Register for bughouse onsite ONLY for $10 per player between 10am and 6pm on 2/28. Bughouse awards to each team member of at least the top 5 scoring teams in 2 sections, 12th grade & Under and 6th grade & Under. Awards: More trophies this year!Trophies to at least the top 20 individuals in each section, top 5 teams. Numerous additional class prizes for each section. See website for details. Hotel: Several close to school, Holiday Inn (765) 644-2581, Comfort Inn (765) 6493000, Hampton Inn (765) 622-0700. Additional Info: Limited team rooms available, contact number below for details. Concessions and chess merchandise will be available onsite. All event details at www.2009ChessCongress.com. Questions, call (765) 617-3845 after 3pm. WCL JGP.
Apr. 3-5, Tennessee SuperNationals IV 2009 Elementary, Junior High and High School National Championships in one great event! 7SS, G/120 (K-1 G/90), Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, 2802 Opryland Dr., Nashville, TN 37214. (615) 883-2211 HR: $139 single-quad. All under one roof! $50,000 in Cash Scholarships!! 20 Sections (Select only one): High School: K-12 Championship; K-12 U1600; K-12 U1200; K-12 U800; K-12 Unrated. Junior High: K-9 Championship; K-8 Championship; K-9 U1250; K-8 U1000; K-8 U750; K-9 Unrated. Elementary: K-6 Championship; K-5 Championship; K-6 U1000; K-5 U900; K-3 Championship; K-3 U800; K-1 Championship; K-6 Unrated; K-3 Unrated. EF: $40 postmarked, faxed or online by 3/5, $60 postmarked, faxed or online by 3/19, $75 after 3/19, $80 on site. DO NOT mail entries after March 19 – they may not be received in time. $5 extra for all phoned registrations. $20 change fee for roster or section changes after March 19. USCF membership is required (may be paid with entry). AWARDS: Trophies awarded in accordance with Scholastic Regulations and based on number of participants. Team score = total of top four (min. two) finishers from each section. March 2009 rating supplement will be used. BYES: One 1/2 –pt. bye available in rounds 1-6 if requested prior to 10am, Fri (4/3). On site entries after 10am, Fri 4/3 will receive a 1/2-point bye for the first round. SCHEDULE: Rounds 1-2: Friday (4/3) 1:00pm & 7:00pm, Rounds 3-5: Saturday (4/4) 9:00am, 2:00pm, & 7:00pm, Rounds 6-7 (4/5) 9:00am, & 2:00pm. Main Event Awards Ceremonies, Sunday (4/5); K-1 at approximately 5pm, all others approximately 7pm. SIDE EVENTS: Bughouse Championships:Thursday, 4/2, 11:00am, Register ON SITE ONLY by 10:00am. EF: $20 per team/2. Blitz Championship:Thursday, 4/2, 5:00pm. EF $15 postmarked, faxed or online by 3/19, $20 after 3/19 or on site. On site registration ends at 4pm. Please refer to the website: www.SuperNationalsIV.com for updated schedule details, Simuls, lectures, and other activities. Advance entries must include player’s name/information and all fees to be accepted. Roster changes are considered new entries and will be charged according to date received. List name, address, phone, section, grade, school (even if no team), coach’s name, email, birthdate, USCF ID number, USCF expiration (enclose USCF dues if necessary) and rating. Players must be eligible to play in accordance with USCF Scholastic Regulations. Entries may be faxed to: 931787-1238. Mail Entries To: 2009 SuperNationals IV, P. O. Box 3967, Crossville, TN 38557. Enter online at: www.uschess.org. WCL JGP.
NO TOURNAMENTS IN YOUR AREA? WHY NOT ORGANIZE ONE? Do you need to go out of town for tournament play? Would you and others in your area like the convenience of an occasional event closer to home? Organize one! It’s not much work to hold a small tournament, and there is little risk if you use a lowcost site and avoid guaranteed prizes. You might even make a profit! Either a based-on Swiss with projected prizes up to $500, a Quad format, or a trophy tournament will virtually guarantee taking in more in fees than you pay out in prizes. The affiliation fee is just $40 a year. You will receive the annual rating supplement and have access to the TD/Affiliate area of our website. Remember, you can both run and play in a small event. Many of them wouldn’t be held if the organizer/TD couldn’t play. WANT TO KNOW MORE? Contact Joan DuBois at
[email protected]. We’ll be glad to help you be part of the promotion of American chess!
52
Chess Life — January 2009
April 24-26, Texas Kasparov Chess Foundation in Association with UTD, DCC and USCF, Presents All Girls Open National Championships 6SS G/60, Hyatt Regency Dallas, 300 Reunion Blvd., Dallas, TX 75207; Phone: (800) 233-1234 or 214-651-1234 Mention All Girls National Chess Tournament for special Hotel rate: $109 Reserve By 4/1. 6 sections: 8 years old and younger; 10 years old and younger; 12 years old and younger; 14 years old and younger; 16 years old and younger; 18 years old and younger. Age as of 4/1/2009. USCF rated. USCF membership is required. Winner of 18 years old and younger Section wins an Academic Distinction Scholarship to The University ofTexas at Dallas, worth up to $80,000 for an out-of-state student. EF: $45 if postmarked by 3/25. $70 at site. Do not mail after 4/16 as your entry may not be received. Trophies to top 15 ind. & top 3 teams (top three players added for team scores) Sat., April 25: Opening Ceremony: 9 AM, Rounds: 1 - 4; 9:30-11:30 AM; 12:00-2:00 PM; 3:00-5:00 PM; 5:30-7:30 PM. Sun., April 26: Rounds 5 - 6; 9:00-11:00 AM; 11:30 AM-1:30 PM Sun., April 26: Awards Ceremony: 2:30 PM One 1/2 pt bye available, any round, if requested before end of rd. 2 and if player has not received a full point bye. Entries to: Dallas Chess Club, c/o Barbara Swafford, 2709 LonghornTrail, Crowley,TX 76036. Entry must include Name, USCF ID (or new/pending), date of birth, grade & school and school location. Email:
[email protected], 214-632-9000. Side events: Blitz tournament G/5 Friday April 24 3 pm, EF: $15 by 3-25, $25 on site. Simultaneous exhibition by Anna Zatonskih Fri., April 24 at 7:00 P.M. Bughouse Tournament Fri April 24 5 pm. EF: $25/team. NS, NC, W.
May 23-25, Arizona 2009 U.S. Amateur - West Championship Holiday Inn Palo Verde, 4550 S Palo Verde Rd.,Tucson, AZ 85714, 520-746-1161. SECTIONS: Championship (U2200), Reserve (U1600), Booster (U1200) & Scholastic (must be K-8 and U1000). Scholastic section is 3 separate 1-day tournaments. SCHEDULE: (Championship, Reserve, and Booster) 6/SS, 40/2, 25/1. Reg: By mail or 5/23, 8:30 - 9:30 AM. Rds: 10-4, 10-4, 9-3. (Scholastic) 4/SS, G/40. Reg: By mail or 8:30 - 9:30 AM each day. Rds: Round 1 at 10 AM then as available for Rounds 2-4. PRIZES: (Championship) Chronos clock + plaque to Top 3; Digital clock + plaque to Top 1900-1999, 1800-1899, 17001799, 1600-1699, and U1600; Plaque to top Senior 50+, Junior U19 and Junior U13. (Reserve) Chronos clock + plaque to 1st; Digital clock + plaque to 2nd, 3rd, Top 1300-1399, 1200-1299, and U1200; Plaque to top Senior 50+ and Junior U13. (Booster) Chronos clock + trophy to 1st; Trophy to 2nd - 5th, Top Unrated and Junior U10. (Scholastic, each day) Digital clock + trophy to 1st; Trophy to 2nd - 5th, Top U800, U600, and Unrated. 1-yr USCF membership for perfect scores that don’t win the clock. SPECIAL PRIZES:Top 2 Family Pairs in the non-scholastic sections. Biggest Upset of each round in the non-Scholastic sections. Chronos clock to Scholastic player with the highest combined score over the three 1-day tournaments. EF: (Championship & Reserve) $55 if by 5/20, $65 if after 5/20. (Booster) $40 if by 5/20, $50 if after 5/20. (Scholastic) $15 for each tournament or $40 for all three days if by 5/20, additional $5 if after 5/20. ALL: Half-point byes allowed for all rounds but must be requested prior to start of Round 2. HR: (if by 5/8): $64 (single) or $72 (suite), mention “SACA”. ENT: Make checks payable to SACA, entry form available at www.sazchess.org. Info: Karen Pennock, 520-975-3946, e-mail:
[email protected], web: www.sazchess.org. NC. NS. W. WCL JGP.
June 4, Nevada World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 50 2009 U.S. Game/10 Championship (QC) 6SS, G/10. South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89183. $$b/100 7,000 ($$Gtd 4,500). 2000-1000-700, U2300 600, U2100 550, U1900 500, U1700 450, U1500 400, U1300 350, U1100 300, unrated 150. EF: $79 by 5/19, $89 by 6/3, $100 on site. Late Registration 4-6:30 p.m. Rds: 7-7:30-8-8:30-9-9:30. Higher of regular or quick rating used. Bring clocks. 1/2 point bye available in any round (limit 4), must be requested with entry. HR: $75 single or double ($95 Friday and Saturday nights). 1-866-791-7626 or (702) 796-7111. ENT: Las Vegas International Chess Festival, PO Box 90925, Henderson, NV 89009-0925 or www.VegasChessFestival.com. NS NC W.
A Heritage Event! An American Classic! June 5-7 or 6-7, Nevada World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 200 (enhanced) 2009 National Open 6-SS, 40/2, SD/1 (2 day option rds 1-3 G/60). South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89183. $100,000 Prize Fund based on 850 paid entries ($70,000 guaranteed). Championship. $$: 80004000-2000-1000-600-400-400-400-400-400-200-200-200-200-200, under 2500 2000, under 2400 1600, under 2300 1200, Unrated 600-400-200. $2,000 EXTRA for perfect score.The winner of the Championship section also receives a replica of the Edmondson Cup. Under 2200. $$: 5000-2500-1300-600-350-250-250250-250-250-100-100-100-100-100. Under 2000. $$: 5000-2500-1300-600-350250-250-250-250-250-100-100-100-100-100. Under 1800. $$: 5000-25001300-600-350-250-250-250-250-250-100-100-100-100-100. Under 1600. $$: 5000-2500-1300-600-350-250-250-250-250-250-100-100- 100-100-100. Under 1400. $$: 2500-1500-1000-500-250-150-150-150-150-150-100-100-100-100100. Under 1200. $$: 1500-1000-500-250-150-100- 100-100-100-100-100100-100-100-100. Plus score bonus ($16,000) in addition to any other prizes, every player who finishes with 3-1/2 points or better wins a $50 gift certificate. Plus score certificates will be given on site only. EF: $159 by 1/19, $179 by 5/19, $199 by 6/3, $220 on site. $41 less for unrated players, $99 more for players rated under 2100 in the Championship Section. This is an open tournament - you may play in any section at or above your rating level; unrated players may play only in Championship Section. CCA minimum ratings or other ratings may be used if higher than USCF June Supplement. Reg: 4-11 p.m.Thursday, 8-9:30 a.m. Friday. Rds: 11-6, 11-6, 10-5. 2-day schedule: Reg: 8-9 a.m. Saturday. Rds: 10-12:30-3-6: merge with 3-day in round 4. Half point byes available in any round, but round 5 or 6 byes must be requested before the start of round 2. Chess sets and boards provided for tournament play only, not for skittles. Please bring chess clocks! The LAS VEGAS INTERNATIONAL CHESS FESTIVAL features the National Open, the U.S Game/10 Championship and the Susan Polgar World Chess Championship for Girls and Boys. Many free extras and surprises! Free parking. Free raffle with great prizes. Free lectures by GM Susan Polgar and others. Free analysis of your games by GM Arthur Bisguier. Susan Polgar International Chess Camp all dayThursday. Grandmaster
uschess.org
World Amateur Team A N D
th
39 Annual U.S. Amateur Team East F EBRU ARY 14 -16, 20 09
PARSIPPANY HILTON
Co me ce le br at e th e ‘60 s wi th th e mo st en th us ia st ic pl ay er s in th e wo rl d! m Name awards, Best Team Costume and Best Tea ays each round, make along with surprises and give-aw ʼt want to miss. this a three day experience you won and prizes. See our TLA for complete details ur. Clock awards supplied by Excalib d to bring Boards are supplied, but youʼll nee nds! a set and a clock—and THREE frie
PARSIPPANY, NEW JERSEY Need help in forming a team? Want to be on a team? Contact Steve Doyle at
[email protected].
Your hosts are the USCF and the New Jersey State Chess Federation.
SEE PREVIOUS ISSUE FOR TLAS APPEARING JANUARY 1-14
Tournament Life SimulThursday afternoon. US. Game/10Thursday night. Scholastic Tournament Friday. LOW room rates! HR: $75 single or double ($95 Friday and Saturday nights). 1-866-791-7626 or (702) 796-7111. Don’t be shut out; make your reservations early and be sure to ask for the chess rates; South Point sells out most weekends. Cutoff for special hotel rate is May 19th. Rates may be as high as $150 a night after May 19th. RESERVE NOW! Credit card or one night room deposit will be required to hold reservation, may be canceled 72 hours in advance for nominal fee. Tournament Registration: National Open, PO Box 90925, Henderson, NV 89009-0125, on line at www.VegasChessFestival.com or by fax at (702) 933-9112. NS. W. FIDE. WCL JGP.
Grand Prix Jan. 16-19, 17-19 or 17-18, California Southern World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 80 (enhanced) 16th annual Western Class Championships 7SS, 40/2, SD/1 (3-day option, rds. 1-2 G/75; Class E & U1000 play 1/17-18 only, G/65). Renaissance Agoura Hills Hotel, 30100 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills CA 91301 (US-101 to Reyes Adobe Road exit). Adjacent to the Santa Monica Mountains, 26 miles west of Burbank, 12 miles from Malibu, 28 miles from Ventura. Free parking. $$20,000 based on 230 paid entries (re-entries, E, U1000 count as half entries), minimum $16,000 (80% each prize) guaranteed. In 8 sections. Master (over 2199): $1600-900-500-300, clear or tiebreak winner $100, top U2300 $800-400. FIDE. Expert (2000-2199): $1400-700-400-200. Class A (1800-1999): $1400-700-400-200. Class B (1600-1799): $1400-700-400-200. Class C (1400-1599): $1300-700-400-200. Class D (1200-1399): $1200-600300-200. Class E (1000-1199): $600-300-200-100. Under 1000: $600-300200-100. Rated players may play up one section. Unrated must play in A or below with maximum prize A $600, B $500, C $400, D $300, E $200, U1000 $100; balance goes to next player(s) in line. Top 6 sections EF: 4-day $114, 3-day $113 mailed by 1/9, all $115 online at chesstour.com by 1/13, $120 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 1/13 (entry only, no questions), $130 at site. Class E, Under 1000 Sections EF: $52 mailed by 1/9, $55 online at chesstour.com by 1/13 (entry only, no questions), $60 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 1/13, $70 at site. All: FREETO UNRATED. Unofficial uschess.org ratings based on 4 or more games usually used if otherwise unrated. Special 1 yr USCF dues with Chess Life if paid with entry: online at chesstour.com $30, mailed, phoned or paid at site $40. Re-entry (except Master) $60. SCCF memb. ($18, jr $10) required for rated Southern CA residents. 4-day schedule: Reg. Fri to 6:30 pm, rds Fri 7, Sat 11-6, Sun 11-6, Mon 10-4:30. 3-day schedule: Reg. Sat to 10 am, rds Sat 11-2:30-6, Sun 11-6, Mon 10-4:30. Class E & U1000 schedule: Reg Sat to 9:30 am, rds Sat 10-1-4-7, Sun 9-12-3. All schedules: Byes OK all, limit 3, must commit before rd 3 and have under 2 pts. HR: $87-87, 818-707-1220, reserve by Jan 2 or rate may increase. Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633. Questions: chesstour.com, 845-496-9658. Ent: Continental Chess, c/o Goichberg, Box 661776, Arcadia CA 91066. $15 service charge for withdrawals. Advance entries posted at chesstour.com. WCL JGP.
Jan. 16-18, Texas World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 50 (enhanced) JG’s Old-Fashioned Hamburgers Texas Masters 5SS, G/90 with 30 sec increment, Student Union Galaxy Rooms at The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Rd, Richardson TX 75080. Open to 1.) players rated 2200 and above or who have been rated 2200 on any crosstable on MSA or 2.) any Fide rated/titled player and 3.) a maximum of 6 who do not meet previous requirements and who sign up online. FIDE rated. Please do not mail entries after January 4. You may register on active.com until Jan 10th. EF: USCF +2400 $50, USCF 2200-2400 or fide rated $90, U2200 $175 (limited to only six who register on active.com. 1st come 1st serve). Fide GMs Free. Online Registration (note that Active.com charges small fee.): www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1646856. TCA Memb. req’d: Regular $11, Jr/Student $8.50, No Magazine $5, Family $16. OSA. USCF Membership Required. $$b/20: 75% Guaranteed. $1500-750-250. U2400 $500. Reg.: 1/16: 6:00-7:00 pm. Rds.: 7:20 pm, 12:30 pm - 5:15 pm, 9:10 am - 2:45 pm. 1 bye if requested before end of round 2. Park on metered parking by Student Union or by UTD bookstore. Or get visitors pass at guard shack on University Drive and park on visitor’s parking. ENT: Dallas Chess Club, C/O Barbara Swafford, 2709 Longhorn Trail, Crowley, TX 76036. 214.632.9000. INFO: Barb Swafford,
[email protected] www.swchess.com. NS NC W FIDE. WCL JGP.
A Heritage Event! Jan. 16-19, 17-19 or 18-19, Pennsylvania World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 80 (enhanced) 41st annual Liberty Bell Open 7SS, 40/2, SD/1 (3 day option, rds 1-2 G/75; 2 day, rds 1-4 G/40). U900 Section plays 1/18-19 only, G/40. Sheraton City Center Hotel, 17th & Race Sts., Philadelphia 19103. $$20,000 b/320 paid entries (U900 Section counts 1/3, GMs ½), else in proportion, except minimum 60% of each prize guaranteed. In 2006 to 2008, the tournament had over 320 paid entries each year and the $20,000 projected prize fund was increased. In 8 sections. Open: $2000-1000-500-300200, 1st clear or on tiebreak $100 bonus, 2300-2399 $800-400, U2300/Unr $800-400. FIDE. Under 2100: $1000-600-400-300-200. Under 1900: $1000600-400-300-200. Under 1700: $1000-600-400-300-200. Under 1500: $1000-600-400-300-200. Under 1300: $700-400-250-150-100. Under 1100: $700-400-250-150-100. Under 900: $150-100-50, trophies to top 8. Unrated may enter any section, but may not win over $50 in U900, $100 in U1100, $200 U1300, $300 U1500, $400 U1700, or $500 U1900. Top 5 sections EF: 4 day $99, 3 day $98, 2 day $97 mailed by 1/8, all $100 online at chesstour.com by
For details on
2009 U.S. AMATEUR TEAM EVENTS East, North, South, West See Nationals Section! 54
Chess Life — January 2009
1/13, $105 phoned by 1/13 (406-896-2038, entry only, no questions), $120 (no checks, credit cards OK) at site. GMs free, $80 deducted from prize. U1300, U1100 Sections EF: All $20 less to rated players. U900 Section EF: $27 mailed by 1/8, $28 online by 1/13, $30 phoned by 1/13, $40 at site. All: FREE TO UNRATED. Unofficial uschess.org ratings based on 4 or more games usually used if otherwise unrated. Special 1 yr USCF dues with Chess Life if paid with entry: online at chesstour.com $30; mailed, phoned or paid at site $40. Mailed entry $3 less to PSCF members. Re entry (except Open Section) $80. 4-day schedule: Reg ends Fri 6 pm, rds 7 pm, 11-6, 11-6, 10-4:30. 3-day schedule: Reg ends Sat 10 am, rds.11-2:30-6, 11-6, 10-4:30. 2-day schedule: Reg ends Sun 9 am, rds 10-12-2-4-6, 10-4:30. Under 900 schedule: Reg. ends Sun. 9 am, rds 10-12-2-4, 10-12-2. Bye: all, limit 3, must commit before rd 3 and have under 2 pts. HR: $93-93-93-93, 215-448-2000, reserve by Jan 2 or rate may increase. Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633 or reserve through chesstour.com. Ent: Continental Chess, Box 249, Salisbury Mills NY 12577. Questions: 845-496-9658, www.chesstour.com. $15 service charge for refunds. Advance entries will be posted at chesstour.com. WCL JGP.
A State Championship Event! Jan. 17-18, Michigan World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 6 Michigan Master/Expert & Class Championships Radisson Hotel Lansing, 111 N. Grand Ave. From East: I-496 to Grand Ave (Exit 7A), Right on Grand Ave. From West: I-496 to Pine/Walnut Streets (Exit 6), Left on Grand Ave. HR: $92+tax by 1/5/09, (517) 482-0188. $$ 2555 Guaranteed: M/X: $280-$180, X $210, U2100 $110. Class A: $175-$115, U1900 $95. Class B: $175-$115, U1700 $95. Class C: $175-$115, U1500 $95. Class D: $145-$95, U1300 $70. Class E (U1200): $145-$95, U1100 $70. Novice (U1000/Unr):Trophy 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, Top U900, Top U800, Top U700, 1st & 2nd Unr. State Title toTop MI finisher(s).Trophies for all place-winners.The most recent USCF rating supplement will be used for determining ratings. Players must play in the class in which their rating indicates. Unrated players must play in Novice section. Players may request to play up in class (or unrated players may request being seeded into a class) if their recent tournament history shows achievement into that class. The TD must approve all requests. One half-point bye allowed in rounds 1-4. USCF and MCA memb required, OSA. EF: M/X, A, B, C $40 (U18 $10 off) by 1/16; D, E $30 (U18 $10 off) by 1/16, Novice $20 (U18 $5 off) by 1/16. All $10 more on-site. Free entry to GM, IM, FM, & 2200+, advanced EF deducted from prize. E-mail entries OK, must pay during reg. Reg.: Sat 8-9am; 5-SS Rds.: Sat 10-2:30-7, Sun 10-3:30; TL: Sat G/120, Sun G/150. Ent: Jeff Aldrich, 7453 Whippoorwill Ln, Davison, MI 48423, 810-955-7271,
[email protected]. WCL JGP.
Jan. 17-18, Tennessee World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 10 Tennessee Class Championships $3,000 Prize Fund (Guaranteed) 5SS, G/2 hours, Measurement Inc., 3800 Ezell Rd., Nashville, TN 37211. EF: Expert, Class A, B, C, D, E $45 if mailed by 1/12, $55 at site. Class F, G, and UNR $20 by 1/12, $30 at site. IMs and GMs free entry ($45 deducted from winnings of $200 or more). 9 Sections: (Must play in your section) Open (expert and above) $350-$175-$150 U2200 $125$100, Class A, B $225-$150-$100, Class C, D $200-$125-$75, Class E $175-$100-$75, Class F, G/below, and Unr. Plaques to top 3. All, onlyTennessee residents eligible for plaques. January Supp Used. USCF andTCA memb. req’d. ($15), Reg.: 7:30-8:30 am CDT 8/30. Rds.: Sat. 9:00 am-1:30 pm-6:00 pm, Sun. 9:00 am-1:30 pm. Byes: 1/2-point bye available for any one round if requested at or before registration. Flyer available atTNCHESS.ORG. Info (questions only): (615) 399-8432 or
[email protected]. Ent: Chris Prosser, 733 Long Hunter Ct., Nashville, TN 37217. NS. NC. W. WCL JGP.
Jan. 18, New York World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 10 (enhanced) Binghamton Monthly Tourney 4 Round SS, Time control G/60. Reg. 8:45 AM to 9:30 AM. ENTRY: $30/ $35 at site.Cash only at site. (checks payable to Cordisco’s Corner Store). ROUNDS: 9:45-12:30-3:00-5:30. Prizes: 1st $200 - 2nd $100 - 3rd $50. Guaranteed! Limited to first 24 entries. Please bring clocks. Cordisco’s Chess Center 308 Chenango St., Binghamton, NY 13901 (607) 772-8782
[email protected].
Jan. 20, New York World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 15 (enhanced) St. John’s Masters at the Marshall Chess Club 4SS, G/30.ThirdTues. of every month. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. Open to players rated over 2100 (plus all players scoring 2.5 or more at any CCNY at MCCThursday 4 Rated GamesTonight! since the prior month’s SJM) EF: $40, members $30, GMs $10 (returned on completion of tournament). For each event, money added to prize fund by the sponsors, St. John’s University, and other generous patrons.Top three prizes guaranteed. $$G 300-200-100.Top U2400 and Top U2300 prizes. Special prize for biggest upset. Reg.: 6:15-6:45. Rds.: 7-8:159:30-10:45pm. One bye available, rds 1 and 4 only; declare at registration.
A Heritage Event! A State Championship Event! Jan. 23-25 or 24-25, Arizona World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 40 (enhanced) Tucson Open and Scholastics (Arizona State Championship). Holiday Inn Palo Verde, 4550 S. Palo Verde Rd., Tucson, AZ 85714, 520-746-1161. SECTIONS: Open, Reserve (U1800), Booster (U1400) & Scholastics (K-8/U1000). Scholastic section is 2 separate 1-day tournaments. Open, Reserve, & Booster Schedule: (3-day) 5/SS, 40/2, SD/1; Reg: 1/23 5:30-6:30 PM; Rds: 7, 10-5, 9-4. (2-day) 5/SS, Rds: 1-2 G/90; Rds. 3-5 40/2, SD/1; Reg: 1/24 8:30-9:30 AM; Rds: 10-1:30-5, 9-4. (Scholastics) 4/SS, G/40; Reg: 1/23-25 8:30-9:30 AM; Round 1 at 10am then as available. PRIZES: (Open) $$G: $600(plaque)-400-300-200; $$b/4 X, A, B/below $150 ea. Trophy Top Jr. U20, Jr. U14, Sr. 50+, Top AZ Resident is also 2008 AZ State Champion; (Reserve) $$b/38: $250(plaque)-150(plaque); $$b/4 C, D/below $100 ea. Trophy to Top UNR, Jr. U14, Sr. 50+; (Booster) Trophy to Top 1st – 5th Place, Top E, U1000/Unr and Jr. U11; (Scholastic each day) Trophy to 1st - 5th Place, Top U800, U600, and Unrated. EF: GM/IM are FREE! (Open) $55; (Reserve) $45; (Booster) $25; (Scholastics) $15 for each tournament or $25 for both days. LATE FEE: Additional $10 ($5 for Scholastic) if entry received after 1/21. DISCOUNT: $10 off EF for Juniors (under age 20) and Seniors (age 50+) in Open and Reserve. ALL: 1/2 pt byes allowed for all rounds but must be requested prior to start of Round 2 (max 2). No Re-entries. HR: $109 (single) 119 (jr. suite) or $139 (suite) if by 1/11, mention “SACA”. Info: Karen
Pennock, 520-975-3946, email:
[email protected], web: www.saz chess.org. Ent: Make checks payable to SACA, mail to SACA, Attn: 2009 Tucson Open, PO Box 42407, Tucson, AZ 85733. NC. NS. W. WCL JGP (top 3 sections).
Jan. 23-25, North Carolina World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 80 (enhanced) Land of the Sky XXII Note new time controls. 5SS, 30/90, then G/60 (2-day option, Rd 1, 30/90, G/30). Crown Plaza Resort Asheville, One Resort Dr., Asheville, NC 28806, 828-2543211 or 800-733-3211. HR: $84 for up to four occupants, reserve early, mention tournament. $$20,000 b/320, $10,000 Gtd. Open - FIDE rated: 1st $2500, 2nd $1000, 3rd $800, 4th $500, 5th $400, 2299-2200, 2199-2100, 2099-under each category $700-400. Amateur: (U2000) 1st $1600, 2nd $800, 3rd $400, 1899-1800, 1799-1700, 1699-under each category $700-400. Booster: (U1600) 1st $1500, 2nd $800, 3rd $400, 1499-1400, 1399-1300, 1299-under ea. category $500-300, Unr. $300. Unr. eligible for unr. prize only. EF: $84 postmarked by 1/16, $10 more at site or $44 postmarked by 1/18 and $40 at site. $10 off pre-entry or at site for players new to Land of the Sky. Family discount: first member full EF, $20 off each additional (immediate family only, d/n apply to trophy entries). Players under 18: Trophy only-$20, pre or at site, no discounts, if playing for money $10 off pre or at site EF. One discount per player. Visa & Mastercard Accepted (add $3 to EF). Optional Re-entry: Re-enter for $47 after Friday rd, counts as 1/2 entry toward based-on prize fund. Reg.: Fri. 3pm-7:30 pm for Friday round, anytime until Saturday 1pm (one 1/2 pt bye avail rds 13). Rds.: 1st rd-Your Choice-Fri. 8pm or Sat. 9am (will assume Sat. Rd. if no choice made), other 2:15-7:15 on Sat., 9-2:15 on Sun. Blitz Tournament: Saturday morning. U1200 Section (rated): 5SS, G/60. 70% of EF paid in prizes. EF: $40 pre (no discounts), $10 more at site. $$ 20% to 1st, 15% to 2nd, 10% to 3rd, U900 10% to 1st, 5% to 2nd, Unr. 10% to 1st. Unrated eligible for unrated prize only. Reg.: anytime up to one hour before any round (one 1/2 point bye available rds 1-3). Rds.: Sat. 10:30-1:30-4, Sun. 9-1:30. Ent: Checks payable to WW, PO Box 1123, Weaverville, NC 28787, 828-645-4215, fax: 828645-4216,
[email protected]. WCL JGP.
A Heritage Event! Jan. 23-25 or 24-25, Ohio World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 30 (enhanced) 32nd Cardinal Open 5SS, 40/2, SD/1 (2-day option, rds 1-2 G/75), The Doubletree Hotel Columbus Worthington, 175 Hutchinson Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43235. Free parking. $$ 8,000 based on 125 paid entries (re-entries, under 1200 and under 1000 section count as 50% entry). In 7 sections: Open: $1000-600-400, top U2200/Unr $500-250. FIDE. Under 2000: $800-400-200. Under 1800: $800-400-200. Under 1600: $700-400-200. Under 1400: $500-250. Under 1200: $200-100 trophies to top 5. Under 1000: $200-100, trophies to top 5. Unrated prize limits: Under 1000 $50, Under 1200 $100, Under 1400 $200, Under 1600 $300, Under 1800 $500. Balance goes to next player(s) in line. EF: (all sections except Under 1200 and Under 1000) $80 mailed by 1/19, or online at ohiochess.org by 1/22, $90 at site. Under 1200 and Under 1000 Section EF: $40 if mailed by 11/19, or online at ohiochess.org by 1/22, $50 at site. Re-entry $40; not available in Open Section. OCA membership is required of all Ohio residents. $15 per year, $10 junior, $2 second family member. 3-day schedule: Reg ends Fri 6:30 pm, rds Fri 7 pm, Sat 11-6, Sun 9:30-3:30. 2-day schedule: Reg ends Sat 10:30 am, rds Sat 11-2:30-6, Sun 9:30-3:30. Byes: Okay rounds 1-4, limit 2, must commit by rd 3. HR: $89, reserve online at OhioChess.org or 614-888-3334 mention chess, reserve early, contact organizer if rate not available. Ent: COCA, Box 9830, Columbus Ohio 43209. Questions: 614-774-2532 or
[email protected]. WCL JGP.
Jan. 24-25, Colorado World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 6 2009 Boulder Winter Grand Prix University Memorial Center, CU Campus, Boulder, CO. Room #415. Open: 5SS G/90, EF: $35, $5 less if rec’d by 1/21, $8 less for Jr/Sr/Unrated. CSCA required ($15, $10 for Jr/Sr) Prizes: $675 gtd. 1st-2nd: $180, $120 U2000,U1800,U1600,U1400, U1200 $75 each. Rds.: Sat: 10, 2, 6, Sun: 11:30, 3:30. Entries: Klaus Johnson, 3605 Endicott Dr., Boulder, CO 80305. Website: www.geocities.com/boulderchessclub Email:
[email protected]. CO TOUR event. WCL JGP.
Jan. 24-25, New York World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 6 New York Marshall CC January GP! 4SS, 30/90, SD/1; Marshall CC, 23 W. 10 St., NYC, 212-477-3716. EF: $45, Members $25. $$625 Gtd: 250 -100-75, U2200/Unrated $100, U2000 $100. Reg. ends 15 min. before game. Rds.: 2 schedules: 2-day, rds 12:30-5:30 pm each day; 1-day, (rds 1-2 G/30), 10-11:15 am-12:30-5:30 pm Sun; both merge rd 3. Limit 2 byes, commit at entry. NO RE-ENTRY. May be limited to first 60 players. WCL JGP.
Jan. 25, California Southern World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 10 2009 Westwood Winter Open 5-SS, G/40. Los Angeles Chess Club, 11514 Santa Monica Blvd, LA, CA 90025, 2nd floor (4 blocks West of 405 Fwy). $$1500 b/50, 80% of each prize guaranteed. In two sections: Open: $400-200-50, U2200 125, U2000 125. Reserve (U1800): $$200-125, U1600 $100, Under 1400/unrated $100, U1200 $75. EF: $47 if received by 1/24, $55 at site. SCCF memb. ($18, under 18 $10) req. for rated S. CA residents. No checks or credit cards at site. Half point byes: limit 1, must be req. w/entry. Reg.: 9-9:45 a.m. Rds.: 10-11:30-1:30-3:15-4:45. 2 Free Parking lots on the SW corner of Santa Monica & Purdue, or in the building basement ($3). Inf:
[email protected]. Ent: SCCF, c/o John Hillery, 835 N. Wilton Place #1, Los Angeles, CA 90038. On-line entry: www.western chess.com. State Championship Qualifier.
Jan. 26-Feb. 9, New York World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 6 20th Nassau G/60 Championship 6-SS, G/1. 1st Presbyterian Church, 1st & Main Sts., Mineola. EF: $37 by 1/24, $44 at site, non-memb $9 more. $$ (780 b/24, top 2 G) 180-120, U2100, 1900, 1700, 1500, 1300/UR each 96. 3 byes 1-6 (Last rd bye must be req before rd 4 and is irrevocable). Rds.: 7:15-9:25 each Mon. Rule 14H not used.
[email protected]. Ent: Harold Stenzel, 80 Amy Dr., Sayville, NY 11782.
uschess.org
A Heritage Event! Jan. 29-Feb. 1, Bermuda World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 60 2009 Bermuda International Open, 25th Anniversary
half each prize Gtd: $$ 300-200-115, top U2200/unr. $125, U2000 $100, U1800 $80. Limit 2 byes, commit by 2 pm. Re-entry $20. CCA ratings may be used. Rds. 12-2-3:45-5:30-7:20 pm. Reg. ends 10 min. before game. Online entry at www.chesscenter.cc thru 2/5; $10 extra to “enter” by phone!
5SS, 40/2, G/1. Fairmont Southampton Resort.Thurs. Jan. 29. Cocktail reception 6:30 followed by 8 pm Blitz tournament. Rounds: Fri. 8pm, Sat./Sun. 9am, 3pm. 1 bye any rd. but 5th. Coffee, tea, cookies served S & S. Closing party: Sun. 7:30pm Buffet dinner free for all participants and spouses. Prize fund Gtd. $5000: Open $1000 (plus air from East Coast and hotel for ‘10), $800, $600, $400, $200. U2200, U2000, U1800, U1600 all $250, $150, $100. Top non-titled also wins RT from East Coast and hotel for 2010. EF: $100, payable on site. Free to GMs, IMs, EF deducted from prize. Sets provided, bring clock. Fairmont Southampton 1-866-540-4497, “chess tournament” rate ($199+tx). More info contact: Nigel Freeman
[email protected] or IA Carol Jarecki
[email protected]. FIDE Ratings available. WCL JGP.
A Heritage Event! Feb. 7-8, New Hampshire World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 6 33rd Queen City Open
Jan. 31-Feb. 1, Florida World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 6 Central Florida Chess Club Championship 5SS, G/120. Melody Manor, 813 Montana St., Orlando. EF: $39. CFCC mem req $25. $$G 600:190-100-70, U2000, U1800, U1600, U1400 each 60, plaques (if mem as of Dec 31) to Club Champion, U2200, U2000, U1800, U1600, U1400, & top under age 16. All FCA members earn points towards $2050 Florida Gran Prix. Reg.: Sat 9:15am. Rds: 10-2-6, 9-2. CFCC elections 1pm Sun. Ent: CFCC, 921 N. Thistle Ln., Maitland, FL 32751. Info: (407) 629-6946 or www.centralflchess.org. WCL JGP.
A Heritage Event! Feb. 6-8, South Carolina World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 6 35th Snowstorm Special 5SS, 35/90, SD/1(2day schedule rd. 1 G/90), Best Western Charleston-Downtown, 250 Spring St., Charleston, SC 29403. EF: $60 if rec’d by 2/02, $70 at site, $35 re-entry USCF and SCCA memberships req‘d, OSA. $$1,500 b/40 ($750 Gtd.), One section, Open to all. Prizes: $400-200, Top Expert,A,B,C,D,E & under 1st -$100, 2nd-$50 (Unrateds will be based on performance rating after 4th rd.) 3 day schedule: Reg.: Fri. 6-7pm Rds.: 8, 2-8, 9-2:30. 2 day schedule: Reg.: Fri. 6-7pm, Sat. 8-9am Rd. 1: 10am, then merge with 3day schedule. Half pt. Byes: avail. all rds., must commit before Rd. 2 for Rds. 4&5 (irrevocable) HR: $79.99 (mention “Charleston Chess Club”) reserve by Jan. 30 (843-7224000 or toll free 1-888-377-2121) Other info: Free entry to Masters and above; $60 deducted from any winnings. More $$ per entries. Info/Reg/Pmt: Charleston Chess Club, c/o David Y. Causey, 741 Dragoon Dr., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 (email:
[email protected]) (Please indicate whether playing in 2 or 3 day schedule when registering.) WCL JGP.
Feb. 7, New York World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 10 (enhanced) 22nd Annual Super Saturday Game/45 Deferred! 5-SS, G/45, Chess Center at the Marshall Club, 23 W 10 St, bet. 5-6 Ave, NYC: 845-569-9969. EF: $40, Club membs $30, GMs free ($25 from prize), specified Greater NY Scholastic prizewinners free! $$ 920 b/46 paid entries, minimum
uschess.org
4SS, 40/2, SD/1. Comfort Inn, exit 4 (Queen City Bridge) off I-293, Manchester, NH. 603-668-2600. HR: $79, mention “NH Chess”, reserve early. $$2000 b/65, 75% Gtd. 4 sections: Open: EF: $42 by 2/5, GMs/IMs free. $300-200-100, U2100 $125. U1900: $150-100-75, U1750 $100. No Unr. may win over $75. U1600: $150-100-75, U1450 $100. No Unr. may win over $75. U1300: $150-100-75, U1000 $100. No Unr. may win over $75. All: EF: $42 by 2/5. Special EF for jrs U21 in U1300 section only, $26 if by 2/5. Sunday Swiss (2/8 only). 3SS, G/60. EF: $25 if by 2/5. $$80-50-30 (b/8). Sun. Swiss Reg: 9:30-10:30am Sunday, Rds: 11-1:30-4. All EF: $6 more if at site. Two-day Reg: 8:30-9:30am Sat., Rds: 10-4:30, 9:30-4.One 1/2 pt. bye OK for Rds.1-3 if rec’d with ent. Ent: NH Chess Assoc., Hal Terrie, 377 Huse Rd. #23, Manchester, NH 03103. Info: 603-668-8368 or
[email protected]. W. WCL JGP.
Feb. 7-8, Wisconsin World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 10 UW Winter Open 5ss, 45/2, 25/1, SD/1; Rd. 4: 45/2, SD/1. Inn Wisconsin Room, Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St., Madison, WI. EF: $20 if received by 4 Feb, $25 at site. $$GTD $1000. $200-165-135, A $100, B $90, C $80, D $70, E $60, U1000 $55, Unr $45. REG.: 9-9:30 am. RDS.: 10, 2:30, 7:30; 10, 3:30. One point bye in rd.1 to 2200+ if requested in advance. ENT: Guy Hoffman, PO Box 259822, Madison, WI 53725. INFO: 608-262-0308 (11am-6:30pm M-F) schachfuhrer@ hotmail.com. NS NC W. A WCA Tour Event. WCL JGP.
Feb. 8, New Jersey World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 10 ICA Winter 2009 Open Championship Bergen Academy, 200 Hackensack Ave, Hackensack NJ 07601. OpenTo All Ages With Rating >1400 4SS G/60 U. S. Chess Federation Membership Required, Prize Fund ($$ b/40) 1st - 3rd $300, $250, $200, U2000, U1800, U1600 each $100. Best Under 13 Years Old $75, Best Over 65 Years Old $75. Prize Fund Will Not Be Reduced Below 70%. Reg Ends at 9 Late Entrants Will Receive 1/2 Point Bye For Rnd 1. EF: Adv (pmk. By Feb 4th) $40, AT Site $45. GMs Free Entry. Make EF: and/or USCF membership checks payable to: International Chess Academy. INFO 201 287 0250 or 201 833 1741, Email:
[email protected] (Web Site Entries: www.icanj.net). Rds.: 9:30 AM, 11:45 AM, 2:15 PM, 4:30 PM. ENT: Diana Tulman, 28 Canterbury Lane, New Milford, NJ 07646. NS NC W.
Feb. 12, New York World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 10 (enhanced) 10 Grand Prix Points Tonight! 4-SS, G/30, Chess Center at the Marshall Club, 23 West 10 St, bet. 5-6 Ave, NYC: 212-477-3716. EF: $35, Club membs $25, GMs free ($20 from prize), specified
Greater NY Scholastic prizewinners free. $$560 b/32 paid, top 2 Gtd: $$ 200110-50, Top U2200/unr $105, U2000 $95. Limit 2 byes (1 bye for U2000), commit by 8:15. Reentry $15. CCA ratings may be used. Class pairings OK rd. 4. Reg ends 10 min before game. Rds 7-8:15-9:30-10:45 pm. Phone entry often impossible!
Feb. 14-15, Virginia World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 15 Kingstowne Chess Festival Kingstowne Snyder Center, 6450 S. Van Dorn St., Alexandria, VA 22315. 4 Sections. Open (FIDE-rated): 4SS 40/100, SD/1. EF: $40 if received by 2/11, $50 at site. If joining USCF for 1st time, USEF $84 if received by 2/11, $94 at site. Prizes $$1000G: $400-250-125. U2000, U1800, unr. each $75. Rds.: 115, 10-4. Amateur (U1800-unr.): 5SS G/100. EF: $20 if received by 2/11, $30 at site. If joining USCF for 1st time, USEF $64 if received by 2/11, $74 at site. Prizes $$500 b/32: $180-100-70. U1600-U1400-unr. each $50. No unrated may win more than $140. Rds.: 11-3-7, 11:30-4. Booster (U1600-unr.): 5SS G/100. EF: $15 if received by 2/11, $25 at site. If joining USCF for 1st time, USEF $59 if received by 2/11, $69 at site. Prizes $$370 b/32: $150-80-50. U1400-U1200-Unr. each $30. No unrated may win more than $100. Rds.: 113-7, 11:30-4. Novice (U1400-unr.): 6SS G/75. EF: $10 if received by 2/11, $18 at site. If joining USCF for 1st time, USEF $62 if received by 2/11, $70 at site. Prizes $$285 b/32: $100-70-40. U1200-U1000-Unr. each $25. No unrated may win more than $80. Rds.: 11-2-5-8, 12:30-4. All: One half-point bye allowed in Open, two in other sections. Last-round bye must commit by end of play Saturday and irrevocable. Reg.: 10-10:45. Ent (checks payable to): Don W. Millican, 5901B Prince George Dr., Springfield, VA 22152. e-mail (info only):
[email protected]. FIDE. W. WCL JGP.
Feb. 14-16, Oklahoma World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 30 Stillwater Winter FIDE Open 7 – SS, G/90+30. Quality Inn, 2515 W. 6th Ave (Hwy-51), Stillwater, OK. 1-405372-0800. HR: $70. Free Parking. Reg.: Sat 11-Noon. One section open to all. RDS.: 1-5; 10-2-6:30; 9-1:15. EF: $50 if postmarked before Feb 9, or $60 at door. $10 OCF required from all players (includes 4 issues of OCQ). $$4,500G: $600, $400, $300, $200; $600 each class ($300-200-100) Ex,A,B,C,D & below. Unr. competes in D & below. 2 half pt byes rds 1-7; Ent: Frank Berry, 402 S. Willis, Stillwater, OK 74074. NC, CMV, LS, W, USCF, FIDE.
[email protected]. WCL JGP.
Feb. 17, New York World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 15 (enhanced) St. John’s Masters at the Marshall Chess Club 4SS, G/30.ThirdTues. of every month. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. Open to players rated over 2100 (plus all players scoring 2.5 or more at any CCNY at MCCThursday 4 Rated GamesTonight! since the prior month’s SJM) EF: $40, members $30, GMs $10 (returned on completion of tournament). For each event, money added to prize fund by the sponsors, St. John’s University, and other generous patrons.Top three prizes guaranteed. $$G 300-200-100.Top U2400 and Top U2300 prizes. Special prize for biggest upset. Reg.: 6:15-6:45. Rds.: 7-8:159:30-10:45pm. One bye available, rds 1 and 4 only; declare at registration.
Chess Life — January 2009
55
Tournament Life
SEE PREVIOUS ISSUE FOR TLAS APPEARING JANUARY 1-14
Feb. 21, New York World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 10 (enhanced) New York February Action! 5-SS, G/30, Chess Center at the Marshall Club, 23 W 10 St, bet. 5-6 Ave, NYC: 845-569-9969. EF: $40, Club membs $25, GMs free ($20 from prize), specified Greater NY Scholastic prizewinners free! $$ 840 b/42 paid entries, minimum half each prize Gtd: $$ 300-200-115, top U2200/unr. $125, U2000 $100. Limit 2 byes, commit by 1:30. Re-entry $20. CCA ratings may be used. Rds. 12-1:302:45-4-5:20 pm. Reg. ends 10 min. before game. Online entry at www.chess center.cc thru 2/19; $10 extra to “enter” by phone!
Feb. 21, Virginia World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 6 Winter Seasonal Special 3-round Swiss System. Game / 90 with 5 seconds delay. Virginia Heights Baptist Church. Corner of Grandin Rd. and Memorial Ave. SW, Roanoke, Va. 24038. GUARANTEED PRIZES: Top Section: $125-100-75. Additional Sections: If Octagonals, Each is guaranteed $125 - $100. If Hexagonals, Each is guaranteed $100-75. If Quads, Each is guaranteed $100 1st. ENTRY FEE: If received by Feb. 20, $30.00. At site, $40.00. REGISTRATION: 6-9pm 02/20; 8-9:30am 02/21. ROUNDS: 10-2-6. BYES: Only one per tournament; must request before 1st round begins. ADVANCE ENTRIES: Roanoke Valley Chess Club, P.O. Box 14143, Roanoke, Va. 24038. PHONE: (540) 344-4446. E-MAIL: info@roanoke chess.com WEB PAGE: roanokechess.com.WCL JGP.
A Heritage Event! Feb. 27-Mar. 1, Virginia World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 30 41st Annual Virginia Open 5SS, Rd1 G/2, Rds 2-5 40/2 SD/1. Crowne Plaza, Tysons Corner, 1960 Chain Bridge Rd., McLean 22102. www.cptysonscorner.com. Chess room rates of $79 for Single and Double, reserve before Feb 6. Walk-up chess rate possible, but not guaranteed, reserve early!! No Outside Food allowed in Tournament Playing Room! See www.vachess.org/vaopen.htm for online link to register for hotel. $3400 in Two Sections, Open and Amateur (U1900) Top 4 G in Open, rest based on 140. Open: $600-400-300-250 Top X,A Each $180 Winner also gets plaque and title 2009 Virginia Open Champ. Amateur: $400-200-150, Top B,C,D, U1200 Each $160, Top Unrated $100. Amateur winner gets plaque and 2009 Virginia Open Amateur title. ALL: Reg. Friday 2/27 5:30p-7:45p. Rds. 8pm Friday, Sat 10a-4:30p, Sunday 9a-3:30p. EF: $60 if received by Feb 21, $70 later and at site. $5 discount to active military personnel. $35 Re/entry allowed From Rd 1 into Rd 2 only Sat Reg. 9-9:45. One 1/2 point bye allowed with entry, declared before Rd 1 and then irrevokable. VCF membership required for Virginia residents ($10 Adults, $5 U19) Ent: Make checks payable to “Virginia Chess” and mail to: Michael Atkins, PO Box 6138 Alexandria VA 22306 website: www.vachess.org/vaopen.htm.
[email protected] for questions, NO INTERNET or PHONE entries only by mail, at site or Arlington Chess Club and Tidewater Chess Club in Norfolk. NS, NC, W. FIDE (Open). WCL JGP.
Feb. 28-Mar. 1, New York World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 15 (enhanced) 3rd annual Saratoga Open
56
Chess Life — January 2009
6SS, G/65, Saratoga Hilton Hotel, 534 Broadway (I-87 Exit 13-N, 4 miles north on US 9), Saratoga Springs NY 12866. Free parking. $$G 1200. In 2 sections: Open: $$ 300-150-70, U2200 120, U2000 100. Under 1800/Unr: $$ 150-90-50, U1600 100, U1400 70. EF: $52 mailed by 2/20, $53 online at chesstour.com by 2/25, $55 phoned by 2/25, $65 at site. Reg. ends Sat 11 am, rds Sat 12-3-6, Sun 9-12-2:45. Half point byes OK all, limit 2, must commit before rd 2. HR: $114114, 888-999-4711, 518-584-4000, reserve by 2/13 or rate may increase. 48 hours notice required for room cancellation. Backup hotel: Courtyard by Marriott, 2 blocks away, 518-226-0538. Ent: Continental Chess, PO Box 249, Salisbury Mills NY 12577. $15 service charge for refunds. Questions: chesstour.com, 845-496-9658. Advance entries posted at chesstour.com. March official ratings used; unofficial ratings usually used if otherwise unrated. WCL JGP.
Mar. 6, Pennsylvania World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 6 2009 PA Quick Chess Champ. (QC) 6SS, G/10, T/D3. Hotel Carlisle & Embers Convention Center, 1700 Harrisburg Pike, Carlisle, PA 17015, Exit 52A NB/Exit 52 SB off I-81, Exit 226 off PA Turnpike. 3 sections, EF rec’d by 2/17: Open: $12. U1500: $10. U1100: $8. $$ (730G): Open: 175-100-50, U1800 $45, U1600 $40. U1500: 125-75-50, U1200 $40, Unr $30. U1100: Trophies: 1-5, U800, U600, 1-2 Unr. All: EF: $20 after 2/17, PSCF $5 OSA. Reg: 6-6:30pm. Rd 1: 7pm. Feb 2009 Regular ratings used. Bye: limit 1, ask by rd 2. HR: Mention “PA States” for best rate; 800-692-7315 $75. Ent: PSCF, c/oTom Martinak, 25 Freeport St., Pittsburgh, PA 15223-2245. Info:
[email protected] 412-908-0286 W.
Mar. 6-8 or 7-8, California Northern World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 100 (enhanced) Western Chess Congress 5SS, 40/2, SD/1 (3-day option, rds. 1-2 G/75; U1100 & U900 sections are 6SS, 3/7-8 only, G/65). Concord Hilton Hotel, 1970 Diamond Blvd, Concord CA 94520 (I-680 Willow Pass Rd exit). Free shuttle between hotel and Concord BART station. Free parking. In 8 sections. $$G 20,000. Premier, open to all over 1950 and juniors under 18 over 1800: $1600-900-500-300, clear or tiebreak winner $100, top U2300 $800-400. FIDE. Under 2100: $1400-700-400-300. Under 1900: $1400-700-400-300. Under 1700: $1400-700-400-300. Under 1500: $1200-600-300-200. Under 1300: $1200-600-300-200. Under 1100: $600300-200-100. Under 900: $600-300-200-100. Unrated must play in U1900 or below with maximum prize U1900 $600, U1700 $500, U1500 $400, U1300 $300, U1100 $200, U900 $100; balance goes to next player(s) in line. Top 6 sections EF: 4-day $119, 3-day $118 mailed by 2/26, all $120 online at chesstour.com by 3/3, $125 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 3/3 (entry only, no questions), $140 at site. U1100, U900 Sections EF: $57 mailed by 2/26, $60 online at chesstour.com by 3/3 (entry only, no questions), $65 phoned to 406896-2038 by 3/3, $70 at site. All: FREE TO UNRATED. Unofficial uschess.org ratings based on 4 or more games usually used if otherwise unrated. Special 1 yr USCF dues with Chess Life if paid with entry: online at chesstour.com $30; mailed, phoned or paid at site $40. Re-entry (except Master) $60. Mailed EF $7 less to rated CalChess members. 3-day schedule: Reg. Fri to 6:30 pm, rds Fri 7:30, Sat 11-6, Sun 9-3:30. 2-day schedule: Reg Sat to 10 am, rds Sat 112:30-6, Sun 9-3:30. U1100 & U900 schedule: Reg. Sat to 11:30 am, rds. Sat.
12-3-6, Sun. 9-12:30-3:30. All schedules: Byes OK all, limit 2, must commit before rd 3 and have under 2 pts. HR: $99-99-109, 925-827-2000, reserve by 2/20 or rate may increase. Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633. Questions: chesstour.com, 845-496-9658. Ent: Continental Chess, c/o Goichberg, Box 661776, Arcadia CA 91066. $15 service charge for withdrawals. Advance entries posted at chesstour.com. WCL JGP.
Mar. 6-8 or 7-8, Massachusetts World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 80 (enhanced) 18th annual Eastern Class Championships 5SS, 40/2, SD/1 (2-day option, rds 1-2 G/75), Host Hotel at Cedar Lake, 366 Main St, Sturbridge MA 01566 (I-84 Exit 3, near I-90). Free parking. $$ 20,000 based on 250 paid entries (re-entries count half), minimum $12,000 (60% of each prize) guaranteed. In 7 sections: Master (2200/up): $2000-1000-500-300, clear winner or 1st on tiebreak $100 bonus, top U2300 $800-400. FIDE. Expert (2000-2199): $1400-700-400-300. Class A (1800-1999): $1400-700-400-300. Class B: $1400-700-400-300. Class C (1400-1599): $1200-600-400-300. Class D (1200-1399): $1000-500-300-200. Class E (Under 1200): $1000-500-300-200. Rated players may play up one section. Unrated may enter A through E, with prize limits: E $100, D $200, C $300, B $400, A $600. Balance goes to next player(s) in line. EF: 3-day $103, 2-day $102 mailed by 2/26, all $105 online at chesstour.com by 3/3, $110 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 3/3 (entry only, no questions), $120 at site. GMs free, $100 deducted from prize. All: FREE TO UNRATED. Unofficial uschess.org ratings based on 4 or more games usually used if otherwise unrated. Special 1 yr adult USCF dues with Chess Life if paid with entry: online at chesstour.com $30, mailed, phoned or paid at site $40. Re-entry $60; not available in Open Section. No checks at site, credit cards OK. MACA memb. ($12, under 18 $6) required for MA residents; WMCA accepted for western MA res. 3-day schedule: Reg ends Fri 6 pm, rds Fri 7 pm, Sat 11-6, Sun 9-3:15. 2-day schedule: Reg ends Sat 10 am, rds Sat 11-2:30-6, Sun 9-3:15. Byes: OK all; must commit before rd 3, having under 2 pts. HR: $84-84, 800582-3232, 508-347-7393, request chess rate, reserve by 2/15 or rate may increase. Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633, or reserve car online through chesstour.com. Ent: Continental Chess, Box 249, Salisbury Mills NY 12577. Questions: 845-496-9658. Advance entries posted at chesstour.com. $15 service charge for refunds. WCL JGP.
Mar. 7-8, New York World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 6 New York Marshall CC March GP! 4SS, 30/90, SD/1; Marshall CC, 23 W. 10 St., NYC, 212-477-3716. EF: $45, Members $25. $$625 Gtd: 250 -100-75, U2200/Unrated $100, U2000 $100. Reg. ends 15 min. before game. Rds : 2 schedules: 2-day, rds 12:30-5:30 pm each day; 1-day, (rds 1-2 G/30), 10-11:15 am-12:30-5:30 pm Sun; both merge rd 3. Limit 2 byes, commit at entry. NO RE-ENTRY. May be limited to first 60 players. WCL JGP.
Mar. 7 & 8, Pennsylvania World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 6 2009 Carlisle Open & PA Collegiate Championship 5SS, G/90, T/D5. Hotel Carlisle & Embers Convention Center, 1700 Harrisburg Pike, Carlisle, PA 17015, Exit 52A NB/Exit 52 SB off I-81, Exit 226 off PA Turnpike. 2 sections: Open & U1500. $$ (1260G): Open: 180-120, U2200 $110,
uschess.org
U2000 $100, U1800 $90, U1600 $80. U1500: 150-100, U1400 $90, U1200 $85, U1000 $80, Unr $75. All: College Tr: 1-2 in each section, 1-2 team (top 4 over both sections). EF: $29 rec’d by 2/17, $39 after, PSCF $5 OSA. Reg: 8:45-9:30 am. Rds 10-2-5:30, 9-1. Bye: limit 1, ask by rd 2. HR: Mention “PA States” for best rate; 800-692-7315 $75. Ent: PSCF, c/oTom Martinak, 25 Freeport St., Pittsburgh, PA 15223-2245. Info:
[email protected] 412-908-0286 W. Feb. 2009 ratings used. WCL JGP.
Mar. 13-15 or 14-15, Missouri World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 100 (enhanced) 13th Annual Mid-America Open 5SS, 40/2, SD/1 (2-day option, rds 1-2 G/70), Crowne Plaza Hotel St. LouisClayton, 7750 Carondelet Ave., St. Louis MO 63105 (I-64 W/US 40-W Exit 32B, 1.2 miles north on Hanley Rd). $$ 20,000 based on 250 paid entries (re-entries count half, U900 Section one quarter), minimum $16,000 (80% of each prize) guaranteed. In 7 sections: Open: $2000-1000-600-400, clear winner or 1st on tiebreak $100 bonus, top U2300 $900, U2200 $800, U2100/Unr $700. FIDE. Under 2000: $1500-700-400-300. Under 1800: $1500-700-400-300. Under 1600: $1500-700-400-300. Under 1400: $1200-600-300-200. Under 1200: $1200-600-300-200. Under 900: $100-60-40, trophies to top 7. Unrated may enter any section, with prize limits: U900 $50, U1200 $150, U1400 $300, U1600 $400, U1800 $500, U2000 $700. Balance goes to next player(s) in line. EF: 3-day $103, 2-day $102 mailed by 3/5, all $105 online at chesstour.com by 3/10, $110 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 3/10 (entry only, no questions), $120 at site. Under 900/Unr Section EF: 3-day $23, 2-day $22 if mailed by 3/5, $25 online at chesstour.com by 3/10, $27 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 3/10, $30 at site. FREETO UNRATED IN U900 OR U1200 SECTIONS. All: Unofficial uschess.org ratings based on 4 or more games usually used if otherwise unrated. Special 1 yr adult USCF dues with Chess Life if paid with entry: online at chesstour.com $30, mailed, phoned or paid at site $40. Re-entry $60; not available in Open Section. No checks at site, credit cards OK. MCA memb. ($5; higher with printed magazine) required for MO residents. 3-day schedule: Reg ends Fri 6 pm, rds Fri 7 pm, Sat 11-6, Sun 9-3:15. 2-day schedule: Reg ends Sat 10 am, rds Sat 11-2:30-6, Sun 9-3:15. Byes: OK all; must commit before rd 3, having under 2 pts. HR: $87-87, 888-303-1746, 314-726-5400, request chess rate, reserve by 2/27 or rate may increase. Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633, or reserve car online through chesstour.com. Ent: Continental Chess, Box 249, Salisbury Mills NY 12577. Questions: 845-496-9658. Advance entries posted at chesstour.com. WCL JGP.
Mar. 14-15, Maryland World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 10 UMBC Open - Alvin S. Mintzes Chess Tournament 5SS, 20/1, SD/1. University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250 (in Commons Bldg, 3rd floor). Held concurrently with separate Sweet 16 Invitational, which determines MD Scholastic Champion who wins 4-year tuition scholarship to UMBC (worth over $35,000). Spectators free & welcome. Open: (All) $$650: $350-200-100; $$400 (b/40): Top U2250, U2150, U2050, U1950 $100 ea. Free ent. to GMs, $40 deducted from any prizes. U1800: (U1800/Unr.) $$765 b/40: $250-175-100, Top U1600, U1400, U1200 (b/4) $80 ea. No Unr. player may win more than $200 in this sect. All EF: $40 if postmarked by 2/27, $50 late, $10 less if under 20. Reg: 8:30-
uschess.org
9:30am Sat., Rds: 10am-3-7:30pm, 10:30am-3:30. Byes: Up to three 1/2-point byes avail. in Rds. 1-5 if req’d at least 1 hr. before Rd (before Rd 2 for any Rd. 4-5 bye), but only at most one 1/2-point bye in Rds 4-5. Hotel: La Quinta Inn and Suites, 1734 West Nursery Road, Linthicum, MD 21090, 410-859-2333, Ask for UMBC chess rate. www.lq.com (From I-95, take Exit 47A onto I-195 towards BWI Airport.Take Exit 2A onto 295 north towards Baltimore; take first exit, bearing right onto West Nursery Road.) Directions to UMBC: Take Exit 47B off I-95 & follow signs to UMBC. Park in Lot 9 or 16. Ent/Info: Cks payable to UMBC, Dr. Alan T. Sherman, Dept. of CSEE, UMBC, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250, Attn: Open.
[email protected], 410-455-8499, www.umbc.edu/ chess. W. WCL JGP.
An American Classic! Apr. 8-12, 9-12 or 10-12, Connecticut World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 200 (enhanced) 11th annual Foxwoods Open Open Section, Apr 8-12: 9SS, 40/2, SD/1. GM & IM norms possible. Lower Sections, Apr 9-12 or 10-12: 7SS, 40/2, SD/1 (3-day option, rds. 1-4 G/50). Foxwoods Resort Casino & Hotel, Rt 2, Mashantucket CT 06339 (I-95 to Exit 92 to Rt 2 West, or I-395 to Exit 85 to Rt 164 to Rt 2 East). Free parking. 45 miles fromT.F. Green Airport (Providence, RI), 14 miles from Groton/New London Airport; for shuttle from New London Amtrak station call 1-800-USA-RAIL. Bus transportation: 1-888-BUS2FOX. Free shuttle to Mashantucket Pequot Museum, largest Native American museum in USA. Prizes $100,000 based on 650 paid entries (Seniors count as 3/4 entries; U1000 Section, re-entries, GMs, WGMs & foreign IMs/WIMs as half entries), else proportional, minimum $70,000 (70% of each prize) guaranteed. In 7 sections: Open: $10000-5000-2500-15001000-700-600-500-400-400, 2300-2499 $3000-1500-700, Under 2300/Unr $3000-1500-700. If tie for first, top 2 on tiebreak play speed game (White 5 minutes, Black 3 minutes & gets draw odds, with 5 second delay) for title & free room at 2010 Foxwoods Open. FIDE rated. Under 2100, Under 1900, Under 1700: each $5000-3000-2000-1000-700-600-500-400-300-300. Under 1500, Under 1300: $4000-2000-1500-1000-700-600-500-400-300-300. Under 1000: $1000-600-400-300-250-200-150-100. Prize limits: 1) Players with under 26 lifetime games rated as of 4/09 list may not win over $500 in U1000, $1500 in U1300, or $2500 in U1500. Games rated too late for 4/09 list not counted. 2) If more than 30 points over section maximum on any USCF rating supplement 4/08-3/09, prize limit $1500. 3) Unrated (0-3 lifetime games rated) cannot win over $300 in U1000, $600 U1300, $1000 U1500, $1300 U1700, $1600 U1900, or $2000 U2100. Initial ratings that will appear after the 4/09 list used at Director’s discretion; if used, rule 1 applies. 4) Balance of limited prize goes to next player(s) in line. Mailed EF: 5-day (Open only) $205, 4-day $204, 3-day $203 if mailed by 1/10; 5-day $225, 4-day $224, 3-day $223 mailed by 3/31; all $250 at site. CSCA members may deduct $4 from mailed EF only. No checks at site, credit cards OK. Online EF at chesstour.com: $207 by 1/10, $227 by 4/6, $250 after 4/6 until 2 hours before rd 1. Phone EF at 406-896-2038 (entry only, no questions): $210 by 1/10, $230 by 4/6. No phone entry after 4/6. GMs, foreign IMs, foreign WGMs, foreign WIMs free; $150 deducted from prize. US WGMs $100; another $100 deducted from prize. EF $70 less to seniors over 65 in Under 1300 & above sections. Under 1000 Section EF: 4-day $104, 3-day $103 if mailed by 3/31, all $107 online at
chesstour.com by 4/6, $110 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 4/6 (entry only, no questions), $120 at site. All: FREE TO UNRATED IN U1000 OR U1300 SECTIONS. Unofficial uschess.org ratings based on 4 or more games usually used if otherwise unrated. Special 1 yr USCF dues with Chess Life if paid with entry: online at chesstour.com $30, mailed, phoned or paid at site $40. No checks at site, credit cards OK. Re-entry: $100, no re-entry from Open Section to Open Section. 5-day Open Section schedule: Reg. ends Wed 6 pm, rds. Wed. 7 pm, Thu 12 & 7, Fri/Sat 11 & 6, Sun 10 & 4:30. 4-day Lower Sections schedule: Reg. endsThu 6 pm, rds.Thu 7 pm, Fri/Sat 11 & 6, Sun 10 & 4:30. 3-day Lower Sections schedule: Reg. ends Fri 7 pm, rds Fri 8 pm, Sat 10,12:30, 3, 6, Sun 10 & 4:30. 4-day & 3-day merge & compete for same prizes. Byes: OK all; limit 4 (limit 2 in last 4 rds), must commit before rd 3, having under 2 pts. Bring sets, boards, clocks if possible- none supplied. HR: Grand PequotTower (tournament site, very luxurious) $132-132, Great Cedar Hotel (connected building; very close) $118-118, Two Trees Inn (15 minute walk; free shuttle) $108-108. 1-800-FOXWOOD, must reserve by 3/26 or you will have to stay at least 3 miles away. Car rentals: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633 or reserve car online at chesstour.com. Foreign player ratings: Usually 100 points added to FIDE, 100 to FQE, 200/more to most other foreign, no pts added to CFC, PR or Jamaica. Most foreign ratings other than CFC, PR, FQE or Jamaica not accepted for U2000 or below. Highest of multiple ratings usually used. Players who fail to disclose foreign or FIDE ratings may be expelled. US player ratings: April list used; FIDE ratings not used. Special rules: Players must submit to a search for electronic devices if requested by Director. In round 4 or after, players with scores of over 80% and their opponents may not use headphones, earphones or cellphones or go to a different floor of the hotel without Director permission. Ent: Continental Chess, Box 249, Salisbury Mills NY 12577. Questions: 845-496-9658, www.chesstour.com. You may request “lowest possible section” if April rating unknown. $15 service charge for refunds. Advance entries will be posted at chesstour.com. WCL JGP.
Apr. 23-May 21, Pennsylvania World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 15 (enhanced) 2009 Hatboro Open 5-SS, 40/90, G/1.Trinity Orthodox Presbyterian Church, 151 W. County Line Road (near Blair Mill Road), Hatboro 19040. $$950 Gtd. In one section: $400-200, U1900 $100, U1700 $100, U1500 $100, Upset Prize $50. EF: $35 at site, $5 less to Chaturanga CC members. Write checks to “Chaturanga Chess Club.” Reg.: 6:45-7:20pm. Rds.: 7:30pm each Thursday. Bye: limit 1, any round, must request before Round 3 starts. Info: Jorge Amador, POB 387, Forest Grove PA 18922, (215) 794-8368,
[email protected]. NS, NC, W. WCL JGP.
A State Championship Event! Apr. 25-26, Connecticut World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 30 Connecticut State Chess Association State Championship Grand Prix Sponsored by the UCONN School of Engineering & UCONN CC. UCONN Castleman Building, Room 201, 261 Glenbrook Rd., Storrs, CT 06269. Parking in North Garage. 4 – SS, G/120. 2 sections, Open & Reserve (U-1800). Both EF: $50 by 4-22, $60 later. Checks payable to “UCONN”. GM’s & IM’s free if no prize won. Reg.: 8-9:30 AM, Rds.: 10-3, 9-2. Half point byes available in rds. 1-3 only,
Chess Life — January 2009
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SEE PREVIOUS ISSUE FOR TLAS APPEARING JANUARY 1-14
Tournament Life no last round byes. $$ 700-500-300, Top U-2200 $200, Top U-2000 $200, Reserve $250-$100,Top U-1600 $150-$100.Trophy and state title to top CT resident in Open. All cash prizes, $2500, unconditionally guaranteed! Lodging available, please ask. Info & Entries to: Tom Hartmayer, 963 Mansfield City Rd., Storrs, CT 06268, 860-989-5394,
[email protected], www.uconnchess. uconn.edu, www.engr.uconn.edu, UCONN Map admissions.uconn.edu/virtual tour/search/. WCL JGP.
An American Classic! May 22-25, 23-25 or 24-25, Illinois World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 200 (enhanced) 18th annual Chicago Open 7SS, 40/2, SD/1 (3-day option, rds 1-2 G/75; 2-day option, rds. 1-4 G/45). Under 900 section plays separate 2-day schedule only, G/45. Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel, 601 North Milwaukee Ave, Wheeling IL 60090 (from Chicago, I294 north to US-45 north; from Milwaukee, I-94 east to Lake Cook Rd to US-45 south.) Free parking. $100,000 guaranteed prize fund. In 8 sections. Open: $8000-4000-2000-1200-800-600-500-400-400-400, clear winner bonus $200, top Under 2500 $2000-1000. If tie for first, top 2 on tiebreak play speed game (White 5 minutes, Black 3 minutes & gets draw odds, with 5 second delay) for title & bonus prize. Under 2300, Under 2100, Under 1900, Under 1700: each $6000-3000-1500-1000-700-500-400-300-300-300. U2300 Section is FIDE rated. Under 1500: $5000-2500-1200-1000-700-500-400-300-300-300. Under 1300: $3000-1500-1000-800-600-500-400-300-300-300, top U1100 $800-400. Under 1100 play for both U1300 section prizes & U1100 class prizes; receive larger if winning both. Under 900: $200-120-80, trophies to top 10. Prize limits: 1) Players with under 26 lifetime games rated through 5/09 list may not win over $1500 U1300 or $2500 U1500. Games rated too late for 5/09 list not counted. 2) If more than 30 points over section maximum on any list 5/08-4/09, prize limit $1500. 3) Unrated (0-3 lifetime games rated) cannot win over $100 in U900, $600 U1300, $1000 U1500, $1300 U1700, $1600 U1900 or $2000 U2100. 4) Balance of any limited prize goes to next player(s) in line. Mailed EF: 4-day $199, 3-day $198, 2-day $197 mailed by 3/16; 4-day $219, 3-day $218, 2-day $217 mailed by 5/13; all $250 at site. No checks at site, credit cards OK. Online EF at chesstour.com: $200 by 3/16, $220 by 5/19, $250 after 5/20 until 2 hours before rd 1. Phone EF at 406-896-2038: $205 by 3/16, $225 by 5/19 (entry only, no questions). No phone entry after 5/19. GMs free; $150 deducted from prize. WGMs $100; another $100 deducted from prize. EF $70 less to all in Under 1300 Section and to seniors over 65 in Under 1500 & above sections. Under 900 EF: $24 if mailed by 5/13, $25 online at chesstour.com by 5/19, $30 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 5/19 (entry only, no questions), $40 at site. No checks at site, credit cards OK. All: FREE ENTRY TO UNRATED in U900 or U1300 Sections. ICA membership ($15, scholastic $10) required for rated Illinois residents. Special 1 yr adult USCF dues with Chess Life if paid with entry: online at chesstour.com $30, mailed, phoned or paid at site $40. Re-entry: $100, no re-entry from Open to Open. $20 fee for switching section after 5/19. 4day schedule: Reg. ends Fri 6 pm, Rds. Fri 7 pm, Sat 12 & 7, Sun 12 & 7, Mon 10 & 4:30. 3-day schedule: Reg. ends Sat 11 am, Rds. Sat 12, 3:30 & 7, Sun 12 & 7, Mon 10 & 4:30. 2-day schedule (U1300 & up): Reg. ends Sun 9 am, Rds. Sun 10-12:30-2:30-4:30-7, Mon 10 & 4:30. Above schedules merge & compete for same prizes. Under 900 schedule: Reg. ends Sun 9 am, Rds. Sun
58
Chess Life — January 2009
10-12:30-2:30-4:30, Mon. 10-12:30-2:30. Byes: OK all, limit 4 (limit 2 in last 4 rds), must commit before rd 3 having under 2 pts. Hotel rates: $94-94-94-94, 800-937-8461, 847-777-6500, reserve by 5/9 or rate may increase. Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, AWD #D657633, or reserve car online through chesstour.com. Foreign player ratings: Usually 100 points added to FIDE, 100 to FQE, 200/more to most other foreign, no pts added to CFC or Jamaica. Most foreign ratings other than CFC, FQE or Jamaica not accepted for U2000 or below. Highest of multiple ratings usually used. Players who fail to disclose foreign or FIDE ratings may be expelled. US player ratings: May official ratings used; FIDE ratings not used. Unofficial uschess.org ratings based on 4 or more games usually used if otherwise unrated. Special rules: 1) Players must submit to a search for electronic devices if requested by Director. In round 4 or after, players with scores over 80% in U1300/up and their opponents may not use headphones, earphones, cellphones, or go to a different floor of the hotel without Director permission. Ent: Continental Chess, Box 249, Salisbury Mills, NY 12577. Questions: 845-496-9658, chesstour.com. You may request “lowest possible section” if May rating unknown. $15 service charge for refunds. Advance entries will be posted at chesstour.com. WCL JGP.
June 4, Nevada World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 50 2009 U.S. Game/10 Championship (QC) See Nationals.
A Heritage Event! An American Classic! June 5-7 or 6-7, Nevada World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 200 (enhanced) 2009 National Open See Nationals.
A Heritage Event! An American Classic! July 1-5, 2-5, 3-5 or June 29-July 5, Pennsylvania World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 300 (enhanced) 37th Annual World Open 9SS, 40/2, SD/1 (4-day option, rds 1-2 G/75, 3-day option, rds 1-5 G/45), Under 900/Unr Section plays separate 3-day schedule only, G/45. Sheraton City Center Hotel, 17th & Race Sts., Philadelphia 19103. Parking $5 for hotel guests playing in tournament. Downtown location, Franklin Institute, many museums, stores, restaurants within a few blocks. Prizes $250,000 unconditionally guaranteed. Free analysis of your games by GM Sam Palatnik; free lectures by other GMs 9 am 7/3 & 7/4. In 9 sections (Unrated eligible only for Open, Under 2400, or Under 900). Open: $20000-10000-5000-2500-1500-1000-800700-600-500, clear winner bonus $200, top U2500 $2000-1000. If tie for first, top 2 on tiebreak play speed game 7/5, 11 pm (White 5 minutes, Black 3 minutes & gets draw odds, 5 second delay) for title & bonus prize. GM & IM norms possible in 5-day & 7-day schedules. FIDE rated. Under 2400: $14000-70003000-2000-1000-900-800-700-600-500, top U2300 $2000-1000. FIDE Under 2200: $14000-7000-3000-2000-1000-900-800-700-600-500, top U2100 $20001000. Under 2000: $14000-7000-3000-2000-1000-900-800-700-600-500, top U1900 $2000-1000. Under 1800: $14000-7000-3000-2000-1000-900-800-700-
600-500, top U1700 $2000-1000. Under 1600: $12000-6000-3000-2000- 1000900-800-700-600-500, top U1500 $2000-1000. Under 1400: $10000-5000-2500-1500-1000-900-800-700-600-500, top U1300 $1500-800. Under 1200: $5000-2500-1500-1000-800-700-600-500-400-300. Under 900/unrated: $300-200-100, trophies to top 10, no unrated may win over $100. Prize limits: 1) Players with under 26 games played as of 7/09 list may not win over $1500 in U1200, $3000 U1400 to U1800. Games rated too late for 7/09 list not counted. 2) Players with official rating more than 30 points over section maximum any month 7/08-6/09 have a prize limit of $2000. 3) Balance of any limited prize goes to next player(s) in line. EF, if mailed by 2/17: 7-day $307, 5-day $305, 4-day $304, 3-day $303. Mailed by 5/15: 7-day $317, 5-day $315, 4-day $314, 3-day $313. Mailed by 6/18: 7-day $327, 5-day $325, 4-day $324, 3-day $323. At site: All $350; no checks, credit cards OK. Online entry at chesstour.com: $310 by 2/17, $320 by 5/15, $330 by 6/24, $350 after 6/24 until 2 hours before rd 1. Phone entry at 406-896-2038: $315 by 2/17, $325 by 5/15, $335 by 6/24 (entry only, no questions). No phone entries after 6/24. GMs free; $200 EF deducted from prize. WGMs $100; another $100 EF deducted from prize. EF $100 less to all in U1200 Section and seniors over 65 in Under 1400 & above. Under 900/Unrated Section EF: $25 if mailed by 6/17, all $26 online at chesstour.com by 6/24, $30 phoned by 6/24 (entry only, no questions), $40 at site. FREE ENTRYTO UNRATED in U900/Unr Section. No checks at site; credit cards OK. Re-entry: $160, no re-entry from Open to Open. $20 fee for switching section after 6/30. Special 1 yr adult USCF dues with Chess Life if paid with entry: online at chesstour.com $30, mailed, phoned or paid at site $40. 5-day schedule: Wed 7 pm, Thur 11 am & 6 pm, Fri 11 am & 6 pm, Sat 11 am & 6 pm, Sun 10 am & 5 pm. 7-day schedule: Mon-Fri each 7 pm, Sat 11 am & 6 pm, Sun 10 am & 5 pm. 4-day schedule: Thurs 11, 2:30 & 6, Fri 11 & 6, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 10 & 5. 3-day schedule: Fri 11, 1:30, 3:30, 6 & 8:30, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 10 & 5. All schedules merge & compete for same prizes. Under 900/Unr schedule: Fri 1:30, 3:45 & 6, Sat 11, 1:30, 3:45 & 6, Sun 10 & 12:30. Half point byes OK all, limit 4 (limit 2 in last 4 rds), must commit before rd 3 and have under 2 pts. Entries, re-entries close 1 hour before your first game. Bring sets, boards, clocks if possible- none supplied. HR: 93-93, 215-4482000, may sell out about 5/31, two night minimum 7/3-4. Backup hotel: Radisson Plaza Warwick, 215-735-6000, $93-93. Special car rental rates: Avis, 800-331-1600, AWD #D657633, or reserve car online through chesstour.com. Foreign player ratings: 100 pts added to FIDE, 100 to FQE, 200 or more to most foreign, no pts added to CFC. Most foreign ratings other than CFC or FQE or Jamaica not accepted for U2000 or below. Highest of multiple ratings used. Players who fail to disclose foreign or FIDE ratings may be expelled. US player ratings: JULY LIST USED; FIDE ratings not used. Unofficial uschess.org ratings based on 4 or more games usually used if otherwise unrated. Special rules: 1) Players must submit to a search for electronic devices if requested by Director. In round 4 or after, players with scores over 80% and their opponents may not use headphones, earphones, cellphones or go to a different floor of the hotel without Director permission. Ent: Continental Chess, Box 249, Salisbury Mills, NY 12577. Questions: www.chesstour.com, 845-496-9658. You may request “lowest possible section” if July rating unknown. $15 service charge for refunds. Advance entries will be posted at chesstour.com. Bring set, board, clock if possible- none supplied. WCL JGP.
uschess.org
Regional
5SS G/120 IBEWTraining Center 5800 B St. Anchorage, AK 99518. EF: $30, $15 Age 15 and Under. Reg.: 5 - 6:45P Fri Feb 20th. Rds.: Fri 7PM, Sat/Sun 10A and 3P. Info: Mike
[email protected]. WCL JGP.
to 21st-30th Individuals, and to 4-6th Teams, Trophies to top 3 Parent/Child/Sibling Teams. Scholarships toTexasTech University andTexas A&M -Kingsville will be offered. (Must meet entrance requirements and chess tournament scholarship criteria – www.spice.ttu.edu). Adult Section: $300-$200$150-$100 in cash prizes, based on 20 paid entries. All sections: EF: $55 by 1/10; $59 by 1/24; $65 by 2/6; $69 after. On Site registration will receive Rd 1 (1/2 pt) bye. Byes: (1/2 pt) must be scheduled by the start of round 2. Schedule: Opening Ceremony 2/14 9:00 am; Rounds: 2/14 9:15-11:30-1:30-3:30; 2/15 9:00-1:00-3:00. Side-Events: Puzzle Solving Championship 2/13 6:00pm. EF: $15 if by 2/6; $20 after. Registration closes 5:30pm. Susan Polgar 64 Board Simultaneous Exhibition 2/13 7:15pm. EF: $25 by 2/6; $30 after. Registration closes 7:00pm (Limit 1st 64 entries). Bughouse Championship, 2/13: 5 Double Rd Swiss, G/5. Prizes: Trophies top 10 teams (2/15 3:30pm - Awards Ceremony). Rounds: 2/13 6:30-7:00-7:30-8:00-8:30. EF (Team): $20 by 2/6; $25 after. Registration closes 6:00pm. Susan Polgar Free Lecture 2/14 12:301:30pm. Blitz Championship, 2/14: 5 Double Rd Swiss, G/5. Sections: Primary (K-2); Elementary (3-5); Middle School (6-8), High School / Adults U1600. Prizes: Primary, Elementary, Middle School – Trophies to top 10 in each section, High School / Adult U1600 – trophies to top 5 (2/15 3:30pm - Awards Ceremony). Rounds: 2/14 6:00-6:30-7:00-7:30-8:00. EF: $20 by 2/6; $25 after. Registration closes 5:30pm. Susan Polgar 64 Board Simultaneous Exhibition 2/15 5:30pm. EF: $25 by 2/6; 30 after. Registration closes 5:00pm (Limit 1st 64 entries). Susan Polgar Chess Camp (am) Mon 2/16 9:00am12:30pm. EF: $49 by 2/6; $59 after. Susan Polgar Chess Camp (pm) 2/16 1:30pm-5:00. EF: $49 by 2/6; $59 after. ENT: online registration available at www.chessemporium.com, or mail entry form to Chess Emporium, 10801 N. 32nd St, Suite 6, Phoenix, AZ 85028. Info or Phone Credit Card entries: 602482-4867. E-mail
[email protected]. Cancellations: No later than Feb 11, 7:00pm. 80% refund only. Other Info: Chief TD: Scott Freneaux; Assistant Matthew Okunevich; Pairing Director AJ Pheasant. Vendors: Chess Emporium – Books, Chess Equipment, Clocks,T-Shirts. Sponsors: Chess Emporium, City of Peoria. Accommodation: Hampton Inn, 8408 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria, AZ 85382. 623-486-9918 @ $159. Holiday Inn Express, 16771 N. 84th Ave., Peoria, AZ 85382. 623-853-1313 @ $139. Or possible better rates for hotel and air at Diamond Travel at 602-870-9197....ask for Eldon.
Arizona
May 23-25, 2009 U.S. Amateur - West Championship
Alabama B’ham C. C. Meets Mon. nites each wk., 2116 Columbiana Rd. (Columbiana Crossing Shopg. Ctr.) B’ham 35226. All skills & levels welcome! W. N.S. USCF rtd tourns. planned in 09. Mon. Quads by request. Vulcan Open-May; B’ham City C’ships-Aug.; Magic City Open-Nov. SS 4rd G/60 2d Sat.ea. mo. Details & flyers: R.W. Ellis 205-9796068,
[email protected].
Feb. 7, QoHs Scholastics 6 Sections – 5SS, TC: G/30. AUM Taylor Center 7440 East Drive Montgomery, AL 36117. EF: $20/Rated and $10/Not Rated – mail by JAN31st; ($10 more @ site).Trophies: (Rated) Top 3 Individuals;Top 2Teams. Medallions: (Not Rated) Top 3 Individuals. Rds: 9:30-10:45-12:30-1:45-3. Late REG.: FEB 7th 8:30-9:10. Checks payable to: Montgomery Chess Club. Ent: MCC-QoH 668 Sandhurst Drive Montgomery, AL 36109. Info: www.alabamachess.com or Caesar.
[email protected].
A Heritage Event! Feb. 7-8, Queen of Hearts (37th Annual) 5SS, TC: 30/90;SD: 30. AUM Taylor Center 7440 East Drive, Montgomery, AL 36117. EF: $40 by JAN 31st; ($50 @ Site). Open (All): $$b/25: $300+T, $200, $150, A $150+T, U1800 $100+T. Reserve (U1600): $$b/20: $200+T, $150, D $125+T, E $100+T, U1000 $50. Rds.: 9, 2, 7 & 9-3. Late REG.: FEB 7th 7:458:30. Checks payable to: Montgomery Chess Club. Ent: MCC-QoH 668 Sandhurst Drive, Montgomery, AL 36109. Info: www.alabamachess.com or
[email protected]. WCL JGP.
Alaska Feb. 20-22, 2009 Rondezvous Chess Tournament
Jan. 23-25 or 24-25, Tucson Open and Scholastics
See Nationals.
See Grand Prix.
California Northern
Feb. 13-16, 4th Susan Polgar 2009 Open Challenge for Boys and Girls
Jan. 16-19, 17-19 or 17-18, 16th annual Western Class Championships (CA-S)
Over $250,000 in scholarships and chess prizes! Organized and Directed by Susan Polgar Foundation and Chess Emporium, LLC. 7SS, G/45, Sunrise Mountain High School, 21200 N 83rd Ave, Glendale, AZ 85382. Winners in the Girls sections will qualify for the 2009 SP National Invitational, if meet eligibility requirements. Sections: All-Girls and Open (Boys/Girls): Primary (K-2); Elementary (3-5); Middle School (6-8), High School. Parents/Adults: All ages. Prizes (All Scholastic Sections): Laptop Computer to 1st, $200 (in Chess Prizes) to 2nd, $150 to 3rd $100 to 4th, $50 to 5th All the above are in kind, chess prizes such as chess books/DVDs etc, and not a cash prize. Digital Clock to 7-0 score,Trophies to top 20 Individuals,Trophies to top 3 teams, Medals
uschess.org
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 25, Cupertino G/60 Open Tournament! 4SS, G/60. 10675 S. De Anza Blvd., #4, Cupertino, CA 95014. 408-996-1236. ($500 b/32) 1st overall: $100, u2000 $100, u1800 $100, u1600 $100, u1400 $100. EF: $30 by 1/24, $40 same day. Reg.: 10-10:45 Rds.: 11-1:30-3:45-6:15. Site capacity: 32. Info:
[email protected].
Mar. 6-8 or 7-8, Western Chess Congress See Grand Prix.
California Southern
LA CHESS CLUB * www.LaChessClub.com Fridays: 8 PM-10 PM (Blitz Tournament) Saturdays: 10AM-10 PM (Class& 2 Tournaments) Sundays: 12 PM-6 PM (Tournament) Tuesdays: 7:30 PM-9:30 PM (Intermediate/Advanced Lecture) 11514 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025 * (310) 795-5710 (4 blocks West of 405, Santa Monica& Butler * Second Floor) Private (1:1) Lessons * Group Classes * Tournaments. Jan. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, LACC Friday Nite Blitz (QC) 5SS, G/5 (10 Games). LACC, 11514 Santa Monica Blvd LA, 90025, 2nd Fl. 4 blks W 405. EF: $10. Q-rated. Reg: 7:30-8. Rds: 8-8:30-9-9:30,10. 2 Free Parking lots SW of S Monica/ Purdue; or underground ($3). Prizes: 1/2 EF. Inf: (310) 795-5710 or www.LaChessClub.com.
Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, LACC LA Masters 4SS, G/30 LACC, 11514 Santa Monica Blvd LA, 90025, 2nd Fl. 4 blks W 405. EF: $30 ($20 LACC memb). Reg: 5:30-6. Rds: 6, 7, 8, 9. Prizes: 75% EF. 2 Free lots SW of S Monica/Purdue; or underground ($3). Inf: (310) 795-5710 or www.LaChessClub.com.
Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, LACC Saturday Swiss Open 4SS, G/30 11514 Santa Monica Blvd LA, 90025, 2nd Fl. 4 blks W 405. EF: $20 ($15 LACC memb). Reg: 11:30-12. Rds: 12, 1, 2, 3. Prizes: 1/2 EF. 2 Free lots SW of S. Monica/Purdue; or underground ($3). I nf: (310) 795-5710 or www.LaChessClub.com.
Jan. 4, 11, 18, LACC Sunday Swiss Open 3SS, G/60 LACC, 11514 Santa Monica Blvd LA, 90025, 2nd Fl. 4 blks W 405. EF: $20 ($15 LACC memb). Reg: 11:30-12. Rds: 12, 2, 4. Prizes: 1/2 EF. Free parking on streets. Inf: (310) 795-5710 or www.LaChessClub.com.
Jan. 4, 18, LACC January Scholastics I & II 5SS, G/30 LACC, 11514 Santa Monica Blvd LA, 90025, 2nd Fl. 4 blks W 405. EF: $25 ($20 LACC memb). Reg: 1:30-2. Rds: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Prizes:Trophies, Medals, special prizes (every player wins a prize!). Free parking on streets. Inf: (310) 795-5710 or www.LaChessClub.com.
Jan. 16-19, 17-19 or 17-18, 16th annual Western Class Championships See Grand Prix.
Jan. 18, Western Class Sunday USCF Booster Quads 3RR, G/45, Renaissance Hotel (see Western Class). EF: $20. 1st prize each section: choice of 2 year USCF Adult membership with Chess Life, 3 year USCF Young Adult Membership with Chess Life, or $40. Reg: 10 am-12:30 pm, Rds: 12:30-4. Ent: at site only, no checks.
Jan. 19, Western Class Monday USCF Booster Quads 3RR, G/30, Renaissance Hotel (see Western Class). EF: $20. 1st prize each section: choice of 2 year USCF Adult membership with Chess Life, 3 year USCF Young Adult Membership with Chess Life, or $40. Reg: 10 am-12 noon, Rds: 12:301:30-2:30. Ent: at site only, no checks.
Chess Life — January 2009
59
Tournament Life Jan. 25, 2009 Westwood Winter Open See Grand Prix.
SEE PREVIOUS ISSUE FOR TLAS APPEARING JANUARY 1-14
Feb. 14-16, 26th Annual 2009 U.S. Amateur Team - West
Sale, Classes, Lectures, Simuls, Under Age 18 & Beginners Welcome, Handicap Accessible. As location may change, please check website or call contact phone #.
See Nationals.
Feb. 5, UCONN CC Open House (QC)
Feb. 15, 12th Annual Southern California Scholastic Amateur Team
UCONN Castleman Bldg., Room 204, 261 Glenbrook Rd., Storrs, CT 06269. # of rounds for RR to be determined onsite. G/5. EF: FREE !!! Round 1 at 7:30 PM, all others ASAP. Free pizza & refreshments.Used booksale. Info:TomHartmayer, 860-989-5394,
[email protected], www.uconnchess.uconn.edu.
4-SS, SD/45, Warner Center Marriott, 21850 Oxnard Street, Woodland Hills, CA 91367. Four-player teams plus optional alternate, Grade 12/below, average rating of four highest must be U1200. (Dec. 2008 rating list used, Feb. 2009 used for previously unrated players.) EF: $69 per team received by 2/13, $84 at site.Trophies (team & individual) to top 3 teams, top U1000, U800, U400/unr. Reg.: 9:00-10 a.m. Rds.: 10:30-1-2:45-4:30. Info, help in forming teams: Info, help in forming teams: Jim Bullock, 714-848-4377, jim.bullock@ boeing.com. Web site, advance entry list: www.westernchess.com. HR: $119, 800-228-9290, ask for Western Chess. Reserve by Jan. 23 or rates may go up. Parking $6. Ent: SCCF, c/o John Hillery, 835 N Wilton Place #1A, Los Angeles CA 90038. NS, NC, W. See Nationals for 26th Annual U.S. Amateur Team West details.
Feb. 16, AT HEXES 3-SS, G/90. Marina Warner Center Marriott, 21850 Oxnard Street, Woodland Hills, CA 91367. Six-player sections by rating. EF: $20 if rec. by 2-13, $25 door. $$40-20-10 each section. Reg.: 9:30-10:15 a.m. Rds.: 10:30-1:30-4:30. Ent: SCCF, c/o John Hillery, 835 N Wilton Place #1A, Los Angeles CA 90038, on line at www.westernchess.com. See Nationals for details for 26th Annual U.S. Amateur Team West.
Feb. 8, Western Connecticut Open 4SS, G/45 (G/40 + 5 sec. delay), Clifford J. Hurgin Municipal Center, 1 School St., Bethel, CT 06801. EF: $30 mailed by 2/10, $35 on site. $$b/20: $200-$120. U1600 $80. Reg.: 9-9:40 AM. Rounds: 10:00-12:00-2:00-4:00 Entries: Ed Scimia, 20 A Durant Ave., Bethel, CT 06801. Info:
[email protected]. NS NC W.
Feb. 12, 19, 16, 23, UCONN Winter Tune Up UCONN Castleman Bldg., Room 204, 261 Glenbrook Rd., Storrs, CT 06269. 4 SS, G/90. Reg.: 7-7:30pm. Rds.: 7:30pm. EF: At site $10, $5 students. $$ 50% - 30% - 20% net EF’s. 1/2 point byes available in rounds 1 - 3 only, no last round byes. Info: Tom Hartmayer, 860-989-5394,
[email protected], www.uconnchess.uconn.edu. WCL JGP.
Feb. 28-Mar. 1, NY State Scholastics (out of state welcome) See New York.
Mar. 6-8 or 7-8, 18th annual Eastern Class Championships (MA)
Mar. 6-8 or 7-8, Western Chess Congress (CA-N)
See Grand Prix.
See Grand Prix.
Mar. 22, Connecticut State Chess Association K-6 Scholastic State Championship Preliminaries – EAST
Colorado Jan. 21, January G/29 Colorado Grand Prix Series (QC) 3-SS G/29. Site: University Memorial Center, room 382, Boulder, CO. Entry Fee: $3. Prizes: 60% of Entries, remainder after rating fee will go towards grand prix prize fund. Reg.: 6:30-7:00. Rounds 7, 8, 9. Email: boulderchessclub@ yahoo.com. Not a USCF Grand Prix event.
Jan. 24-25, 2009 Boulder Winter Grand Prix See Grand Prix.
A Heritage Event! Feb. 7-8, Loveland Open 4SS, 40/2, SD/1. Larimer County Fairgrounds, McKee Community Bldg., 5280 Arena Cir., Loveland, CO, 80538. 2 sections: Open: open to all; Santa Fe: open to U1610 & unr. EF: $30 ($25 if rec’d by 2/5). Jr., Sr, unr less 25% of early entry. Prizes: based on entries. Reg.: 8-9:30 AM. Rds.: 10-4, 9-3. State memb. req’d, $15, OSA. Adv. ent: Randy Reynolds, 1839Thyme Ct., Ft. Collins, CO 80528.
[email protected]. Colorado Tour Event. NC, NS, W. WCL JGP.
Mar. 7-8, Manitou Springs: COLORADO SPRINGS OPEN 5-SS, Rds.: 1-3 40/90 and G/1; Rds.: 4-5 40/2 and G/1. Manitou Springs City Hall, 606 Manitou Ave. One open section. EF: $30 if rec’d by March 5, $35 at site. $8 EF discount for juniors, seniors, unrated. CSCA required, ($15, jrs & srs 10), OSA. Cash prizes per entries. Registration: 8:30 - 9:30, Rds.: 10, 2:30, 7:00; 9:00 AM, 3:00. Entries to: Richard Buchanan, 844B Prospect Place, Manitou Springs, CO 80829. Phone (719) 685-1984 or e-mail
[email protected] . COLORADO TOUR EVENT. WCL JGP.
Connecticut
UCONN Chess Club Tues. & Thurs 7:30PM. Castleman Building, Room 204, 261 Glenbrook Rd., Storrs, CT 06269. Contact: TOM HARTMAYER. Contact Phone: 860-989-5394. Email:
[email protected]. Web Site: www.uconnchess. uconn.edu. No dues required. Casual Play, USCF Rated Events, Blitz Events, League Play, Matches, Club Championships, Sets & Clocks Available, Chess Items for
Sponsored by the UCONN School of Engineering & UCONN CC. UCONN Castleman Building Rooms 204 & 206, 261 Glenbrook Rd., Storrs, CT 06269. Parking in North Garage. 4 – SS, G/30. 6 Sections: K–6th Open, (Open to all), Reserve K–6th U-700, K – 3rd, Reserve K–3rd U-700, 1st Grade Open, Kindergarten Open. All EF: $50 by 3-25, $60 after. CSCA membership required, $5, other states OK. Checks payable to “UCONN”. Reg.: 8–9:30 AM, Rds. 10–11–12:30–1:30. Half point byes available in rds. 1-3 only, no last round byes. Please bring a board, set & clock. Prizes: Trophies to Top 5, Books to 6th8th CT residents in each section. Books donated by USCF Sales/ChessCafe. com. Top 5 in each section eligible to play in CSCA Tournament of Scholastic Champions Finals on 3-29 in Storrs. Trophies to Top 5 teams of top 4 from 1 school combined from all sections. Free commemorative UCONN chess sets to 1st 100 entrants. Info & Entries to: Tom Hartmayer, 963 Mansfield City Rd., Storrs, CT 06268. 860-989-5394,
[email protected], www.uconnchess. uconn.edu, www.engr.uconn.edu, UCONN Map admissions.uconn.edu/virtual tour/search/.
Mar. 22, Connecticut State Chess Association K-6 Scholastic State Championship Preliminaries - WEST Sponsored by the UCONN School of Engineering & UCONN CC. UCONN Stamford Campus, One University Place, Stamford, CT 06901. Parking in Washington Blvd. Garage. 4-SS, G/30. 6 Sections: K– 6th Open, (Open to all), Reserve K–6th U-700, K–3rd, Reserve K–3rd U-700, K–1st. All EF: $50 by 3-25, $60 after. CSCA membership required, $5, other states OK. Checks payable to “UCONN”. Reg.: 8-9:30 AM, Rds.: 10-11-12:30-1:30. Half point byes available in rds. 1-3 only, no last round byes. Please bring a board, set & clock. Prizes: Trophies & Books toTop 5, Books to 6th-8th, CT residents in each section. Books donated by USCF Sales/ChessCafe.com.Top 5 in each section eligible to play in CSCATournament of Scholastic Champions Finals on 3-29 in Storrs.Trophies to Top 5 teams of top 4 from 1 school combined from all sections. Free commemorative UCONN chess sets to 1st 100 entrants. Info & Entries to: Tom Hartmayer, 963 Mansfield City Rd., Storrs, CT 06268. 860-989-5394,
[email protected], www.uconnchess.uconn.edu, www.engr.uconn.edu, UCONN-Stamford Map stamford.uconn.edu/maps.htm.
A State Championship Event! Mar. 29, Connecticut State Chess Association Tournament of Scholastic Champions Finals
The BEST of CHESS INSTRUCTION
Chess Educator Legend I M Dr. Danny Kopec
covering All Aspects at All Levels
8 DVDs - a total of over 18 hours of first class instruction . . .
The Kopec Master Class DVD’s: Millennium Edition
Also Available in BLU-RAY HD! 5 DVDs - Over 10 hrs of Chess Insights! (1) How to Visualize Combinations (2) Pawn Structures and How to Play Them (3) How to Analyze a Position (4) Opening Pawn Structures Vol 1: King Pawn Openings (5) Opening Pawn Strucutes Vol 2: Queen Pawn Openings and more Chess DVDs . . . (6) The Kopec System (7) Essential Endgame Knowledge (8) Middlegame Pawn Play for Mate - A Chessplayer’s Toolbox (4 hrs!!)
Chess Books: (1) Mastering Chess: a Course in 21 Lessons (2) World Title Contenders and Their Styles (3) Mastering The Sicilian (4) Winning the Won Game (5) Practical Middlegame Techniques ( 6 ) Test, Evaluate & Improve Your Chess: A Knowledge-Based Approach (7) Champions of the New Millennium
Chess CDs: ( 1 ) Test, Evaluate & Improve Your Chess: ChessBase International, 2006 (2) Total Kopec - 750 games by IM Danny Kopec Please visit:
www.kopecchess.com
Or contact:
KOPEC CHESS SERVICES 42 Hamilton Road Merrick, NY 11566 516 - 705 - 4335
60
Chess Life — January 2009
uschess.org
Sponsored by the UCONN School of Engineering and the UCONN CC. UCONN Castleman Building Room 204, 261 Glenbrook Rd., Storrs, CT 06269. Parking in North Garage. 4 – SS, G/30. 3 Sections: K–6, K–3, K–1.Trophies to 1st Place CT residents in each section, medals for all others. Open to top 5 finishers in all sections in both EAST & WEST Scholastic Prelims and any K-6 player over 1000. EF: FREE to qualifying prelim players, $50 by 3-25, $60 later to eligible over 1000 who did not play in prelims. Checks payable to “UCONN”. Reg.: 8 – 9:30 AM, Rds. 10 – 11 – 12:30 – 1:30. Info & Entries to: Tom Hartmayer, 963 Mansfield City Rd., Storrs, CT 06268. 860-989-5394, tomhart3@ charter.net, www.uconnchess.uconn.edu, www.engr.uconn.edu, UCONN Map admissions.uconn.edu/virtualtour/search/.
Apr. 8-12, 9-12 or 10-12, 11th annual Foxwoods Open See Grand Prix.
Apr. 25-26, Connecticut State Chess Association State Championship Grand Prix See Grand Prix.
A State Championship Event! Apr. 26, Connecticut State Chess Association K-8 State Open Championship Sponsored by the UCONN School of Engineering & UCONN CC. UCONN Castleman Building Room 206, 261 Glenbrook Rd., Storrs, CT 06269. Parking in North Garage. 4 – SS, G/60. EF: $50, by 4-22, $60 later. Reg.: 8 – 9:30 AM, Rds.: 10-12:30-2:30-4:30. Half point byes available in rds. 1-3 only, no last round byes. Prizes: Trophies to Top 5. Trophy to Top 3 teams of 4 from 1 school. Info & Entries to:Tom Hartmayer, 963 Mansfield City Rd., Storrs, CT 06268, 860-9895394,
[email protected], www.uconnchess.uconn.edu, www.engr.uconn.edu, UCONN Map admissions.uconn.edu/virtualtour/search/.
A State Championship Event! Apr. 26, Connecticut State Chess Association K-12 & UCONN School of Engineering High School $14,000 Scholarship State Open Championship Sponsored by the UCONN School of Engineering & UCONN CC. UCONN Castleman Building Room 204, 261 Glenbrook Rd., Storrs, CT 06269. Parking in North Garage. 4 – SS, G/60. EF: $50 by 4-22, $60 after. Checks payable to “UCONN”. Reg.: 8 – 9:30 AM, Rds.: 10 – 12:30 – 2:30 – 4:30. Half point byes available in rds. 1-3 only, no last round byes. Prizes: State Champ title, CSCA Denker/Polgar $300 Award & trophy to highest scoring CT male/female residents in grades 9-12. UCONN School of Engineering Scholarships to Top 3 in grades 9-12, 1st:Trophy plus $2000 scholarship renewable for 4 years with 3.4 GPA, 2nd: Trophy plus $1000 scholarship renewable for 4 years with 3.4 GPA, 3rd: Trophy plus $500 scholarship renewable for 4 years with 3.4 GPA, 4th 5th:Trophies. Scholarships are available only to tournament winners in grades 9-12 who are admitted to and enroll in an engineering program at the UCONN School of Engineering. Scholarships are not transferable and are renewable for a maximum of 4 years. Students are limited to 1 scholarship in the School of Engineering. Prior winners are eligible to upgrade only, prior 1st prize winners are eligible for trophy & titles only. Other previous winners may upgrade only. Trophy to top 3 teams of 4 from 1 school. Info & Entries to: Tom Hartmayer, 963 Mansfield City Rd., Storrs, CT 06268, 860-989-5394, tomhart3@
uschess.org
South Florida Chess Club Wednesday’s 6:30-10:30pm. Rated G90 Tournaments and skittles. www.SouthFloridaChessClub.com.
used. 1/2 point bye available any round (except round 6) if requested in advance of round 1. Team score = total of top four (minimum of 2) finishers from each school. To compete as a team, the FSCL School Membership form and theTeam Entry form must be in possession of the FSCL commissioner. First place teams and individuals will be State Champions of their sections. Schedule: Opening Ceremony Sat., Feb 7 at 9:00am. Rounds: Sat. 1-4 (G/45) 9:30-12-2:15-4:30, Sun. 5-6 (G/60) 9-12. Awards Ceremony Sun. 3pm. Entry Fees: $40/Individual (if postmarked by 1/16/09), $50 thereafter or on site. On site registration Fri. 3pm-8pm. No entries after 8pm 2/6/09. Awards:Trophies to top 5 teams and top 10 individuals in all sections, other special awards & prizes, commerative medal for all! Side Events: Blitz: Fri., Feb 6 at 7:30pm. Registration on site only 5pm-7pm. $10 per player.Trophies to top 5 in K-5 and K-12 Sections. Bughouse: Sat., Feb 7 at 7:30pm. Registration on site only 5pm-7pm. $20 per team. Trophies to top 5 in K-5 and K-12 Sections. Team Rooms: Contact ElizabethTejada: (786)444-2467. Hotel info: (866)578-4078 Questions: FSCL Commissioner Elizabeth Tejada:
[email protected] or PO Box 22629, Hialeah, FL 33002-2629. More information available at www.fsclchess.org.
Boca Raton Chess Club
Feb. 7, February Swiss Madness (QC)
Friday nights, Game 90 Tournament, one game a week for 4 weeks. www.bocachess.com, 561-883-2917. WCL JGP.
7SS G/29, Orlando Chess & Games Center, 8853 Commodity Circle #9, Orlando, FL 32819 Reg.: 9:15-9:45, Rds.: 10-11-12:30-1:30-2:30- 3:30-4:30. EF: $30, members: $24. PF-b/30: $175-125-100-75, Lower Half Crosstable: $75-50. Info: 407-248-0818, www.orlandochess.com.
charter.net, www.uconnchess.uconn.edu, www.engr.uconn.edu, UCONN Map admissions.uconn.edu/virtualtour/search/.
District of Columbia Jan. 17-18, D.C. Junior Open U.S. Chess Center, 1501 M Street, NW. Washington, DC 20005. Open to all under age 21. 4-SS. EF: $15 if by 1/10, $20 at door. 3 Sections: Teens, Preteens Open & Preteens U800. $100 Savings Bond prize for Teen Champion. Trophies in all sections. Reg.: 12-12:45. Teen TC: G/90. Rds.: 1 - 4, 12:30 - 3:30 A Denker qualifier. Preteens TC: G/30 with all games played on Saturday. Info: (202) 8574922. www.chessctr.org/DCJunior.php. WCL JGP (Teens Section).
Florida
Jan. 10, Feb. 7, Mar. 7, Apr. 4, May 2, Florida St. Petersburg $500 Absolutely Guaranteed Cash Open 5rd Swiss, G/30. Sunshine Center, 330 Fifth St. N., St. Petersburg. EF: $25; $30 at door. (SPCC Mems. $5 off) $100-$60-$40; U1600, U1400, & U1200 $50-$30$20 each. Part of the lucrative and prestigious FCA Grand Prix. Preregister www.stpetersburgchessclub.com with Paypal. Cash or check only onsite 910 AM. Chief Organizer: Andrew Scherman. 727 822 1171. NS NC W.
Jan. 10, Feb. 7, Mar. 7, Apr. 4, May 2, St. Petersburg 66 Trophy RBO 5rd Swiss G/30 USCF RBO 4 Sect. K-2U400; K-5U500; K-8U700; & K12U1000; top 12 in each get trophy; all others get medal. Also Trophies to top 12 teams.Team (2 or more) - take best four scores from all divisions. Bughouse at lunch. EF: $18. (SPCC members $15) Onsite reg. cash or chck 9-10AM. First round 10:15 AM. Sunshine Center, 330 Fifth St. N., St. Petersburg. 66 trophies every event. www.stpetersburgchessclub.com for dirctins and Paypal prergistration. Chief Organizer: Andrew Scherman. 727 822 1171. NS NC W.
Jan. 24, January OCG Open Tournament 4 round Swiss, game/90 minutes. EF: $30. PF-b/30: $175-$110-$75. Best U1600, U-1400, U-1200, $65 each. Reg.: 9:15am-9:45am. Rds.: 10am-1pm-4pm7pm. Info: call 407-248-0818, www.orlandochess.com. WCL JGP.
Jan. 31-Feb. 1, Central Florida Chess Club Championship See Grand Prix.
Feb. 6-8, Miami Florida 2009 Superstate VI Championship 6SS, Rds 1-4 G/45, Rds 5 & 6 G/60. Miami Mart Airport Hotel & Convention Center, 711 NW 72nd Ave, Miami, FL 33126 (305)261-3800 ask for Florida Scholastic chess League rate ($169Double/$179Quad) or go to www.miamimartairport hotel.com and use the group code (clb06a). 11 Sections: K-1 Open, K-3 Open, K-3 U/600, K-5 Open, K-5 U/750, K-5 Unrated, K-8 Open, K-8 U/850, K-8 Unrated, K-12 Open, K-12 U/1000. January 2009 rating supplement will be
Feb. 13-15 or 14-15, 2009 U.S. Amateur Team - South See Nationals.
Feb. 21, February OCG Open Tournament 4 round Swiss, game/90 minutes. EF: $30. PF-b/30: $175-$110-$75. Best U1600, U-1400, U-1200, $65 each. Reg.: 9:15am-9:45am. Rds.: 10am-1pm-4pm7pm. Info: call 407-248-0818, www.orlandochess.com. WCL JGP.
Mar. 7, Orlando Bonus Tornado 4-SS, G/75, Melody Manor, 813 Montana St. EF: $30, CFCC mbr: $25, Masters free-EF deducted from prize. $$605 b/30: 200-100-80, U1800, U1600, U1400 $75 ea. Prize increased 50% for 4-0 score. Reg.: 9:30am. Rds.: 10-12:303-5:30. Info: (407) 629-6946, centralflchess.org. WCL JGP.
Idaho Feb. 14-16, 2009 Idaho Closed IDAHO RESIDENTS ONLY! Shilo Inn, 1586 Blue Lakes Blvd No., Twin Falls, ID 83301. 6SS, 30/120, SD/60. Rounds: 9, 4, 9, 4, 8, 3. One 1/2 Pt Bye, Rounds 1 - 5, Must notify TD before second round. Reg.: 8am - 8:30am Saturday Feb 14. One Section: Open. EF: $30 by 2/10/2009, $40 at door. Prizes: 1st, 2nd, 3rd Overall - 1st, 2nd XThru F, Junior, Senior, Unrated. HR: $79/2-4 People, $15 Each Additional Person. FREE breakfast for each occupant. 866-539-0036, Ask for Darlene or mention chess. Contact: ICA % Jay Simonson, 208-206-7667. Mailto:
[email protected]. NS, NC, W.
Illinois Jan. 31, JJC Winter Open 4SS, G45, Joliet Jr. College, Bldg J, 1215 Houbolt Road,Joliet, Il. 60431 (Park
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SEE PREVIOUS ISSUE FOR TLAS APPEARING JANUARY 1-14
Tournament Life in J lot). $$$250 b/30, $60-30 A,B,C,D,E/F each $35, unrated book prize. EF: $15 by 1/19, $25 at site, one half pt bye max. Reg.: 10:00am-10:50am. Rds.: 11:00-12:45-3:00-4:45. Checks payable to: Dennis Doyle, c/oJJC Chess Club, 536 Springwood Drive, Joliet Il. 60431, no phone or credit card entries, bring chess set and clocks, none provided. Bring USCF id to tournament. Email:
[email protected].
Mar. 13-15 or 14-15, 13th Annual Mid-America Open (MO) See Grand Prix.
May 22-25, 23-25 or 24-25, 18th annual Chicago Open See Grand Prix.
Indiana Feb. 28-Mar. 1, 2009 U.S. Jr. Chess Congress See Nationals.
Mar. 13-15 or 14-15, 13th Annual Mid-America Open (MO) See Grand Prix.
Iowa Jan. 31, Cedar Rapids Leatherjackets 4SS, G/60 (IA Mini-Qualifier). Kirkwood Community College, Iowa Hall, Marland Room, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 EF: $18 postmarked by 1/24, $22 on-site. REG: 8:30-9:30 RDS: 10-1-3:15, 5:30. G/60T/D5. PRIZES: 1st $40+Trophy, 2nd $20+Trophy, U1900, U1700, U1500, U1300 each $20+Trophy. IASCA membership required ($15 Reg, $10 Jr.) or OSA. ENT: James Hodina, 3411 Blue Pt Ct. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52404. INFO: 319-390-6525 or
[email protected]. Campus Map: www.kirkwood.edu/maincampus.
Kentucky Elizabethtown Chess Club Special Rated tournament the 2nd Tuesday of each month and we meet every Tuesday between 6:30-10:00. We meet at the Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, in Room 108A of the OccupationalTechnical Building. For further details visit our website @ www.geocities.com/elizabethtownchessclub/
A State Championship Event! Jan. 17, 2009 Kentucky Class Championship 5SS, G/45, $2240 with 50% guaranteed - full prize awarded in any class with at least 10 entries. If less than 4 entries class will be cancelled. St. Matthews United Methodist Church, 319 Browns Lane, Louisville, Ky. Sections: M, X, A, B, C, D, E/under. EF: $29 if received by 01/10, $35 on site. KCA membership required for all Ky residents ($8 adult, $4 sr or jr). Prizes: 1st: $200, 2nd: $120 (each section). Reg.: 9am - 9:45. Rds.: 10, 11:30, 1:30, 3, 4:30. Ent: KCA, PO Box 8035, Louisville, KY 40257. Info: Allen Priest 502-228-5054. kychess.org.
Jan. 24, Begin Anew 4SS, Rd1,2-G/30, Rd3,4-G/60. Full open with no lower sections. UK Student Center Room #231, Avenue of Champions (Euclid Ave), Lexington KY. Plenty of easy and free parking. 2200+ rated players get FREE entry. EF: $1 for every 100 rating points. Minimum $10. PRIZES: 90% of entry fees returned. RDS: 10:15
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Chess Life — January 2009
- 11:15 - lunch - 1 - 3:15. ENT: Stephen Miller, 859.200.8460, zepper55@ yahoo.com, Jerry Baker, 859.806.0637,
[email protected]. Lexchess.com.
Jan. 24, LTMS Chess Club Scholastic Tournament at P.L. Dunbar High School, Lexington. More Information available at: www.ltms.fcps.net/chess.
Feb. 7, Chess is in the Air 4SS, G/45. U1600 or U1400 section depending on entries. UK Student Center Room #231, Avenue of Champions (Euclid Ave), Lexington KY. 2200+ rated players get FREE entry. EF: $1 for every 100 rating points. Minimum $10. PRIZES: 90% of entry fees returned. RDS: 10:15-lunch-12:30-2:15-3:45. ENT: Stephen Miller, 859.200.8460,
[email protected], Jerry Baker, 859.806.0637,
[email protected]. Lexchess.com.
Maryland
Silver Knights Chess Tournaments We organize USCF-rated tournaments on Saturdays for adults and kids. Free analysis by a National Master at every tournament for the scholastic players. Trophies to top scholastic finishers; 70% of entries returned as prizes in open (adult) sections. To see a list of dates and locations, see our website at www.silver knightschess.com. Phone: 610-446-0818. Email:
[email protected]. Jan. 9 & 23, Feb. 6, Catonsville Friday Knight Quick #75, #76 & #77 (QC) 5SS, G/15, Catonsville Chess Club, Bloomsbury Community Center, 106 Bloomsbury Ave, Catonsville, MD. 21228. EF: $5.00 Reg.: 7:30pm. Rds.: 8, 8:30, 9, 9:30, 10. Prizes based on entries with 65% returned in prize fund. Info: Joe Summers
[email protected] or 410-788-1009. www.geocities.com/catons villechess. Dir: 695 to exit 13 West, left at second light, 3 blocks on right.
Jan. 10, Dumbarton Scholastic Dumbarton Middle Sch., 300 Dumbarton Road,Towson, MD 21212. 5 sections: Contenders: K-12 >1200, 4SS, G/65 MD Sweet 16 Rally Section; Future Contenders: K-12 >800 and U1300, 4SS, G/65; HS/MS Reserve: 6-12 U900, 5SS, G/40; Elementary Reserve: K-5 U900, 5SS, G/40. Novice: K-5 U500, 4SS G/30, EF: $15 by 12/23, $20 by 1/6, and $25 online only by 1/9, no at the door reg. Trophies top individuals in each section. 1st rnds @9:20, 9:30, 9:40, 9:40, and 10:30 respectively. Ent: Michael Regan, 1827Thornton Ridge Rd,Towson, MD 21204. Detailed rules, info, & online entry: jandumbar.eventbrite.com/. WCL JGP.
Jan. 24, Kasparov Chess Foundation presents Greater Mid-Atlantic Elementary Championship! 5-SS, G/30, open to all grades K-6/ below. Hilton Pikesville, 1726 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21208. 2 sections: Elementary Varsity, open to all. EF: $30 postmarked by 1/10/09. Trophies to the 8 top-scoring players and the 4 top-scoring schools, the top rated Under 1000, and the top 3 Unrated. Elementary Novice rated Under 800 or Unrated. EF: $30 postmarked by 1/10/09. Trophies: top 8 players; top 3 Unrated, top 4 schools, top Under 600. Any player
who scores 4 or more points and doesn’t win a trophy will receive a medal!The Top individual players in each section also win free entree into Chess Pro weekend chess camps – a saving of hundreds of dollars! All entry fees $5 less per player if 4 or more from same school mailed together in SAME ENVELOPE! Refunds: $10 service charge for each player refund. $10 extra to switch sections. Current USCF Membership is required to participate. TO REGISTER, list each player’s name, USCF ID# and expiration (new players write “NEW”) address, birth date, school and grade. BE SURETO INDICATETHE CORRECT SECTION. Make checks for entry fees + all USCF dues (1 check for total amount is best) payable and mail to: CHESSPRO, 14 Hartley Circle, #532, Owings Mills, MD 21117. Questions: (443)-660-8025.All entry fees $7 extra per player postmarked January 12-16 (no mail accepted postmarked after Jan.16). On-Site Entry fee: $40 per player at the tournament! On-site registration ENDS 9:15 AM.
Jan. 24, Kasparov Chess Foundation presents Greater Mid-Atlantic Primary Championship! 5-SS, G/30, open to all grades K-3/ below. Hilton Pikesville, 1726 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21208. 2 sections: Primary Varsity, open to all. EF: $30 postmarked by 1/10/09. Trophies to the 8 top-scoring players and the 4 topscoring schools, the top rated Under 900, and the top 3 Unrated. Primary Novice rated Under 700 or Unrated. EF: $30 postmarked by 1/10/09.Trophies: top 8 players; top 3 Unrated, top 4 schools, top Under 500. Trophies to the top 4 Kindergartners! Any player who scores 4 or more points and doesn’t win a trophy will receive a medal! The Top individual players in each section also win free entree into Chess Pro weekend chess camps – a saving of hundreds of dollars! All entry fees $5 less per player if 4 or more from same school mailed together in SAME ENVELOPE! Refunds: $10 service charge for each player refund. $10 extra to switch sections. Current USCF Membership is required to participate. TO REGISTER, list each player’s name, USCF ID# and expiration (new players write “NEW”) address, birth date, school and grade. BE SURETO INDICATETHE CORRECT SECTION. Make checks for entry fees + all USCF dues (1 check for total amount is best) payable and mail to: CHESSPRO, 14 Hartley Circle, #532, Owings Mills, MD 21117. Questions: (443)-660-8025. All entry fees $7 extra per player postmarked January 12-16 (no mail accepted postmarked after Jan.16). On-Site Entry fee: $40 per player at the tournament! On-site registration ENDS 9:15 AM.
Jan. 25, Kasparov Chess Foundation presents Greater Mid-Atlantic High School Championship! 5-SS, G/30, open to all in grades K-12/ below. Hilton Pikesville, 1726 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21208. 2 sections: High School Varsity, open to all. EF: $30 postmarked by 1/10/09. Trophies to the 8 top-scoring players and the 4 top-scoring schools, the top rated Under 1500, and the top 3 Unrated. High School Novice rated Under 1200 or Unrated. EF: $30 postmarked by 1/10/09. Trophies: top 8 players; top 3 Unrated, top 4 schools, top Under 900. Any player who scores 4 or more points and doesn’t win a trophy will receive a medal! The Top individual players in each section also win free entree into Chess Pro weekend chess camps – a saving of hundreds of dollars! All entry fees $5 less per player if 4 or more from same school mailed together in SAME ENVELOPE! Refunds: $10 service charge for each player refund. $10 extra to switch sections. Current USCF Membership is required to participate. TO REG-
uschess.org
ISTER, list each player’s name, USCF ID# and expiration (new players write “NEW”) address, birth date, school and grade. BE SURETO INDICATETHE CORRECT SECTION. Make checks for entry fees + all USCF dues (1 check for total amount is best) payable and mail to: CHESSPRO, 14 Hartley Circle, #532, Owings Mills, MD 21117. Questions: (443)-660-8025. All entry fees $7 extra per player postmarked January 12-16 (no mail accepted postmarked after Jan.16). On-Site Entry fee: $40 per player at the tournament! On-site registration ENDS 9:15 AM.
Jan. 25, Kasparov Chess Foundation presents Greater Mid-Atlantic Junior High Championship! 5-SS, G/30, open to all grades 9/ below. Hilton Pikesville, 1726 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21208. 2 sections: Junior High Varsity, open to all. EF: $30 postmarked by 1/10/09. Trophies to the 8 top-scoring players and the 4 top-scoring schools, the top rated Under 1200, and the top 3 Unrated. Junior High Novice rated Under 1000 or Unrated. EF: $30 postmarked by 1/10/09. Trophies: top 8 players; top 3 Unrated, top 4 schools, top Under 700. Any player who scores 4 or more points and doesn’t win a trophy will receive a medal!The Top individual players in each section also win free entree into Chess Pro weekend chess camps – a saving of hundreds of dollars! All entry fees $5 less per player if 4 or more from same school mailed together in SAME ENVELOPE! Refunds: $10 service charge for each player refund. $10 extra to switch sections. Current USCF Membership is required to participate. TO REGISTER, list each player’s name, USCF ID# and expiration (new players write “NEW”) address, birth date, school and grade. BE SURETO INDICATETHE CORRECT SECTION. Make checks for entry fees + all USCF dues (1 check for total amount is best) payable and mail to: CHESSPRO, 14 Hartley Circle, #532, Owings Mills, MD 21117. Questions: (443)-660-8025.All entry fees $7 extra per player postmarked January 12-16 (no mail accepted postmarked after Jan.16). On-Site Entry fee: $40 per player at the tournament! On-site registration ENDS 9:15 AM.
A State Championship Event! Jan. 31, 5th Annual Maryland State Girls Chess Championship Roland Park Country School; 5204 Roland Ave; Baltimore, MD 21210. Come out and play in an all-girl environment - limited to Maryland girl residents in grades K-12. Winner of Championship section will be MD Qualifier to the Susan Polgar National Invitational tournament for Girls. In 3 sections: Championship (Polgar Qualifier): 4-SS, G/60. Reserve (U800): 5-SS, G/30. Novice (U500): 5-SS, G/30. Number of rounds and time control may change based on number of players. Sets and boards provided, please bring chess clock. Checkin: 9:10-9:50am. Rds: Round 1 @ 10am. EF: $20 by 1/24; $25 by 1/29; $30 at door. Ent: Online registration at mdgirls09.eventbrite.com. Mail registration: if postmarked by 1/27, mail name, section, USCF number, grade, school, phone, and email plus check to Maryland Chess Association; c/o Chris Kim; 3903 N Charles St; Baltimore, MD 21218. Info: Chris Kim,
[email protected], 410794-6312.
Jan. 31, Kasparov Chess Foundation presents the 43rd Annual Greater NY Junior High Championship! See New York.
uschess.org
Jan. 31, Kasparov Chess Foundation presents the 30th Annual Greater NY Primary Championship!
Feb. 28-Mar. 1, 3rd annual Saratoga Open (NY)
See New York.
Feb. 28-Mar. 1, NY State Scholastics (out of state welcome)
Feb. 1, Kasparov Chess Foundation presents the 43rd Annual Greater NY Elementary Championship!
See New York.
See New York.
Feb. 1, Kasparov Chess Foundation presents the 43rd Annual Greater NY High School Championship!
See Grand Prix.
Mar. 6-8 or 7-8, 18th annual Eastern Class Championships See Grand Prix.
Apr. 8-12, 9-12 or 10-12, 11th annual Foxwoods Open (CT)
See New York.
See Grand Prix.
Mar. 14-15, UMBC Open - Alvin S. Mintzes Chess Tournament
Michigan
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 17-18, Michigan Master/Expert & Class Championships
Massachusetts
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 17, 18th Annual Mid-Winter Classic
Minnesota
3SS, G/90, Florence Congregational Church, 130 Pine Street, Florence, MA 01063. $725 Prize fund (based on 30 adv. entries) EF: $28, by 1/12/09; $35 at site. Titled Masters, FREE ENTRY!! (Adv. EF deducted from any prizes won). New/UNR players, $15 by 1/12/09 (New/UNR must play in U1400 Sec). W.M.C.A. MEMBER DISCOUNTS: $2 off. SEC./PRIZES: OPEN/1st $200, 2nd $150 U1800/1st $125, U1400/1st $100, 2nd $50. Byes: Limit of one 1/2-point bye, available for any round, specified w/entry. Reg: 8:30 AM - 9:15 AM. Rds.: 9:30, 1:00, 4:15. Ent: Frank Kolasinski, 119 Brunswick St., Springfield MA 01108 Questions? Call Frank @ 413-209-9450/e-mail: horseyman5000@ aol.com. WMCA website: www.WesternMassachusettsChessAssociation.org.
Feb. 1, BCF 2nd Superbowl Quads 3RR, G/60. Boylston C.C., 240B Elm St. Suite B9, Somerville, MA 02144. EF: $27, $17; BCC members; $$50 1st per Quad. Reg.: 11:00-11:25AM. Rounds: 11:30, 1:45, 4:00. NS, NC, W.Tel. 617-629-3933 Website: www.boylstonchessclub.org.
Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26, Thursday Night Swiss 4SS; 40/90, G/20. Two sections: Open & Under 1800; Minimun 5 players to have an Open section or these players will roll over the Under 1800 section. Boylston C.F., 240B Elm St. Suite B9, Somerville, MA 02144. EF: $27, $17 BCC; Prizes: b/20 1st $100, 2nd $20 in each section. Reg.: 6:30- 6:50 PM. Rd at 7PM. NS, NC, W. Tel. 617-629-3933. WCL JGP.
Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27, Billerica Friday Swiss 4 Rds. 40/90, SD/30. Billerica COA, 25 Concord Rd, Billerica, MA. EF: $12. Reg.: 7:30pm. Cash prizes minimal b/entries. For info, call Brad Ryan, (978) 369-8533. NS, NC. WCL JGP.
Feb. 7, BCF Quads 9-2 3RR, G/60. Boylston C.C., 240B Elm St. Suite B9, Somerville, MA 02144. EF: $27, $17; BCC members; $$50 1st per Quad. Reg.: 9:15-9:55AM. Rounds: 10:00, 12:40, 3:00. NS, NC, W.Tel. 617-629-3933. Website: www.boylstonchessclub.org.
Feb. 22, BCC Sunday Scholastic 4SS, G/40. Boylston C.C., 240B Elm St. Suite B9, Somerville, MA 02144. Three sections: Under 8, 11, 14 years old. EF: $20; $10 BCC members. Prizes:Trophies to top two in each section. Reg.: 9:15 – 9:55 AM. Rounds: 10 rest asap. NS, NC, W. Tel. 617-629-3933.
May 22-25, 23-25 or 24-25, 18th annual Chicago Open (IL) See Grand Prix.
Missouri Jan. 17, Kansas City New Year Open 3SS, G/90. The Kansas City Chess Club. 2512 NW Vivion Rd., Riverside, MO 64150. 2 Sections: Open & U1600. Prizes: $300 b/30. EF: $5 online kansascitychessclub.com, $10 onsite. Reg.: 10AM. Rds.: Sat. 10:30/2/5:30. Byes. USCF & KCCA mem.req. 816-835-7529 INFO e-mail
[email protected].
Jan. 24, Wilhelm Steinitz Open 3SS, G/75. UMC Memorial Union room N208, 518 Hitt St., Columbia MO. Directions: From I-70 exit 126, south on Providence, east on Rollins, north on Hitt. Reg.: 9:30-10:15. Rds.: 10:30, 1:15, 4:00. EF: $1, no prizes — just the satisfaction of playing well. Info: Charles Ward, 573-443-6685, czar8196@ tranquility.net. W.
Mar. 13-15 or 14-15, 13th Annual Mid-America Open See Grand Prix.
Nebraska A Heritage Event! Jan. 17, 30th Merrick County Open
For details on
2009 U.S. AMATEUR TEAM EVENTS East, North, South, West See Nationals Section!
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Tournament Life 4SS, G/65. Open. Nebraska Christian School Dining Room, one mile west, then north of Central City, NE 68826. Reg.: 8-8:30am. EF: $10.30 before 1/14, $15 at site. 1st Rd.: 9:10am. Trophies to: 1st, 1st U1700, 1st U1500, 1st U1300. K-12 Section: 5SS, G/65. 1st Rd.: 9:20am. Trophies to: 1st, 1st High School, 1st K-6, 1st U900/unr. ENT: Richard Olson, 409 E. Amity St., Clarks, NE 68628. (308) 548-2634. NS, NC, W. WCL JGP.
Nevada
tions: K-5 U800; K-8 U1000; and K-12 Open. EF: $5 if info rec’d by 1/22, $9 at site. Reg.: 9-9:45. Rd 1: 10:00, Rds 2-4 ASAP. Trophies and medals awarded. Entries should include name, section, USCF ID. Checks payable to: Chess Club, More info: 603-827-3272.
[email protected]. NS, W.
Feb. 7-8, 33rd Queen City Open See Grand Prix.
Feb. 14, February Freeze Scholastic
Mar. 6-8 or 7-8, Western Chess Congress (CA-N) See Grand Prix.
June 4, 2009 U.S. Game/10 Championship (QC) See Nationals.
June 5, National Open Scholastic Trophy Tournament 5-SS Game/30. South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89183. Open to players Uage 20. In 3 sections. U1800, U1200, and U800. Unrateds in the U1200 section and all players in the U800 section must be under age 12.Trophies to top 4 in each section, top 1 in each 200 point rating group and unrated. EF $29 by 5/19, $35 by 6/3, $40 on site. REG 9-9:45 a.m. RDS 10-11:15-12:30-1:45-3. HR: $75 single or double ($95 Friday and Saturday nights). 1-866-791-7626 or (702) 796-7111. ENT: Las Vegas International Chess Festival, PO Box 90925, Henderson, NV 89009-0925 or www.VegasChess Festival.com. NS NC W.
June 5-7 or 6-7, 2009 National Open See Nationals.
June 6-7, Susan Polgar World Open Championship for Girls and for Boys 5-SS, G/45. South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89183. In 8 sections separate for girls and boys: under19, under 15, under 11, and under 8 (as of June 7). In each section 1st place receives a MonRoi Personal Chess Manager. $$ 200-150-100-50 in chess prizes for 2nd thru 5th.Trophies for top 10 individuals, top 3 (3-player) school/club teams each section, special medals for next 10 individuals and next 3 school/club teams. Every player receives a special hand-signed certificate from Susan Polgar. Perfect score also wins a digital chess clock. Scholarships to Texas Tech will be awarded based in part on performance in this event. EF $45 by 1/19, $55 by 5/19, $65 by 6/3, $75 on site. Reg 4-8 p.m. Friday, 8:30-9:30 a.m. Saturday. Rds 11-1:30-4, 11-1:30. Breakfast with Susan 9 a.m. Sunday. Opening Ceremony 10 a.m. Saturday, Awards Ceremony 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Blitz Championship 7 p.m. Saturday. Susan Polgar lecture 3:30 p.m. Friday, Puzzle Solving Competition 5 p.m. Friday, Simul 6:15 p.m. Friday. Chess Camp 9:00 a.m.Thursday. Part of the LAS VEGAS INTERNATIONAL CHESS FESTIVAL; see the National Open TLA for other Thursday and Friday side events. HR $75 single or double ($95 Fri/Sat). 1-866-791-7626 or (702) 796-7111. REG: Las Vegas International Chess Festival, PO Box 90925, Henderson, NV 89009-0125, on line at www.VegasChessFestival.com, or by fax at (702) 933-9112. No telephone entries. NS. W. NC.
4SS, G/30. Wells Memorial School, 235 Chesham Rd., Harrisville, NH 03450. 3 Sections: K-5 U800; K-8 U1000; and Open K-12. EF: $5 if info rec’d by 5/19, $9 at site. Reg.: 9-9:45. Rd 1: 10:00, Rds 2-4 ASAP. Trophies and medals awarded. Entries should include name, section, USCF ID. Refreshments & hot food will be sold by PTA. Checks payable to: Chess Club, More info: 603-8273272.
[email protected]. NS, W.
New Jersey
Silver Knights Chess Tournaments 2-3 Saturdays per month we run scholastic USCFrated tournaments throughout the Philadelphia area. Tournament locations include Philadelphia, Mt. Laurel (NJ), Bryn Mawr, Horsham, Collegeville, and more. Tournaments are open to grades K-12. Free game analysis by a National or International Master at each tournament. We have players of all skill levels compete in our tournaments, from brand-new kindergarteners up through some of the highest-rated scholastic players in the state. To see a list of dates and locations, see our website at www.silverknightschess.com. Phone: 610-4460818. Email:
[email protected]. Wizards of the Mind Chess School 15 Center Street, Springfield, NJ - Lessons on Wednesdays and Saturdays for beginners, intermediate and advanced students. Scholastic USCF-rated tournaments. For schedule and information visit our website at www.wizardsofthemind.com, email info@wizardsofthe mind.com or call 973-262-1395. The Newark Sleepless Knights Chess Club Boylan Recreation Center of Newark, 916 So. Orange Ave. Newark, New Jersey 07103. Meets 1st and 2nd Saturdays of every months from 2-6pm. USCF rated tournaments and free chess lessons available.
Jan. 15, ATKM 3rd Thursday Quads
New Hampshire
3 RR G/30 t/d5, Quads are grouped by rating. All the King’s Men Chess Shop, 62 S Broadway, Pitman NJ 08071. Prizes: $25 1st per quad. Unrated cannot win more than $10. EF: $12, $10 ATKMCC members. Unrated (i.e. players with NO rating whatsoever, provisional or otherwise) $7, $5 ATKMCC members. Reg.: 6:15 - 6:45 PM. Rds.: 7-8-9 pm. INFO: Stephen Dick, cs@ATKMchess Sets.com, 856-582-8222. All: Visa/MC/Disc OK w/$1 paid surcharge. Bring a clock!
Jan. 24, Amherst Scholastic
Jan. 16-19, 17-19 or 18-19, 41st annual Liberty Bell Open (PA)
4SS, G/30. Amherst Middle School, 14 Cross Rd., Amherst, NH 03031. 3 Sec-
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 17, Somerset County K-8 Scholastic Championship (In 4 sections) Clarence Dillon Public Library 2336 Lamington Rd (off Rt# 206) Bedminster, NJ. 5SS, Game/30. Top in each grade will be County Champ. Trophies to top 10 in each section, others get Medallions. First Round at 10am, then ASAP with lunch break after round #2. U1200: Open to 1199 & under. U900: Open to 899 & under. Open to Unrated Grades 5 - 8. U500: Open to 499 & under. Open to Unrated Grades K-4. All in rated sections must be USCF member. Beginner/unrated K-8 Section. USCF membership not required. Early EF: $10 if mail by Jan 12, Late EF: $15 Jan 17 at site before 10am. Enter online at entryfeesrus.com. Ent: Ken Thomas, 115 West Moore St. Hackettstown, NJ 07840. Info: Ken Thomas, (908) 763-6468.
[email protected]. NS, NC, W.
Jan. 18, 2009 Westfield Winter Scholastic 3 SS game/30 Westfield Y, 220 Clark Street, Westfield, N.J. Trophies to top 3 in each section (tiebreaks). Sections: k-2,3-5,6-12. Entrance fee: $20, $15 Members. Registration: 2-2:30 Rounds: 2:45-4:00-5:15 p.m. Unrated Section 3 SS Game/30 gold medal to first, silver medal to second, bronze medal to third Registration 2-2:30 p.m. Rounds 2:45-4:00-5:15 p.m. Entrance Fee $10. Info: Todd Lunna 732-946-7379. www.westfieldchessclub.com.
Jan. 24, Hamilton Chess Club Quads 3RR 40/80 15/30 15/30. Full K. Ray Dwier Recreation Center, Bldg. 392, Groveville, NJ 08620. Quads open to all EF: $10. $25 per Quad. Reg.: 910:30/am. Rds.: 10:30/am-1:30/pm-4:30/pm NJ State Chess Federation, no dues magazine Subscription per year, OSA NS NC W.
Jan. 25, 2009 Westfield Swiss #56 (QC) 5 Rd. game/15 full k (QC) Westfield Y, 220 Clark Street, Westfield,N.J. $500 Guaranteed $125,$85,$50 under 2100,under 1850, under 1600, under 1350 $60 each Entrance fee: $35, $25. Members. Registration: 2-2:30 p.m. Rounds: 2:45-3:25-4:05-4:45-5:30 p.m. Info: Todd Lunna 732-946-7379 www.westfieldchessclub.com.
Feb. 7, Princeton Day School 650 The Great Road. Plaques to top 3 school teams and top 6 in each section. Medals to all players. Sections: FUTURE MASTERS and CLOSED begin 10:30 (must preregister). FUTURE MASTERS G/60 3 rounds (Players K-12 over 1200), CLOSED G/45 (K-12 1000-1200) 4 rds, ALL OTHER SECTIONS On Site Reg.: 11:30-12:30. 4 Rds.: 1, 2, 3, 4pm. (times will be accelerated if possible) G/30: OPEN (Players K-12 U-1000), Reserve (K-12 U-800), Novice II (K-8 U-600), Novice I (unrated K-6), K-1 (unrated) NO SCORE K-1 (unrated). PARENTS OF PLAYERS G/30 rated, 3 rounds. Info and Register online: www.pds.org/chess. Inquires to Bonnie Waitzkin.
[email protected]. Pre-registration $30 (Onsite $40).
Feb. 8, ICA Winter 2009 Open Championship See Grand Prix.
Feb. 8, 2009 Westfield Quads 3 RR game/45 full k. Westfield Y, 220 Clark Street, Westfield N.J. Prizes: $50 to first in each section. Entry Fee: $20, $15 Members. Registration: 2-2:15 p.m. Rounds: 2:30-4:20-6:10 p.m. Info: Todd Lunna 732-946-7379. www.westfieldchessclub.com.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Reno-Far West Open IX April 10-12, 2009 The Sands Regency Casino Hotel Reno, Nevada
$22,500 (b/250) - $15,000 Gtd. 6 Rd Swiss - 5 Sections 150 GP Pts (enhanced) Average entry $135!
Rooms $27! mid-week / $54! Fri & Sat. Sands Regency Reservations 1-866-FUN STAY Code CHESS09
Simul $15! GM Khachiyan
ENTRY FORM/MORE INFO: www.renochess.org/fwo TD NTD Jerome V “Jerry” Weikel
[email protected] 775.747.1405
SEE TLA IN MARCH ISSUE 64
Chess Life — January 2009
uschess.org
Feb. 8, ICA Winter 2009 Scholastic Championship
Mar. 8, 2009 Westfield Quads
4 SS, EVERYONE PLAYS 4 GAMES, ALL PLAYERS WITH 2.5 POINTS OR MORE WILL RECEIVE A TROPHY!!! Bergen Academy, 200 Hackensack Ave., Hackensack, NJ 07601. U.S. CHESS FEDERATION MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED FOR SECTIONS 1 AND 2. Info: 201 287 0250 or 201 833 1741 E-mail:
[email protected]. (Web Site Entries: www.icanj.net) EF Adv (pmk by Feb 4th) $25 AT Site $30 Reg ends ½ hr before 1st rnd. Late entrants will receive 1/2 point bye for rnd 1. In 4 Sections Section 1: G/45 Open to players rated below 1200 K through 12th grade. Rds.: 9:45 AM, 11:30, 1:15, 3:00 PM. Section 2: G/60 Open to players rated below 1600 K through 12th grade. Rds: 9:45 AM, 12:00, 2:15, 4:30 PM. Section 3: Open to unrated players K through 2nd grade. Rds.: 10:15 AM (tournament will end at approximately 1:00 PM). Section 4: Open to unrated players K through 12th grade. Rds.: 10:00 AM (tournament will end at approximately 2:00 PM). ENT: Diana Tulman, 28 Canterbury Lane, New Milford, NJ 07646. NS NC W.
3 RR game/45 full k. Westfield Y, 220 Clark Street, Westfield N.J. Prizes: $50 to first in each section. Entry Fee: $20, $15 Members. Registration: 2-2:15 p.m. Rounds: 2:30-4:20-6:10 p.m. Info: Todd Lunna 732-946-7379. www.west fieldchessclub.com.
Feb. 9 - May 18, Spring Round Robin 9-15-RR. 40/90, Additional 40/60 or SD 60 - Players Choice. Hackettstown Community Center, 293 Main St., Hackettstown, NJ. EF: $16, JRS - SRS $12. Winner gets double prize, trophy or chess books ordered from the USCF catalog. Remaining top 40% trophy or chess books to each. Reg.: 7-7:30PM. RDS.: 7:30PM Mondays. ENT: Harold J Darst, 111 W. Moore St., Hackettstown, NJ 07840. (908) 852-5925. WCL JGP.
A State Championship Event! Mar. 8, New Jersey Junior High School Championships 5SS, G/30. Rutgers University - Busch Campus Center 604 Bartholomew Rd., Piscataway, NJ 08854-8002. Section: JHS (K-9). ALL: Trophies to top 15 individuals, top 5 teams. Rds.: 10am then ASAP.Top 4 scores constitute team score. EF: $25 before 2/28, $45 at site. $5 for changes at site. USCF memb. req’d. EF includes 1 year memb. to NJSCF for NJ state residents. Reg.: 8-9:00 am. After 9:00 am, half-point bye for round one. INFO: 732-259-3881, hsprechman@ aol.com. ENT: New Jersey State Chess Federation (NJSCF), PO Box 1511, Jackson, New Jersey 08527. Entries must include name, grade & school, date of birth, USCF ID # & Expiration date, mailing address, email address, phone number and entry fee. Checks made out to NJSCF.
$20. ($$ 360 b/24): 120-70-50, U2200/unr $65, U2000 $55. Rds.: 12-1:30-2:454-5:20pm. One bye available, request with entry.
Jan. 20, St. John’s Masters at the Marshall Chess Club See Grand Prix.
Jan. 22, 4 Rated Games Tonight! 4-SS, G/30, Chess Center at Marshall Club, 23 W 10th St, bet 5-6 Ave, NYC: 212477-3716. May be limited to 1st 36 entries. EF $30, Club membs $20, specified Greater NY Scholastic prizewinners free. $$ (480 b/32 paid): 150-10050, Top U2200/unr $95, U2000 $85. Limit 2 byes (1 bye if U2000), commit by 8:15. Re-entry $15, counts half. Reg. ends 10 min. before game. Rds. 7-8:159:30-10:45 pm. Phone entry often impossible! $5 extra if entering under 10 min. before game.
Jan. 22-Feb. 19, Marshall CC Thursday Members-Only Swiss 5SS, 30/90, SD/60. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. Open to members only. EF: $20. $$300 b/20: $120-70-50, U2000 $60. Reg.: 6:15-6:45, Rds.: 7pm each Thursday. Byes ok, limit 2, request by round 3.
New Mexico
Jan. 24, Kasparov Chess Foundation presents Greater Mid-Atlantic Elementary Championship!
Jan. 17-18, 2009 Memorial/Senior Championship
See Maryland.
4SS, G/2, Days Inn, 2120 Menaul NE, Albuquerque. 505-884-0250. Prize fund $1000 $$b/80. Sections: Tom Keffer 1600 and above. EF: $35. Randy Greenup U1800. EF: $30. Robert Zing U1400. EF: $25. Reg.: 8-8:30 A.M. Jan 17 Rds.: 9-2-, 9-2. Byes: 1/2 pt. max. request. before Rd 1. NM Senior Champion: highest scoring senior (over age 50) inTom Keffer sect. Free entry to oldest senior. All: Advance Ent. must be rec’d. by Jan.16. ($10 more at site). USCF Memb. Req’d. After one full-price entry, additional immediate family members $10 discount. Ent: checks payable to NMCO, PO Box 4215, Albuquerque, NM 87196. Info: nmchess.org. WCL JGP.
Jan. 24, Kasparov Chess Foundation presents Greater Mid-Atlantic Primary Championship!
Feb. 28-Mar. 1, NY State Scholastics (out of state welcome)
New York
See New York.
The Chess Exchange: Chess and Games Club
Jan. 25, Kasparov Chess Foundation presents Greater Mid-Atlantic Junior High Championship!
Mar. 1, 2009 Westfield Swiss #57 (QC)
G/30 Rated Quads 1st Sunday of every Month. G/5 BlitzTournaments Last Sunday of every Month. 288 Third Ave., Brooklyn (718) 645-5896. Mon-Fri 12-8pm, Sun 12-6pm. www.TheChessExchange.com www.TriStateChess.com Email:
[email protected].
Feb. 14-16, World Amateur Team & U.S. Team East See Nationals.
Feb. 22, 2009 Westfield Quads 3 RR game/45 full k. Westfield Y, 220 Clark Street, Westfield N.J. Prizes: $50 to first in each section. Entry Fee: $20, $15 Members. Registration: 2-2:15 p.m. Rounds: 2:30-4:20-6:10 p.m. Info: Todd Lunna 732-946-7379. www.westfieldchessclub.com.
5 Rd. game/15 full k (QC) Westfield Y, 220 Clark Street, Westfield,N.J. $500 Guaranteed $125,$85,$50 under 2100,under 1850, under 1600, under 1350 $60 each Entrance fee: $35, $25. Members. Registration: 2-2:30 p.m. Rounds: 2:45-3:25-4:05-4:45-5:30 p.m. Info: Todd Lunna 732-946-7379. www.westfieldchessclub.com.
A State Championship Event! Mar. 1, New Jersey State Elementary Championships 5SS, G/30. Brookdale College, 765 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft, NJ 07738. Student Life Center, use Parking Lot #7 or #6; 5 minutes from Garden State Parkway exit 109. 2 Sections: Elementary (K-6) & Primary (K-3). All: Trophies to top 15 individuals, top 5 teams. Elementary & Primary: Top 5 in each grade. Rds.: 10 am then ASAP. Top 4 scores constitute the team score for Elementary; top 3 for Primary. EF: $25 before 2/23, $45 at site. USCF memb. req’d. EF includes 1 year memb. to NJSCF for NJ state residents. Reg.: 8-9:00 am. After 9:00 am, 1/2 point bye for round 1. INFO: 973-228-7039, ENT: Mike Somers, 29 Oakland Ave., West Caldwell, NJ 07006. Entries must include name, grade & school, date of birth, USCF ID # & Expiration date, mailing address, email address, phone number and entry fee. Checks made out to NJSCF.
Mar. 6-8 or 7-8, 18th annual Eastern Class Championships (MA) See Grand Prix.
A State Championship Event! Mar. 7-8, New Jersey High School Championships 5SS, G/90. Rutgers University - Busch Campus Center 604 Bartholomew Rd., Piscataway, NJ 08854-8002. Call (732) 445-6127 for directions. 3 sections: Varsity Championship (9-12): 5 player teams with one alternate allowed. Coaches set order by player strength. Order must not be changed. Team avg. based on top 5 highest ratings. Trophies to top 10 NJ teams. Trophies for top three players, boards 1-5. Rds.: Sat. 10-2-6, Sun. 10-2. EF: $125/team before 2/28. $175/team at site. $5 per change on site. Junior Varsity (9-12): 4 player teams with one alternate allowed. Team avg. based on top 4 highest ratings. Trophies to top 10 NJ teams. Trophies for top 3 players, boards 1-4. Rds.: Sat. 10-2-6, Sun. 10-2. EF: $100/team before 2/28, $150 team on site. $5 per change on site. Booster (K-12): Trophies to top 15 individuals, top 5 teams, top 2 JHS, & top 2 elementary (K-6). Rds.: Sat. 10-2-6, Sun 10-2. Top 4 scores constitute team score. EF: $25 before 2/28, $35 at site. All: USCF memb. required. EF includes 1 year membership to NJSCF for NJ residents. Reg.: Sat. 8-9:00am. After 9:00am, 1/2 Point bye for round one. Info: 973-794-4601. ENT: Make checks payable to NJSCF and send to Roger Inglis, 49A Mara Rd., Lake Hiawatha, NJ 07034. Entries must include, name, grade & school, date of birth, USCF ID# & exp. date, mailing address, email address, phone number and entry fee. WCL JGP.
See Maryland.
Jan. 24-25, New York Marshall CC January GP! See Grand Prix.
Jan. 25, Kasparov Chess Foundation presents Greater Mid-Atlantic High School Championship! See Maryland.
See Maryland.
Jan. 25, Studio January Quad 3RR Game in 2. Reg.: 9:00 am Rds.: 10-2-6. Studio of Bridge and Games, 1639 Eastern Pkwy., Schenectady, NY 12309-6011.
Jan. 10-Feb. 7, 2nd Farmingdale CC Winter Swiss. Slowest club time control!
Jan. 26-Feb. 9, 20th Nassau G/60 Championship
5SS, G/140. Farmingdale Public Library, 116 Merritts Rd. Farmingdale, NY 11735. Open to all U-2300/unr.: $(b/20): $200-100,Top U-1800 $80, U-1500/U1300 $60 each. EF: $30. Reg.: 9:15-9:45 AM. No adv. ent. Rds.: 10:00 AM SHARP each Saturday. 2 byes 1-5. Info: www.farmcc.webs.com. Please do not call the library. NS. W. WCL JGP.
Jan. 27, Marshall CC Victory U-1800
Jan. 15, 4 Rated Games Tonight!
4-SS, G/30, Chess Center at Marshall Club, 23 W 10th St, bet 5-6 Ave, NYC: 212477-3716. May be limited to 1st 36 entries. EF $30, Club membs $20, specified Greater NY Scholastic prizewinners free. $$ (480 b/32 paid): 150-10050, Top U2200/unr $95, U2000 $85. Limit 2 byes (1 bye if U2000), commit by 8:15. Re-entry $15, counts half. Reg. ends 10 min. before game. Rds. 7-8:159:30-10:45 pm. Phone entry often impossible! $5 extra if entering under 10 min. before game.
4-SS, G/30, Chess Center at Marshall Club, 23 W 10th St, bet 5-6 Ave, NYC: 212477-3716. May be limited to 1st 36 entries. EF $30, Club membs $20, specified Greater NY Scholastic prizewinners free. $$ (480 b/32 paid): 150-10050, Top U2200/unr $95, U2000 $85. Limit 2 byes (1 bye if U2000), commit by 8:15. Re-entry $15, counts half. Reg. ends 10 min. before game. Rds. 7-8:159:30-10:45 pm. Phone entry often impossible! $5 extra if entering under 10 min. before game.
Jan. 16-19, 17-19 or 18-19, 41st annual Liberty Bell Open (PA) See Grand Prix.
Jan. 17, Marshall CC Saturday G/60 4SS, G/60. Marshall CC, 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. ($360 b/24) $12070-50, 1700-1999/unr $60, U1700 $60. EF: $40, members $20. Reg.: 11:15-11:45. Rds.: 12-2:30-4:45-7. One bye available, request at entry.
Jan. 18, Binghamton Monthly Tourney See Grand Prix.
Jan. 18, Marshall CC Sunday Action 5SS, G/30, Marshall CC, 23 W. 10 St., NYC, 212-477-3716. EF: $40, members
See Grand Prix. 4SS, G/30. Marshall CC, 23 W. 10 St., NYC, 212-477-3716. EF: $40, members $20. $$300 b/20: $120-70-50, U1400 $60. Reg.: 6:15-6:45. Rds.: 7-8:15-9:3010:45pm. One bye available, request at entry.
Jan. 29, 4 Rated Games Tonight!
A Heritage Event! Jan. 31, Kasparov Chess Foundation presents the 43rd Annual Greater NY Junior High Championship— USCF’s Longest-Running Scholastic 5-SS, G/30, open to all born after 1/31/93 not yet in 10th grade, February 2009 ratings used. New Yorker Hotel, 481 8th Ave & 34th St, NYC. 3 sections: Varsity, open to all. EF: $48.60 postmarked by 1/09/09. Trophies to top 12, top U1200, top 3 unrated, top 6 school teams. Free entry to all Chess Center tmts. except quads thru 8/1/09 to 1st, thru 7/1 to 2nd, thru 6/1 to 3rd. Junior-Varsity: open to Under 1000 or unrated. EF: $48.50 postmarked by 1/9. Trophies to top 12, top 3 unrated, top 6 schools. Free entry to all Chess Center tmts. except quads thru 7/1/09 to 1st, thru 6/1 to 2nd, thru 5/1 to 3rd. Novice, open to Under 700 or unrated. EF: $48.40 postmarked by 1/9.Trophies
WA RN I N G ! CELL PHONE THE USE OF A
PROHIBITED! IN THE TOURNAMENT ROOM IS AT MOST TOURNAMENTS!
IF YOUR CELL PHONE RINGS IN A ROOM WITH GAMES IN PROGRESS, YOU COULD BE SEVERELY PENALIZED, MAYBE EVEN FORFEITED!
TURN IT OFF!
uschess.org
Chess Life — January 2009
65
SEE PREVIOUS ISSUE FOR TLAS APPEARING JANUARY 1-14
Tournament Life to top 12, top 3 unrateds, top 6 schools. Plaques to top 2 each grade: 4-6 (you can win both plaque & trophy). Free entry to all Chess Center tmts. except quads thru 6/1/09 to 1st, thru 5/1 to 2nd, thru 4/1 to 3rd. All: EF’s $7 extra postmarked 1/10-16, all $65 at site. Mail entries $5 less per player if 4 or more from same school in SAME ENVELOPE! All substitutions from advance entry list charged late fee; $15 extra to switch sections. $15 charge for each refund. All players scoring 4 or more who don’t win a trophy will receive a medal! 8 weeks free entry, except quads, to 1st team each section, 4 weeks free, except quads, to 2nd team (top 4 scores from same school = team). Speed playoff for 5-0. Limit 2 byes (rds. 4-5 commit before rd. 3). Mail entries: list name, rating, ID# (proof of current USCF membership required, enclose dues if necessary), school, grade, birthdate, address. Checks to (specify section): Chess Center of NY, PO Box 4615, New Windsor, NY, NY 12553. To confirm receipt, enclose SASE. No mail postmarked after 1/16. Phone entries: $59 by credit card thru 1/26. Online entries at www.chesscenter.cc: $46 thru 1/16, $53 1/17-1/26. No phone or on-line entries after 1/26. On-site entry fee: $65. On-site reg. ends 9:15 am. Rds. 10-12-2-3:30-5:15. Questions, credit card entries, team rooms: 845-569-9969 (or 406-896-2191: 24 hours, entries only) or
[email protected] (Jan 30-31 only: 212-971-0101).Bring sets, clocks, boards— NONE SUPPLIED!
A Heritage Event! Jan. 31, Kasparov Chess Foundation presents the 30th Annual Greater NY Primary Championship! 5-SS, G/30, open to all born after 1/31/99 in grades 3/below, February 2009 ratings used. New Yorker Hotel, 481 8th Ave & 34th St, NYC. 3 sections: Varsity, open to all. EF: $46.60 postmarked by 1/09/09. Trophies to top 12, top rated U900, top 3 unrated, top 6 school teams. Free entry to all Chess Center tmts. except quads thru 8/1/09 to 1st, thru 7/1 to 2nd, thru 6/1 to 3rd. Novice: open to Under 700 or unrated. EF: $46.50 postmarked by 1/9. Trophies to top 12, top 3 unrated. Free entry to all Chess Center tmts. except quads thru 7/1/09 to 1st, thru 6/1 to 2nd, thru 5/1 to 3rd. K-1, open to grade 1/below. EF: $46.40 postmarked by 1/9.Trophies to top 12, top rated U500, top 3 unrateds, top 6 schools. Free entry to all Chess Center tmts. except quads thru 7/1/09 to 1st, thru 6/1 to 2nd, thru 5/1 to 3rd. All: EF’s $7 extra postmarked 1/10-16, all $65 at site; $15 extra to switch sections. Mail entries $5 less per player if 4 or more from same school in SAME ENVELOPE! All substitutions from advance entry list charged late fee. $15 charge for each refund. All players scoring 4 or more who don’t win a trophy will receive a medal! 8 weeks free entry, except quads, to 1st team each section, 4 weeks free, except quads, to 2nd team (top 4 scores from same school = team score). Speed playoff for 5-0. Limit 2 byes (rds. 4-5 commit before rd. 3). Mail entries: list name, rating, ID# (proof of current USCF membership required, enclose dues if necessary), school, grade, birthdate, address. Checks to (specify section): Chess Center of NY, PO Box 4615, New Windsor, NY, NY 12553. To confirm receipt, enclose SASE. No mail postmarked after 1/16. Phone entries: $59 by credit card thru 1/26. Online entries at www.chesscenter.cc: $46 thru 1/16, $53 1/17-1/26. No phone or on-line entries after 1/26. On-
site entry fee: $65. On-site reg. ends 9:15 am. Rds. 10-12-2-3:30-5:15. Questions, credit card entries, team rooms: 845-569-9969 (or 406-896-2191, 24 hours, entries only) or
[email protected] (Jan 30-31 only: 212-9710101). Bring sets, clocks, boards— NONE SUPPLIED!
A Heritage Event! Feb. 1, Kasparov Chess Foundation presents the 43rd Annual Greater NY High School Championship—USCF’s Longest-Running Scholastic!
Jan. 31, Syracuse Monthly Open
5-SS, G/30, open to all grades 12/below born after 2/1/89, New Yorker Hotel, 481 8th Ave & 34th St, NYC. 3 sections: Varsity, open to all. EF: $49.60 postmarked by 1/09/09. Trophies to top 12, top U1700, top 3 unrated, top 6 school teams. Free entry to all Chess Center tmts. except quads thru 8/1/09 to 1st, thru 7/1 to 2nd, thru 6/1 to 3rd. Junior-Varsity: open to Under 1600 or unrated. EF: $49.50 postmarked by 1/9. Trophies to top 12, top U1400, top 3 unrated, top 6 schools. Free entry to all Chess Center tmts. except quads thru 7/1/09 to 1st, thru 6/1 to 2nd, thru 5/1 to 3rd. Novice, open to Under 1000 or unrated. EF: $49.40 postmarked by 1/9.Trophies to top 12, top 3 unrateds, top 6 schools. Plaques to top 2 each grade: 7-9 (you can win both plaque & trophy). Free entry to all Chess Center tmts. except quads thru 6/1/09 to 1st, thru 5/1 to 2nd, thru 4/1 to 3rd. All: EF’s $7 extra postmarked 1/1016, all $65 at site. Mail entries $5 less per player if 4 or more from same school in SAME ENVELOPE! All substitutions from advance entry list charged late fee; $15 extra to switch sections. $15 charge for each refund. All players scoring 4 or more who don’t win a trophy will receive a medal! 8 weeks free entry, except quads, to 1st team each section, 4 weeks free, except quads, to 2nd team (top 4 scores from same school = team score; no combined schools, even if one school “feeds” another). Speed playoff for 5-0. Limit 2 byes (rds. 4-5 commit before rd. 3). Mail entries: list name, rating, ID# (proof of current USCF membership required, enclose dues if necessary), school, grade, birthdate, address. Checks to (specify section): Chess Center of NY, PO Box 4615, New Windsor, NY, NY 12553. To confirm receipt, enclose SASE. No mail postmarked after 1/16. Phone entries: $59 by credit card thru 1/26. Online entries at www.chesscenter.cc: $46 thru 1/16, $53 1/17-1/26. No phone or on-line entries after 1/26. On-site entry fee: $65. On-site reg. ends 9:15 am. Rds. 10-12-2-3:30-5:15. Questions, credit card entries, team rooms: 845-569-9969 (or 406-896-2191: 24 hours, entries only) or
[email protected] (Jan 30-Feb 1 only: 212-971-0101). Bring sets, clocks, boards— NONE SUPPLIED!
4SS, Rds 1 & 2 G/60, Rds. 3 & 4 G/90. Courtyard by Marriot, 6415 Yorktown Circle, E. Syracuse (exit 35 I-90, Carrier Circle, 298 E, left at Holiday Inn). $(b/14): $100-50, Class: $30. Reg.: 8:30-9:15, Rds.: 9:30-12-2:15-5:30. EF: $30. Ent: Joe Ball, 310 Helfer Lane, Mineola, NY 13116.
Jan. 31-Feb. 1, February Marshall CC JanuFeb Open 4-SS, 30/90, SD/60. Marshall CC, 23 W 10th St, NYC: 212-477-3716.; EF: $45, Members $25. ($360 b/24) $120-70-50, U2000/unr $65, U1700 $55. Reg.: ends 11:50am. Rds.: 2 schedules: 2-day, rds 12:30-5:30 pm each day; 1-day, (rds 1-2 G/30), 10-11:15 am-12:30-5:30 pm Sun; both merge rd 3. Byes: limit two, with entry. NO RE-ENTRY. May be limited to first 60 players. WCL JGP.
A Heritage Event! Feb. 1, Kasparov Chess Foundation presents the 43rd Annual Greater NY Elementary Championship—USCF’s Longest-Running Scholastic! 5-SS, G/30, open to all born after 2/1/96 not yet in 7th grade, New Yorker Hotel, 481 8th Ave & 34th St, NYC. 3 sections: Varsity, open to all. EF: $47.60 postmarked by 1/09/09. Trophies to top 12, top U1200, top 3 unrated, top 6 school teams. Free entry to all Chess Center tmts. except quads thru 8/1/09 to 1st, thru 7/1 to 2nd, thru 6/1 to 3rd. Junior-Varsity: open to Under 1000 or unrated. EF: $47.50 postmarked by 1/9. Trophies to top 12, top 3 unrated, top 6 schools. Free entry to all Chess Center tmts. except quads thru 7/1/09 to 1st, thru 6/1 to 2nd, thru 5/1 to 3rd. Novice, open to Under 700 or unrated. EF: $47.40 postmarked by 1/9. Trophies to top 12, top 3 unrateds, top 6 schools. Free entry to all Chess Center tmts. except quads thru 6/1/09 to 1st, thru 5/1 to 2nd, thru 4/1 to 3rd. All: EF’s $7 extra postmarked 1/1016, all $65 at site. Mail entries $5 less per player if 4 or more from same school in SAME ENVELOPE! All substitutions from advance entry list charged late fee; $15 extra to switch sections. $15 charge for each refund. All players scoring 4 or more who don’t win a trophy will receive a medal! 8 weeks free entry, except quads, to 1st team each section, 4 weeks free, except quads, to 2nd team (top 4 scores from same school = team). Speed playoff for 5-0. Limit 2 byes (rds. 4-5 commit before rd. 3). Mail entries: list name, rating, ID# (proof of current USCF membership required, enclose dues if necessary), school, grade, birthdate, address. Checks to (specify section): Chess Center of NY, PO Box 4615, New Windsor, NY, NY 12553. To confirm receipt, enclose SASE. No mail postmarked after 1/16. Phone entries: $59 by credit card thru 1/26. Online entries at www.chesscenter.cc: $46 thru 1/16, $53 1/17-1/26. No phone or on-line entries after 1/26. On-site entry fee: $65. On-site reg. ends 9:15 am. Rds. 10-12-2-3:30-5:15. Questions, credit card entries, team rooms: 845-569-9969 (or 406-896-2191: 24 hours, entries only) or
[email protected] (Jan 30-Feb 1 only: 212-971-0101). Bring sets, clocks, boards— NONE SUPPLIED!
GOLD AFFILIATES
Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis 4657 Maryland Avenue St. Louis, MO 63108 314-361-CHESS
[email protected] www.stlouischessclub.org
New York State Chess Association c/o Karl Heck 5426 Wright Street County Route 67, East Durham, NY 12423, 518-966-8523
[email protected] www.nysca.net
Continental Chess Association PO Box 249, Salisbury Mills, NY 12577 845-496-9658
[email protected] www.chesstour.com
SPICE Box 45080, Lubbock, TX 79409 806-742-7742
[email protected] www.SPICE.ttu.edu Susan Polgar Foundation 6923 Indiana Avenue, Suite 154, Lubbock, TX 79413 212-748-9584
[email protected] www.SusanPolgarFoundation.org Tri-State Chess 288 Third Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215 1-888-CHESS-35
[email protected], www.TriStateChess.com
North American Chess Association 2516 North Waukegan Road Suite 342,Glenview IL 60025 888-80-CHESS
[email protected] www.nachess.org
DC Chess Association 2520 Tenth St. NE, Suite 28, Washington, DC 20018 202-506-2927
[email protected] www.dcchess.com
Unity Chess Club 9375 E. Shea Blvd., Suite 100 Office 136, Scottsdale, AZ 85260 480-949-5464 (KING)
[email protected] unitychess.com
SILVER AFFILIATES
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Indiana State Chess Association www.indianachess.org
Oklahoma Chess Foundation www.OKchess.org
Sparta Chess Club (NJ) www.spartachessclub.org
Michigan Chess Association www.michess.org
Orange Crush Chess Club (IN)
[email protected]
Renaissance Knights (IL) www.RKnights.org
Chess Life — January 2009
4SS, G/30. Open to U2200/unrated only. Marshall CC, 23 W. 10 St., NYC, 212477-3716. EF: $40, members $20. $$300 b/20: $120-70-50, U1800 $60. Reg.: 6:15-6:45. Rds.: 7-8:15-9:30-10:45pm. One bye available, request at entry.
Feb. 5, 4 Rated Games Tonight! 4-SS, G/30, Chess Center at Marshall Club, 23 W 10th St, bet 5-6 Ave, NYC: 212-477-3716. May be limited to 1st 36 entries. EF $30, Club membs $20, specified Greater NY Scholastic prizewinners free. $$ (480 b/32 paid): 150100-50, Top U2200/unr $95, U2000 $85. Limit 2 byes (1 bye if U2000), commit by 8:15. Re-entry $15, counts half. Reg. ends 10 min. before game. Rds. 7-8:159:30-10:45 pm. Phone entry often impossible! $5 extra if entering under 10 min. before game.
GOLD & SILVER AFFILIATES
New Jersey State Chess Federation c/o Roger Inglis 49-A Mara Rd., Lake Hiawatha, NJ 07034 973-263-8696
[email protected] www.njscf.org
Cajun Chess 7230 Chadb30ourne Drive New Orleans, LA 70126 504-208-9596
[email protected] www.cajunchess.com
Feb. 3, Marshall CC New York Experts
GOLD
Any affiliate that has submitted at least 50 USCF memberships during the current or previous calendar year, or is the recognized State Affiliate, is eligible to become a Gold Affiliate. Gold Affiliates are honored in a spe cial list in larger type in Tournament Life each month, giving the affiliate name, address, phone number, e mail address, and website. Gold Affiliation costs $350 per year, and exist ing affiliates may substract $3 for each month remaining on their regular affiliation, or $20 for each month remaining on their Silver Affil iation. As of August 6, 2007, by paying an annual payment of $500 (instead of $350), Gold Affiliate status may be obtained with no minimum requirement for memberships submitted.
SILVER
Any affiliate that has submitted at least 25 USCF memberships during the current or previous calendar year, or is the recognized State Affiliate, is eligible to become a Silver Affiliate. These affiliates will be recognized in a special list in Tournament Life each month, giving the affiliate name, state, and choice of either phone number, e mail address, or website. Silver Affiliation costs $150 per year, and existing affiliates may subtract $3 for each month remaining on their regular affiliation. As of August 6, 2007, by paying an annual payment of $250.00 (instead of $150), Silver Affiliate status may be obtained with no minimum requirement for memberships submitted. uschess.org
Feb. 7, 22nd Annual Super Saturday Game/45 Deferred! See Grand Prix.
$$300 b/20: $120-70-50, U1300 $60. Reg.: 6:15-6:45, Rds.: 7pm each Monday. Byes ok, limit 2, request by rd. 3.
Feb. 8, NEW Sunday Sliding Scale Quads!
Feb. 17, St. John’s Masters at the Marshall Chess Club
3-RR, G/30, Chess Center at Marshall Chess Club, 23 W 10th St, NYC: 212-4773716. EF: Master $35, Expert $30, A $25, U1800 $20. $$ (all EFs returned less $36 per quad). Reg ends 7:20 pm. Rds. 7:30-8:30-9:30. NO FREE ENTRIES!! No phone entry!
See Grand Prix.
Feb. 26-Mar. 26, Marshall CC Thursday Members-Only Swiss
Feb. 19, 4 Rated Games Tonight!
5SS, 30/90, SD/60. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. Open to members only. EF: $20. $$300 b/20: $120-70-50, U2000 $60. Reg.: 6:15-6:45, Rds : 7pm each Thursday; Byes ok, limit 2, request by round 3.
Feb. 8, NY February Under 1800! 4-SS, G/50, Chess Center at Marshall Chess Club, 23 W 10th St, bet 5-6 Ave, NYC: 845-569-9969. EF $40, Club members $30, $10 less if also entering 2/7 Super Saturday G/45, specified Greater NY Scholastic prizewinners free. Online entry at www.chesscenter.cc thru 2/5. $$ (480 b/32 paid entries): 150-100-50, top U1600 $95, top U1400 $85. Limit 2 byes, commit by 2 pm. Reg. ends 15 min before game. Rds. 12-2-4-6 pm. CCA Ratings may be used. $10 extra to “enter” by phone!
Feb. 8, The Right Move #150 Team and Individual Championship FREE EF. 4SS, G/30. Play starts promptly at 10:00. Players must check in by 9:30A.M. Brandeis H.S., 145 W. 84th St., 10024 (near Columbus Ave, Manhattan, NYC). Open to gr. K-12. Five rated sections: Open, Under 1700, Under 1200, Under 800, Under 600. (May renew or join USCF at tournament). Non-member sections by grades: K-3, 4-6, 7-12. Trophies to top 3 in each section except Open ($50, $30, $20 for 1st-3rd); medal to each player with 2.5 or more points. Team plaque to 1st and 2nd each section, with top 4 scores counting in each section (minimum 3 players on team in section). Non-member sections offer additional prize of USCF membership to players scoring 4 points. To register: use website at www.therightmove.org or email - thechessstop @aol.com or Fax to 718-455-2863 before 6:00 P.M. on Fri. Give full name, school, grade, USCF ID#, exp. date, and section. NO ON-SITE REGISTRATION.
Feb. 11-Mar. 11, Marshall CC Under-2000 Wednesday Swiss 5SS, 30/90, SD/60. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. EF: $40, members $20. $$300 b/20: $120-70-50, U1700 $60. Reg : 6:15-6:45, Rds.: 7pm each Wednesday. Byes ok, limit 2, request by round 3. WCL JGP.
4-SS, G/30, Chess Center at Marshall Club, 23 W 10th St, bet 5-6 Ave, NYC: 212477-3716. May be limited to 1st 36 entries. EF $30, Club membs $20, specified Greater NY Scholastic prizewinners free. $$ (480 b/32 paid): 150-10050, Top U2200/unr $95, U2000 $85. Limit 2 byes (1 bye if U2000), commit by 8:15. Re-entry $15, counts half. Reg. ends 10 min. before game. Rds. 7-8:159:30-10:45 pm. Phone entry often impossible! $5 extra if entering under 10 min. before game.
See Grand Prix.
Feb. 14, Marshall CC Saturday G/60 4SS, G/60. Marshall CC, 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. ($360 b/24) $12070-50, 1700-1999/unr $60, U1700 $60. EF: $40, members $20. Reg.: 11:15-11:45. Rds.: 12-2:30-4:45-7. One bye available, request at entry.
Feb. 15, Marshall CC Sunday Action 5SS, G/30, Marshall CC, 23 W. 10 St., NYC, 212-477-3716. EF: $40, members $20. ($$ 360 b/24): 120-70-50, U2200/unr $65, U2000 $55. Rds.: 12-1:30-2:454-5:20pm. NOTE CHANGE: One bye available, request with entry.
Feb. 16-Mar. 16, Marshall CC Under-1600 Monday Swiss 5SS, 30/90, SD/60. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. EF: $40, members $20.
Feb. 28, Marshall CC Saturday G/60 4SS, G/60. Marshall CC, 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. ($360 b/24) $12070-50, 1700-1999/unr $60, U1700 $60. EF: $40, members $20. Reg.: 11:15-11:45. Rds.: 12-2:30-4:45-7. NOTE CHANGE: One bye available, request at entry.
Feb. 21, New York February Action!
Feb. 28-Mar. 1, 3rd annual Saratoga Open
See Grand Prix.
See Grand Prix.
Feb. 22, 10th Annual Greater NY February Under 13 Open!
A State Championship Event! Feb. 28-Mar. 1, New York State Scholastic Championships
4-SS, G/30, open to all born after 2/22/96, Chess Center at Marshall Chess Club, 23 West 10th St, bet. 5-6 Ave, NYC: 845-569-9969. May be limited to 1st 52 entries. 2 Sections. 1. Open, EF: $32 postmarked by 2/14. 2. Novice, for Under 1000 or Unrated, EF: $31 mailed by 2/14. Both, EF: $30 online at www.chesscenter.cc by 2/20, $35 by phone at 845-569-9969 by 2/20, $40 at site, Club members $10 less ($5 fee for refunds).Trophies to top 10, top Unr, top 3 teams (top 3 scorers from same school) each section. 8 weeks free entry to 1st, 4 weeks free to 2nd each section. Speed playoff for 4-0. Limit of 2 byes, commit by 11:30. On-site reg. ends 9:30 am. Rds 10-11:30-12:45-2 EDT! Ent: Chess Center of NY, PO Box 4615, New Windsor, NY 12553. List USCF ID, rating, section, school/grade, DOB.
Feb. 22, NEW Sunday Sliding Scale Quads! 3-RR, G/30, Chess Center at Marshall Chess Club, 23 W 10th St, NYC: 212-4773716. EF: Master $35, Expert $30, A $25, U1800 $20. $$ (all EFs returned less $36 per quad). Reg ends 7:20 pm. Rds. 7:30-8:30-9:30. NO FREE ENTRIES!! No phone entry!
Feb. 22, Sunday Under 1400 Action! 4-SS, G/30, Marshall Chess Club, 23 West 10 St, between 5-6 Ave, NYC: 212477-3716, for Under 1400 or unrated. EF $30, Club Members $20, specified Greater NY Scholastic prizewinners free. $$200 b/20 paid: $100-60-40, $60 limit to unr. Reg. ends 3:45 pm. Rds. 4-5:15-6:45-8 pm. No advance entries.
Feb. 12, 10 Grand Prix Points Tonight!
8:15. Re-entry $15, counts half. Reg. ends 10 min. before game. Rds. 7-8:159:30-10:45 pm. Phone entry often impossible! $5 extra if entering under 10 min. before game.
Open to grades K-12 in any state (top NYS player & team in each section are NY champions). Saratoga Hilton, 534 Broadway (I-87 Exit 13-N, 4 miles north on US 9), Saratoga Springs NY 12866. Free parking. Team prizes based on top 4 scores from same school; no combined school teams allowed even if one school “feeds” another. Teams of 2 or 3 players allowed, but are at a disadvantage. In 6 sections, each is a 6SS, G/65 except K-1 is 5SS, G/30 playing Mar 1 only. High School, grades K-12. EF $42 mailed by 2/6. Top NYS grade 9-12 qualifies for Denker Tournament of HS Champions (Indianapolis, 8/1-4). Junior High, grades K-9. EF $41.90 mailed by 2/6. Elementary, grades K-6. EF $41.60 mailed by 2/6. Elementary Novice, grades K-6 under 800 or unrated. EF $41.50 mailed by 2/6. Primary, grades K-3. EF $41.30 mailed by 2/6. K-1, grades K-1. EF $41.10 mailed by 2/6. Postmarked 2/7-17: All EF $10 more. Do not mail entry after 2/17. Online at chesstour.com, all sections: EF $43 by 2/6, $53 by 2/23. No online entry after 2/23. Phoned to 406-896-2038, all sections: EF $55 by 2/23. Credit cards only, no questions. No phone entry after 2/23. Entry at site: all $60. 1 year NYSCA membership to all NY residents who are not members. Trophies to top 20 players, top 3 Unrated, and top 8 teams each section and top each U1400, U1200, U1000 (HS), U1200, U1000, U800 (JHS), U1000, U800 (Elem), U600, U400 (Elem Novice). Speed playoff if perfect score tie. Free entry to NY State Championship, Labor Day weekend 2009
Feb. 24, Marshall CC Victory U-1800 4SS, G/30. Marshall CC, 23 W. 10 St., NYC, 212-477-3716. EF: $40, members $20. $$300 b/20: $120-70-50, U1400 $60. Reg.: 6:15-6:45. Rds.: 7-8:159:30-10:45pm. One bye available, request at entry.
For details on
2009 U.S. AMATEUR TEAM EVENTS
Feb. 26, 4 Rated Games Tonight!
East, North, South, West
4-SS, G/30, Chess Center at Marshall Club, 23 W 10th St, bet 5-6 Ave, NYC: 212477-3716. May be limited to 1st 36 entries. EF $30, Club membs $20, specified Greater NY Scholastic prizewinners free. $$ (480 b/32 paid): 150-10050, Top U2200/unr $95, U2000 $85. Limit 2 byes (1 bye if U2000), commit by
See Nationals Section!
CHECK OUT USCF’S CORRESPONDENCE CHESS RATED EVENTS
USCF’s 62st ANNUAL 2009 Open Correspondence Chess Golden Knights Championship $1,000 First Prize
(plus title of USCF’s Golden Knights Champion and plaque)
• 2nd place $600 • 3rd place $400 • 4th place $300 • 5th place $200 • 6th thru 10th place $100 each. Entry fee: $25.
The entry deadline is November 30, 2009. These USCF Correspondence Chess events are rated and open to all USCF members who reside on the North American continent, islands, or Hawaii, as well as those USCF members with an APO or FPO address. USCF members who reside outside of the North American continent are welcome to participate in e mail events. Your USCF membership must remain current for the duration of the event, and entry fees must be paid in U.S. dollars. Those new to USCF Correspondence Chess, please estimate your strength: Class A: 1800 1999 (very strong); Class B: 1600 1799 (strong); Class C: 1400 1599 (intermediate); Class D: 1399 and below (beginner level). Note: Prize fund based on 300 entries and may be decreased proportion ately per number of entries assigned. Correspondence Chess Matches (two players) • $5 entry fee per person with two, four or sixgame options. Win A Correspondence Chess Trophy • Four-player, double round-robin with class-level pairings. • 1st-place winner receives a trophy. • Entry fee: $10. Victor Palciauskas Prize Tournaments • Seven-player class-level pairings, one game with each of six opponents. • Players must have a USCF CC rating to enter. • 1st-place winner receives $130 cash prize and a certificate signed by Victor Palciauskas. • Entry fee: $25. John W. Collins Memorial Class Tournaments • Four-player, double round-robin with class-level pairings (unrateds welcome). • 1st-place winner receives a John W. Collins certificate. • Entry fee: $7.
uschess.org
USCF’s 6th ANNUAL 2009 E-mail Correspondence Chess Electronic Knights Championship
(Seven player sections, one game with each of six opponents.)
$700 First Prize
(plus title of USCF’s Electronic Knights Champion and plaque)
• 2nd place $400 • 3rd place $300 • 4th thru 10th place $100 each. Entry fee: $25.
The entry deadline is November 30, 2009. These USCF Correspondence Chess events are rated and open to all USCF members with e mail access. Your USCF membership must remain current for the duration of the event, and entry fees must be paid in U.S. dollars. Maximum number of tournament entries allowed for the year for each player is ten. Note: Prize fund based on 200 entries and may be decreased propor tionately per number of entries assigned.
E-mail Rated Events (need e-mail access): Lightning Match • Two players with two, four or six-game option. • Entry fee $5 per person. Swift Quads • Four-player, double round-robin format. • 1st-place prize merchandise credit of $30. • Entry fee: $10. Walter Muir E-Quads (webserver chess) • Four-player, double round-robin e-mail format tournament with class-level pairings. • 1st-place receives a certificate. • Entry fee: $7. Express Tournament • Seven-player events, one game with each of six opponents. • Prizes: 1st place $30 merchandise credit, 2nd place $20 credit. • Entry fee: $15. Please circle event(s) selected. NOTE: Except for Lightning Matches, Swift Quads, Walter Muir E-Quads, Electronic Knights & Express Tournaments, players will use post office mail, unless opponents agree to use e-mail.
To Enter: 800•903•USCF (8723), Fax 931•787•1200 or on-line www.uschess.org Name USCF ID# Address City State ZIP Phone E mail Est. Rating Credit card # (VISA, MC, Discover, AMEX) Exp. date If using VISA, need V code
□ Check here if you do not wish to have an opponent who is incarcerated. *Note: This may slow down your assignment.
Make checks payable to U.S. Chess and mail to: Joan DuBois, USCF , PO Box 3967, Crossville, TN 38557 Chess Life — January 2009
67
SEE PREVIOUS ISSUE FOR TLAS APPEARING JANUARY 1-14
Tournament Life (Albany), to top player each section. Schedule: Late reg. ends Sat 11 am, rds Sat 12-3-6, Sun 9-12-2:45. Awards 5:30-6 pm. K-1 schedule: Late reg. ends Sun 9 am, rds Sun 10-12-1:30-3-4:30. Half point byes OK all, limit 2, must commit before rd 2. HR: $114-114, 888-999-4711, 518-584-4000, reserve by 2/14 (note correction) or rate may increase. 48 hours notice required for room cancellation. Backup hotel: Courtyard by Marriott, 2 blocks away, 518-226-0538. Special car rentals: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #657633. Mail entry: Continental Chess, PO Box 249, Salisbury Mills NY 12577. Include name, rating, USCF ID, USCF expiration (non-members enclose dues), section, school, grade, birth date, address of each player. Checks payable to Continental Chess. $15 per player service charge for refunds. $10 extra to switch sections, all substitutions from advance list charged $60. Questions: chesstour.com, 845-496-9658. Bring set, board, clock if possible- none supplied. March official ratings used. Unofficial uschess.org ratings based on 4 or more games usually used if otherwise unrated.WCL JGP (top 5 sections, K-1 not WCL JGP).
Mar. 1, Marshall CC Sunday Action 5SS, G/30, Marshall CC, 23 W. 10 St., NYC, 212-477-3716. EF: $40, members $20. ($$ 360 b/24): 120-70-50, U2200/unr $65, U2000 $55. Rds.: 12-1:30-2:454-5:20pm. NOTE CHANGE: One bye available, request with entry.
Mar. 3, Marshall CC New York Experts 4SS, G/30. Marshall CC, 23 W. 10 St., NYC, 212-477-3716. EF: $40, members $20. $$300 b/20: $120-70-50, U1800 $60. Reg.: 6:15-6:45. Rds.: 7-8:15-9:3010:45pm. NOTE CHANGE: One bye available, request at entry.
Mar. 5, 4 Rated Games Tonight! 4-SS, G/30, Chess Center at Marshall Club, 23 W 10th St, bet 5-6 Ave, NYC: 212477-3716. May be limited to 1st 36 entries. EF $30, Club membs $20, specified Greater NY Scholastic prizewinners free. $$ (480 b/32 paid): 150-10050, Top U2200/unr $95, U2000 $85. Limit 2 byes (1 bye if U2000), commit by 8:15. Re-entry $15, counts half. Reg. ends 10 min. before game. Rds. 7-8:159:30-10:45 pm. Phone entry often impossible! $5 extra if entering under 10 min. before game.
Mar. 6-8 or 7-8, 18th annual Eastern Class Championships (MA) See Grand Prix.
Mar. 7-8, New York Marshall CC March GP! See Grand Prix.
Mar. 12, 4 Rated Games Tonight! 4-SS, G/30, Chess Center at Marshall Club, 23 W 10th St, bet 5-6 Ave, NYC: 212477-3716. May be limited to 1st 36 entries. EF $30, Club membs $20, specified Greater NY Scholastic prizewinners free. $$ (480 b/32 paid): 150-10050, Top U2200/unr $95, U2000 $85. Limit 2 byes (1 bye if U2000), commit by 8:15. Re-entry $15, counts half. Reg. ends 10 min. before game. Rds. 7-8:159:30-10:45 pm. Phone entry often impossible! $5 extra if entering under 10 min. before game.
Mar. 14, Marshall CC Saturday G/60 4SS, G/60. Marshall CC, 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. ($360 b/24) $120-
70-50, 1700-1999/unr $60, U1700 $60. EF: $40, members $20. Reg.: 11:1511:45. Rds.: 12-2:30-4:45-7. NOTE CHANGE: One bye available, request at entry.
[email protected]. HR: 85.00 single or double 216-252-5333. Mention Westside Christian Academy to secure rate. NS.
Mar. 14, Utica Four Seasons – Winter
Mar. 14, Toledo Mar Swiss
4SS Rds. 1-2: G/60, Rds. 3-4: G/90. Mohawk Valley Community College, Exit 31, I-90, bear left, South on E. Genesee, (2.6 miles), left on Memorial Highway (2.3 miles), left Sherman, right into MVCC, Cafeteria - Room 116. EF: $30. Prizes (b/20): $200, 125, 75, Class 100. Reg.: 8:30-9:15. Rds.: 9:30-12:00-2:155:30. Ent: Joe Ball, 310 Helfer Lane, Minoa, NY 13116.
Open, 4SS, Rnd 1 G/75, Rnds 2-4 G/90.The University ofToledo Health Science Campus, Center for Creative Education - Room CE0111, 3000 Arlington Ave. Toledo, Ohio 43614. Can split into 2 sections if enough players. EF: $20 by 3/12 $25 at site. Reg.: 9-10 a.m., Rds.: 10, 1, 4, & 7. Prizes: $360 b/20, $100-50, 1st Class A ,B,C,D/Under $40, 1st U1600 $50. Ent: James Jagodzinski, 7031 Willowyck Rd., Maumee OH 43537. 419-367-9450. WCL JGP.
Apr. 8-12, 9-12 or 10-12, 11th annual Foxwoods Open (CT) See Grand Prix.
North Carolina Jan. 23-25, Land of the Sky XXII See Grand Prix.
Ohio Jan. 23-25 or 24-25, 32nd Cardinal Open See Grand Prix.
Jan. 31, House of Chess Open 4SS, G/45. House of Chess, Great Northern Mall, North Olmsted, OH (W of JC Penny). Sections: Open, U1600. Reg.: 11-11:25 AM. Rds.: 11:30-1:15-3:305:15. Prizes (b/25): Open: 1st $200, 2nd $100; U1900 1st $100; Reserve (U1600): 1st $100. Ent: $25, Club members $20. Info & entries: House of Chess, Great Northern Mall, North Olmsted, OH 44070. Phone: (440) 979-1133. E-mail:
[email protected]. Web www.thehouseofchess.com/.
Feb. 7, 2009 Cleveland Scholastic Open 4SS, G/30, Hampton Inn Downtown, 1460 East 9th Street, Cleveland, OH 44114. Open to all students in grades K-12. Reg.: 8:45am - 9:30am. Round 1 at 10:00am. Four sections: K-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12. EF: $25 if postmarked by 1/24, $30 thereafter. Prizes:Trophies to top five in each section. ENT: Dan Patterson 11313 Lake Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44102 Tel. 216-281-1313. INFO:
[email protected]. HR: 89.00 single or double 216-241-6600. NS.
Feb. 14, Toledo Feb Swiss Open, 4SS, Rnd 1 G/75, Rnds 2-4 G/90.The University ofToledo Health Science Campus, Center for Creative Education - Room CE0111, 3000 Arlington Ave. Toledo, Ohio 43614. Can split into 2 sections if enough players. EF: $20 by 2/12 $25 at site. Reg.: 9-10 a.m., Rds.: 10, 1, 4, & 7. Prizes: $360 b/20, $100-50, 1st Class A ,B,C,D/Under $40, 1st U1600 $50. Ent: James Jagodzinski, 7031 Willowyck Rd., Maumee OH 43537. 419-367-9450. WCL JGP.
Feb. 28, 2009 North Coast Scholastic 4SS, G/30, Cleveland Airport Marriott, 4277 West 150th Street, Cleveland, OH 44135. Open to all students in grades K-12. Reg. 8:45am - 9:30am Round 1 at 10:00am. Four sections: K-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12. EF: $25 if postmarked by 2/14, $30 thereafter. Prizes: Trophies to top five in each section. ENT: Dan Patterson 11313 Lake Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44102 Tel. 216-281-1313. INFO:
May 22-25, 23-25 or 24-25, 18th annual Chicago Open (IL) See Grand Prix.
July 1-5, 2-5, 3-5 or June 29-July 5, 37th Annual World Open (PA) See Grand Prix.
Oklahoma Jan. 24-25, OKC Winter Open 5SS, G/2, Quality Inn, I-240 & S Western, Oklahoma City. EF: $30 if rec’d by 1/21, $35 at site, OCA membership included. $$/entries, plaques. Reg.: 99:45am, Rds.: 10-2:30-7, 10-2:30. One 1/2-point bye Rds 1-4. HR: $54.99 plus tax, 800-843-4241 or 405-632-6666. Ent: Jim Gray, 720 S. Husband #5, Stillwater, OK 74074, 405-624-1777,
[email protected]. More info: www.ochess.org. WCL JGP.
Feb. 7, Tulsa Chess Series #1 First of 10 one-day events the first Saturday each month. 3-SS. G/60 (+5). Hardesty Regional Library, 8316 E. 93rd St. (just east of Memorial on 93rd),Tulsa. EF: $20, cash or check, at site only. Reg: 9-9:30. OCF mem. required ($10). Rds: 9:45, 12:15, 2:30 Prizes: 1st $100 (G), plus class prizes per entries, plus Series Prizes — $6 from each EF goes to a series prize fund to be distributed at end of series. (See www.okchess.org for details). Info: tom.braunlich@ cox.net. NS. W.
Feb. 14-16, Stillwater Winter FIDE Open See Grand Prix.
Pennsylvania
Silver Knights Chess Tournaments 2-3 Saturdays per month we run scholastic USCFrated tournaments throughout the Philadelphia area. Tournament locations include Philadelphia, Mt. Laurel (NJ), Bryn Mawr, Horsham, Collegeville, and more. Tournaments are open to grades K-12. Free game analysis by a National or International Master at each tournament. We have players of all skill levels compete in our tournaments, from brand-new kindergarteners up through some of the highest-rated scholastic players in the state. To see a list of dates and locations, see our web-
TO ALL WHO HAVE DONATED TO THE U.S. CHESS TRUST! (June 2007 through March 2008) Legacy Donors: Deborah Doll, Nearing, GM Arnold Denker. Future Legacy Donors: Harold B. Dondis, Wil Wakely. Corporate Donors: Aetna, Exxon, IBM, Microsoft, WalMart, X3D, Mobil, WaMu, Nugent & Haussler, PC Partners. Chess Philanthropists ($50,000 or more): Harold B. Dondis, Frank P. Samford III. King Supporters ($10,000 or more): Frank Berry, Mark Fins. Friends of Chess ($5,000 or more): Anonymous, Mitchell Denker, Gerald Hoag, Adam Sufrin, JDG Management, Shane Samole, Nearing Trust. Ben Franklin Donors ($1,000 or more): Anonymous NJ, Joel & Susan Channing, Gary Cooper, John Dozier, Leroy Dubeck, Jim Eade, Leonard Helman, Roger Spero, Sunil Weeramantry (National Scholastic Foundation), Mr. & Mrs. Michael T. Graves, Dr. William Henkin, Karl Irons, Victor Laurie, Harvey Schein, Mark Schein, Adam J. Semler, Randy Slifka, Mariko Zeitlin. Heritage Donors ($500 or more): Richard Allen, Norman Forsythe, Clifford Lester, Rick Lester (Ursula Foster Scholarship), Henry Odell, Harold Winston, Steve Doyle, Ann Marks, Drs. Luann Mostello & Art Milholland, Bill & Vesna Kelleher, Eric Lester, Robert Messenger, Henry Terrie, Selden Trimble, Mosh & Arianne Weinberger, Yuriko Young, Randall & Leilani Sears, Dave Sutherland, Erland Millikan, J. William Cowart, Paul Albert. Associate Donors ($100 or more): Harvey Susswein, John M. Bartkiw, Randy Bauer/Deborah O’Leary, Walter Brown, Bernie Letner, David Kuhns, Jim Berry, Alan/Judy Cohen, Gary Fine, Martin/Joy Goldberg, Roger Gotschall, Jim Gray, Randy Hough, Christopher Lerbs, Myron/Rachel Lieberman, Luke Neyndorff, Glenn Petersen, Larry Weston, Charles/Debrah Unruh, Edward Zatorski, Joe Feagin, Marc Levine, Michael Goodall, Walter Buehl, Jr, GM Susan Polgar/Paul Truong, Dr. Jon E. Quinn, Burton Carpenter, Michael Clark, James Kelley, Jeffrey Davidson, Paul Tomaino, Phyllis Narveson, Brian Bezenek, Robert Emke, Scott Kenyon, Kenneth Rogoff, Hans Morrow, Robert Miller, George Berry, Dr. Ed Epp, Peter Dyson, Harold Blajwas, Denis Strenzwilk, Dr. Benton Wheeler, Donald Stetzer, Fred Gruenberg, Barbara Forbes, Lawrence Goch, James Wheeler, Carol McCloud, Arthur Montgomery, Andrew Marshall, Barbara Falcner, Alexander Blum, Helen Kittsley, Kent Bach, Peter Knopf, Zevi Miller, Dr. Rebecca Meyer, Bruce McMaster, Tim Redman, Robert Goodman, Rick Armagost, John Crawford, David Kerkhove, John Fitch, Jeffrey Quirke, Herbert Drechsler, Neil Levy, Richard Shuford, Roy Eikerenkoetter, Lewis Henry, Robert Pociask, Gail Maury, Dr. R.A. Letourneau, Gilbert Saulter, Roger Hale, Albert Epostein, John Elder, Dr. Joe Wagner, Peter Stasz, Community Health Charities, Dayton Foundation (Ken/Peg Champney), Peter Tamburro, Don Schultz, John/Eleanor Schweinsberg, Todd Luna, Jorge Calderon, L.J. Lyell, Katherine Gasser, Richard Cheshire, Sheila Donoghue. Contributors ($50 or more): Alexander Reis, Anonymous WI, Frank Brady, Harvey Drutowski, Woodrow Harris, Michael James, Michael Nietman, Arlen Overvig, Robert Rasmussen, Thomas Richardson, Joseph Roster, Garret Sauber, Stephen Smith, Hal Sprechman, T. Torricellas, Donald Twombly, Douglas Southon, Robert Strickler, Charles Behler, Peter Scott, Thomas Bagby, Matthew Grinberg, Chess Now Ltd, Peter Spizzirri, Dan Mayers, Joseph Slawinski, Robert Werdan, Robert Rasmussen, Steve Krevinko, Karl Filzer, William McClain, Andrew Nowak, James Lorentz, Robert Carey, Richard Nepolitan, John Brendel, Edmund Breider, Peter Lahde, George Hermes, Ricard Vincent, Arhur Lewis, Allen Kaufman, Imgre Toth, Edward Dowdy, Gordon Gray, Baron Powell, Tony Newhall, Gerald Larson, Donald Farrelly, Kenneth John, David Sachs, Tom Beckman, Captn Gary Black, Peter Hanen, Richard Adams, Michael/Laurie Stein, Thomas/Nancy Simpson, John/Emily Summy, Ken Ballou, Ken Marks, Larry Reifurth. In Memory Of George Krauss: Blaine/Carol Asbrock, Edwary/Loretta Sytnik, Gabriel/Joann Trotta, Wayne Rahe, Robert Lardon, Richard Cheshire, Carberry, Mary Alice Burke, Carol Wirtz, James/Jennifer Roth.
THANK YOU
68
Chess Life — January 2009
uschess.org
site at www.silverknightschess.com. Phone: 610-4460818. Email:
[email protected]. Every 1st Saturday Lehigh Valley Super Quads 3-RR, St James Church, 11th & Tilghman Sts., Allentown, PA 18102. EF: $10. $30 Perfect Score, else $25 1st. Reg.: 12:30-1:15. Rds.: 1:30-3-4:30. Info: 610821-4320,
[email protected], www.lehighvalleychess.org/.
HR: Mention “PA States” for best rate; 800-692-7315 $75. Ent: PSCF, c/o Tom Martinak, 25 Freeport St., Pittsburgh, PA 15223-2245. Info: Steve: 215-784-5938
[email protected] Dan: 610-649-0750
[email protected] www.pscfchess.org/pascholasticchamp/ W. Feb. 2009 ratings used.WCL JGP (2-day sections).
Apr. 8-12, 9-12 or 10-12, 11th annual Foxwoods Open (CT)
Every Friday Lehigh Valley “Doubleheader” 5-Minute Blitz Chess (QC)
See Grand Prix.
8SS each, G/5, St James Church, 11th & Tilghman Sts., Allentown, PA 18102. EF: $5 each, Prizes: 50% of Entries, 1st -70%, 2nd -30%, if 12 or more players,$7 to top U1600, (If 24 or more players — then 2 sections/ 2 prize funds each event), One 1/2 bye only. Early Event Reg.: 6:30-6:50p. Rds.:7-7:15-7:307:42-7:55-8:10-8:25-8:40p. Late Event Reg.: 8:45-8:55p. Rds.:9-9:15-9:309:42-9:55-10:10-10:25-10:40p. Info: Bruce Davis, 610-821-4320, bdavis@ lehighvalleychess.org, www.lehighvalleychess.org/.
See Grand Prix.
Apr. 23-May 21, 2009 Hatboro Open July 1-5, 2-5, 3-5 or June 29-July 5, 37th Annual World Open See Grand Prix.
Rhode Island Jan. 17, 2009 Winter Team Challenge
Main & Richardson, Lansdale, PA. See www.npchessclub.org for schedules & info or call 215-699-8418.
4SS G/45, Held at R.I. College. Gr. K-5, Gr. 6-8, Gr. 9-12. Trophies top 3 teams in each section. EF: $48 per team of four by 1/14, $68 at site. Players can be from different schools. See full schedule, register online: www.rhodeisland chess.org email:
[email protected]. phone: (401) 359-1602.
Jan. 16-19, 17-19 or 18-19, 41st annual Liberty Bell Open
Jan. 31 & Feb. 28, BK Tournaments for Kids
North Penn Chess Club
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 19, Liberty Bell USCF Booster Quads 3RR, G/30, Sheraton Philadelphia (see Liberty Bell Open). EF: $20. 1st prize each section: choice of 2 year USCF Adult membership with Chess Life, 3 year USCF Young Adult Membership with Chess Life, or $40. Reg: 10 am-12 noon, Rds: 12:30-1:30-2:30. Ent: at site only, no checks.
Jan. 23, Friday Night Action #1 4SS, G/30. Bryn Mawr Community Center, 9 S. Bryn Mawr Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA 19010. EF: $30 online; $15 online for players under age 18; $5 more on-site 6:30-6:45. Rds: 7:00, then ASAP. Prizes: $100 guaranteed 1st, others per entries. See www.silverknightschess.com to register or for more information.
Jan. 24, ASAP Chess Challenge Tournament Great Hall, Moore College of Art and Design, 20th St. and the Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103. 5 Sections. ALL SECTIONS FREE. Scholastic Rated Sections: K-5, K-8, K-12: 3SS, G/60.Trophies for top 5. Scholastic Non-Rated Sections: K-6, 6-12: 4SS, G/40. Not USCF-rated. Medallions to winners. All: Depending upon entries, an additional round may be added or sections divided. Reg.: 8:30am-9:30am. 1st Rd at 10am. Ent/Info: Justin Ennis, 1520 Locust St., Suite 1104, Phila., PA 19102,
[email protected], 215-545-2727 ext. 17.
Jan. 25, PCL January Quick Quads (QC) 3RR, G/15. Wm. Pitt Union, Univ. of Pittsburgh, 5th Ave. & Bigelow, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. EF: $10, $7 Jrs. $20 to 1st/quad. Reg: 11-11:15am, Rds: 11:30amNoon-12:30pm. Info:
[email protected], 412-908-0286. W.
A State Championship Event! Jan. 31, 2009 PA State Amateur Team Championship William Pitt Union, Univ. of Pittsburgh, 5th & Bigelow, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. 4player teams, average rating U2200, alternates allowed. 4SS, G/75. EF: $60/team by 1/23, $80 later. $$ (700 b/16 teams): $250-100, U2000 $95, U1800 $90, U1600 $85, U1400 $80. Reg: 9-9:30 Rds: 10-1-4-7. PSCF $5, OSA. Ent/Info: PSCF, c/o Tom Martinak, 25 Freeport St., Pittsburgh, PA 15223, 412-908-0286,
[email protected] W. WCL JGP.
Feb. 7, Scranton Winter Open 4R SS, Gm/60, Embury United Methodist Church, 942 S. Main Ave., Scranton, PA. EF: $20 by Feb.6, $25 at site. Reg.: 9 -10am, Rds.: 10, 12:30, 3 & 5. Prizes: (b/20), $125, $75, U1800, U1500, U1200/unr: $50 ea. Upset prize, & door prize. Entries/Info: Bernie Sporko, 127 S. Main St., Carbondale, PA 18407. 570-282-2793, cell: 570-604-2461, e-mail:
[email protected]. Online entries acc. thru PayPal, include entry info in message.
Feb. 7, W.Chester 1st Sat. Quads Our 20th Year! 3RR, 40/80,sd/30. United Methodist Church, 129 S. High St. West Chester, PA. EF: $20; every tenth quad free $$40, $50 for 3-0, $5 for 3rd rd win if not 3-0. Reg.: 9am; Rds.: 9:30,1,4:30. Info: Jim White 484-678-3164.
Feb. 8, MasterMinds CC 2nd Sunday Swiss/Open Quads Blair Christian Academy, Philadelphia, Pa., 220 W. Upsal St. 2 events. Quads: 3RR, 40/80, SD/30. EF: $20, Perfect score winner $60 else $50. Rds.: 10-2-5. Scholastic Swiss: EF $15, ASAP $5 rec’d byThursday before, $25 at the door. 3 sections: Open 3SS G/60, Rds.: 10-12:30-3; 1st, 2nd, 3rd, top under 1200, top unrated; U1100 -1st, 2nd, 3rd, top under 800, top unrated & U750K-6 - 1st, 2nd, 3rd, top under 600, top under 400, top unrated 4SS, G/40. Rds.: 10, 11:45, 2, 3:45. 1st & 2nd school & club trophies. All Reg. ends 9:30am. Free parking on site! Ent: MasterMinds CC, 36 E. Hortter St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19119. Checks made payable to: MasterMinds CC Info: Bradley Crable, 215-844-3881,
[email protected], or www.mastermindschess.org.
Feb. 22, PCL February Quick Quads (QC) 3RR, G/15. Wm. Pitt Union, Univ. of Pittsburgh, 5th Ave. & Bigelow, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. EF: $10, $7 Jrs. $20 to 1st/quad. Reg: 11-11:15am, Rds: 11:30amNoon-12:30pm. Info:
[email protected], 412-908-0286. W.
Reg. online: www.rhodeislandchess.org email:
[email protected] phone: (401) 359-1602. See CL4K.
South Carolina Jan. 17, 4th Patrick D. Hart Memorial Scholastic 4SS, G30 (Rds 1-3), G45 (Rd 4) Best Western Charleston - Downtown 250 Spring St., Charleston, SC 29403. EF: $20 if rec’d by 1/12;$25 at site USCF and SCCA memberships req’d, OSA, Trophies to 1st, 2nd & 3rd plus free 1 yr USCF memberships each. Reg.: 8-9:30am. Rds.: 10am, 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm. In 3 sections: HS (9-12), MS (6-8), Elem/K (K-5). HR: $69.99 plus 12.5% tax (mention “Charleston Chess Club”) reserve by 12/31/08. Adv Ent: Charleston Chess Club, c/o David Y. Causey, 741 Dragoon Dr., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464. Email:
[email protected].
Feb. 6-8, 35th Snowstorm Special See Grand Prix.
Tennessee Jan. 17-18, Tennessee Class Championships See Grand Prix.
Mar. 13-15 or 14-15, 13th Annual Mid-America Open (MO)
Mar. 7 & 8, 2009 Carlisle Open & PA Collegiate Championship See Grand Prix.
A State Championship Event! Mar. 7 & 8, 2009 PA State Scholastic Championship 5SS. 142 Trophies!! (With 107 Individual & 35 Team). Hotel Carlisle & Embers Convention Center, 1700 Harrisburg Pike, Carlisle, PA 17015, Exit 52A NB/Exit 52 SB off I-81, Exit 226 off PA Turnpike. 8 sections (Sat & Sun 3/7 & 8 unless indicated): EF: K-3 Open: (Sat 3/7 only) $29. K-6 U800: (Sat 3/7 only) $27. K-9 U1000: (Sun 3/8 only) $27.25. K-6 Open: $30.50. K-8 Open: $31.50. 712 U1000: $28.50. 7-12 U1300: $29.50. K-12 Open: $32.50. All: EFs if rec’d by 2/17, $10 more rec’d 2/18-3/3, $20 more after 3/3. Bye: limit 1, ask by rd 2. Reg Fri 3/6 6-10 pm, Sat 3/7 9:30-10:15 am, Saturday at site entries get 1/2bye. $5 charge for changes/refund after 2/17. Rds (Sat 3/7 1-day sections): G/40 T/D5; 10-11:45-2-3:45-5:30; (Sun 3/8 K-9 U1000): G/40, T/D5; 9-10:3012:30-2-3:30; (2-day sections): G/90, T/D5; 10-2-5:30, 9-1. Bughouse: Reg on-site only until Sat 3/7 8:30pm. Rds begin Sat 3/7 8:45pm. EF: $20/team.
uschess.org
Jan. 31-Feb. 1, Texas Team Championship
4-SS, 30/90. SD/60. John E. Hornbeak Bldg., 3rd floor, 4450 Medical Dr., San Antonio, TX. Open to four-player teams avg. U2200 based on Dec. 2008 rating list. One alternate allowed, must be lowest rated. EF: $100/team if rec’d by 1/29, $125 site. TCA memb. required ($10 reg., $7.50 jr. U19, $1 jr. tmt.), o.s.a. $$($1,000 b/12 teams): $450 + T, $250; U1900 team $200 + T, $100. Reg.: 11 a.m.-noon, Rds.: 12:30-6, 9:30-3. Ent: SACC, POB 501, Helotes, TX 78023; 210-695-2324;
[email protected]. NS. NC. W. WCL JGP.
April 24-26, Kasparov Chess Foundation in Association with UTD, DCC and USCF, Presents All Girls Open National Championships See Nationals.
See Grand Prix.
Vermont
Apr. 3-5, SuperNationals IV
Jan. 31, Lake Champlain Plus-Score
See Nationals.
4SS, GAME/65, Comfort Suites, 1712 Shelburne Rd. South Burlington VT. 05403. EF: $20. $$b/score: $$Based on score. 4.0 = $100, 3.5 =$50, 3.0 = $25, 2.5 = $10. Reg.: 9- 9:45. Rds.: 10-1-3:25-5:45. ENT: Alex Relyea, 49Technology Dr. #89, Bedford, NH 03110. INFO: Alex Relyea,
[email protected].
[email protected]. www.relyeachescom. NS W. WCL JGP.
Texas Jan. 16-18 or 17-18, JG’s Old-Fashioned Hamburgers Texas Class Championships University ofTexas at Dallas, Galaxy Rooms At Student Union, 800 West Campbell Rd, Richardson TX 75080. 5SS, G/120, Rd 1 of 2day is G/60. In 7 Sections: Under 2200: Open to 2199 & under. Unrateds may play in this section but are ineligible for prizes. U2000: Open to 1999 & under. Unrateds may play in this section but not be eligible for prizes. U1800: Open to 1799 & under. Unrateds may play in this section but not be eligible for prizes. U1600/Unrateds: Open to 1599 & under. Unrateds play in this section. Unrated may only win unrated prizes that are determined by unrated entry fees. The unrated entry fees do not apply for U1600 prizes. U1400: Open to 1399 & under. Unrateds may not play in this section. U1200: Open to 1199 & under. Unrateds may not play in this section. U1000: Open to 999 & under. Unrateds may not play in this section. ALL: $$ 60% returned as prizes (30% for 1st, 20% for 2nd and 10% for 3rd.). EF: $49 by 1/4/09, Juniors U19/Seniors Over 65/Handicap $30 by 1/4/09. Else $65 or Jr/Sr/Hcap $40. Please do not mail after Jan 4th. You may register online until Jan 10th. No Credit Cards onsite. www.active.com/ event_detail.cfm?event_id=1646857. Two 1/2 pt. byes if requested before rd 2, but byes for both round 4 and round 5 is not allowed. Two schedules: 3 day and 2 day. 3 day Onsite Registration: 1/16: 6:00 - 7:00 pm. Rounds: Fri 7:20 pm, Sat 12:30 pm - 5:15 pm, Sun 9:10 am - 2:45 pm. 2 day Onsite Registration: 1/17: 8:00 - 8:30 am. Rounds: Sat 9 am then merge with 3 day. Park on metered parking by Student Union or by UTD bookstore. Or get visitors pass at guard shack on University Drive and park on visitor’s parking. ENT: Dallas Chess Club, C/O Barbara Swafford, 2709 Longhorn Trail, Crowley, TX 76036. 214.632.9000. www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1646857 INFO: Barb Swafford,
[email protected], www.swchess.com. NS NC W. WCL JGP (2-day sections).
Jan. 16-18, JG’s Old-Fashioned Hamburgers Texas Masters
Virginia Feb. 14-15, Kingstowne Chess Festival See Grand Prix.
Feb. 21, Winter Seasonal Special See Grand Prix.
Feb. 27-Mar. 1, 41st Annual Virginia Open See Grand Prix.
July 1-5, 2-5, 3-5 or June 29-July 5, 37th Annual World Open (PA) See Grand Prix.
Wisconsin A Heritage Event! Jan. 24-25, 45th Northeastern Open 5/SS. Two Sections: OPEN and RESERVE (U/1500). Holiday Inn – Neenah, 123 E. Wisconsin Ave., Neenah, WI 54956. Hotel phone: 1-800-725-6348. ROOM RATES: $79 sgl/dbl. Mention chess! REG.: 9-9:30 on 1/24/09. ROUNDS AT: 10-2:30-7 and 10-3:15.TIME CONTROL: 35/90, then SD/60. BYES: One halfpoint Bye any round. FULL-point Bye in Rd. 1 to 2100+ if pre-registered. ENTRY FEES: OPEN = $37, RESERVE = $17. Both are $5 more after 1/19. Checks payable to NEWCA. PRIZE FUND: OPEN: ($1500 b/60, 5 per class) 1st - $350, 2nd - $225, best 1900 – 200, 1800 – 190, 1700 – 180, 1600 – 170, 1st U/1600 – 125, 2nd U/1600 – 75. RESERVE: 1st - $60, 2nd - $30. Trophies to: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, best 1200, 1100, 1000, 900, 800, 700, U/700, 1st Unrated, 2nd Unrated. ADVANCE ENTRIES TO: 45th Northeastern Open, Mike Selig – Direc-
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 24, Region III Scholastic Championships 5SS, Rds. 1-3 G/30, Rds. 4-5 G/45. Student Union Galaxy Rooms at The Uni-
Mar. 6, 2009 PA Quick Chess Champ. (QC) See Grand Prix.
versity of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, Texas 75080. Use University Drive entrance. Six rated sections: Opened to all but only players who live in or attend school in Region 3 may be Region 3 champions. High School (grades 9-12), Middle School (grades 6-8/9), Elementary (grades K5/6), Elementary U800 (grades K-5/6 rated under 800), Primary (grades preK-3), and K-1 (grades pre-k-1). $$Trophies for rated sections: HS section: Top 10 ind., top 3 teams; MS Top 10 ind., top 3 team. Elem: Top 10 ind., top 5 teams; Elem U800: Top 10 ind., top 5 teams; Primary: Top 10 ind., top 5 teams; K-1 Top 7 ind., top team. EF for Rated Section: $25 if postmarked by 1/17; $39 thereafter and on site. Add $5 for phone entries. On site registration may result in 1/2 point first round bye. US Chess Federation Membership required. One Not rated sections: K-6 not rated Open. This section is opened to all players in Grades k-6. $$Trophies for K-6 not rated sections:Top 10 ind,Top 5 teams. EF for not rated section is $15 if postmarked by 1/17, $25 thereafter and on site. On site registration may result in 1/2 point 1st round bye. ALL: Reg.: 7:308:30am, Rd 1 at 9:15am, all others ASAP with 35-minute lunch break. One 1/2 pt. bye if requested before end of Rd 2. Medals to all the participants. Tournament is not elimination, play all 5 rounds. Pre-Registration requires prepayment with complete information. All changes after 1/22/08 to be made on site only, $10 for changes made after 1/22/08. No credit cards accepted onsite. Special TCA rules on which section a player can play in Rated Sections. See www.swchess.com/sce/tourney/tsc2006/tsc06.htm for some guidelines. Online Registration: www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1646858 Make Checks payable to: Dallas Chess Club. US Chess Federation Membership is required for all Rated sections. Not Rated sections do not require US Chess Federation membership. Entry Form Enter: Barbara Swafford, 2709 Longhorn Trail, Crowley TX 76036. Ph: 214.632.9000. E-mail: info@ dallaschess.com. Note that seating is limited and is on a first come first serve basis. Park on metered parking by Student Union or by UTD bookstore. Or get visitors pass at guard shack on University Drive and park on visitor’s parking.
DROPPING OUT?
FOREIGN RATING? NOT UNRATED!
It is very important that you
If you have no USCF rating, but do have a rating or category from any other country, no matter how many years ago, you are not unrated.
NOTIFY THE DIRECTOR
If you have a FIDE rating, you are also not unrated.
before pairings are made, so no one is deprived of a game! If you forfeit without notice, you may be FINED up to the amount of the entry fee!
Tell the Director of any event you enter about your foreign rating or category or your FIDE rating, so that you can be paired appropriately.
Have to miss a round?
Chess Life — January 2009
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SEE PREVIOUS ISSUE FOR TLAS APPEARING JANUARY 1-14
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Foreign Events
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Solutions
Problem II.
C. Exploiting the overburdened knight eventually won after 1. Nh5! Nxh5 2. Bxd7 b5 3. Bxb5 Rd8 4. Ba6 regaining the pawn while shattering Black’s pawn structure.
1. Bxg7 Kxg7 2. b5! threatens both the queen and rook. On 2. ... Rxc4 White has 3. Qb2+! and 4. bxa6.
3. A. Michael Langer (2315) - Cornelius Rubsamen (2273)
Chess to Enjoy Problem I.
1. Rch8! threatens 2. R4h7 mate (1. ... Kf7 2. d5).
Problem III.
1. R2f5! Qb2 2. d4! cuts the defense against Rxg7+ and mates. Black resigned after 2. ... Qxe2+ 3. Kh3. Problem IV.
1. Qd4+! Kg8 2. Qd5+ Rf7 3. Kh6! is Zugzwang (3. ... Kf8 4. Qd8 mate). Or 1. ... Kf7 2. Qd5+ and 3. Qxb7 or 1. ... Kf8 2. Qh8+ and Qxh7+/Qxb7. Problem V.
1. Bxd4 exd4 2. e5 threatens 3. Bxb7, 3. Bd5 or 3. e6 (2. ... Qb4 3. Bd5). Problem VI.
1. Be7! Rxf7 2. Bc4! Nxc4 (2. ... Rxe7 3. Rd8+ Bf8 4. Qc3+ and mates) 3. Rd8+ Bf8 4. Bxf8! Rxf8 5. Rxf8+ wins. If 1. ... Rc8 then 2. Be4! threatens 3. Qxc8+! Bxc8 4. Rd8+ and leads to 2. ... Rb8 3. Qc7! or 2. ... h6 3. Bxg6 and wins. Similarly 1. ... Ra8 2. Be4 Rb8 3. Qc7!.
What’s The Best Move? 1. B. Jaan Ehlvest (2637) - Cornelius Rubsamen (2273)
A. Indecisive is 1. Rxd7 Qxd7 2. Qxf8+ Rxf8 3. Rxf8+ Kg7 4. Nxe5 Qa4. B. White won by Zugzwang after 1. Qh3! Rxf7 2. Rxf7 Re7 3. Rxe7 Qxe7 4. Qe6! Qg7 5. a4 a5 6. Kf2 Kh7 7. Ke2 Kh8 8. Kd2 Kh7 9. Kc3 Kh8 10. Kb3. C. Good enough but less elegant is 1. Rxf8+ Rxf8 2. Qh3 Rxf1 3. Kxf1 Nf8 4. Qc8 Kg8 5. Qe8.
2. C. Dereque Kelley (2108) - Ruth Haring (1954)
A. The queen gets trapped after 1. Qxa7?? Ra8 2. Bxd7 Nxd7. B. White regains the pawn with 1. Bxd7 Qxd7 2. Qxa7 Ra8 3. Qb7 Rab8 4. Qa6 but it’s still unclear.
A. Crushing was 1. ... Qb7! 2. Nc4 (if 2. Nf3 Qa6+) 2. ... Rxc4! 3. Qxc4 Ne3+! 4. fxe3 Qxg2+ 5. Ke1 Qg1+ 6. Qf1 Qxe3+. B. The plausible 1. ... Qc6 does not threaten 2. ... cxd2. White can hang on with 2. f3. C. Okay is 1. ... c2 2. Re1 Qc3 but it’s still a fight.
4. C. Andrew Karklins (2256) - Michael Langer (2315)
Solitaire Chess – ABCs of Chess Fork: White loses all hope after 1. ... Bxd4, since 2. Qxd4 meets up with the fork 2. ... Nc2+. Problem I.
Trapping: With 1. ... c4 White’s bishop has nowhere to go; and if 2. exd5, then 2. ... cxd3+ is more than good enough. Problem II.
Removing the guard: The simple exchange 1. ... Qxe2+ leaves White with two poor choices: He could take back with the knight, 2. Nxe2, and fall to 2. ... Nf2+; or he could take back with the king, 2. Kxe2, and lose the bishop, 2. ... Nxc1+. Some choice. Problem III.
A. Black remains a piece ahead on 1. ... Bd7 2. c3 Bc5. B. Also adequate is 1. ... Bc8. C. The quietus was 1. ... Ne5! 2. Qf4 (if 2. Qxe7+ Qxe7 3. Nxe7 Nxf3! 4. Nd5 Nxd2+; or 2. Qg7 Nxf3 3. Rxd4 Nxd4+ wins) 2. ... Qxf4 3. Nxf4 Be3 White resigns.
Discovery: After 1. ... d3+ 2. Qe3 d2, White can resign, since 3. Qxc5 allows 3. ... dxe1=Q mate.
Endgame Lab – Benko’s Bafflers
Problem VI.
Problem I. 1. ... Nd1!? 2. Bxd1 Rxd1+ 3. Kxd1 b2 4. Rxc4 b1=Q+ 5. Kd2 h6 6. g6 fxg6 7. hxg6 Qa2 8. Rc8+ Qg8 9. Rxg8+ Kxg8 10. c4 Kf8 11. c5 Ke7 12. c6 wins. Problem II.
1. Kc2 1. Kc1? c2! 2. Kxc2 a3 3. Kc1 d3 4. Na4 d2+ 5. Kc2 d1=Q+ 6. Rxd1 stalemate 1. ... a3 2. Ra1+! 2. Nc4? d3+ 3. Kc1 d2+ 4. Nxd2 cxd2+ 5. Kc2 d1=Q+ 6. Rxd1 stalemate; 2. Nd3 stalemate 2. ... Kxa1 3. Nd3 Ka2 3. ... a2 4. Kc1 c2 5. Nc5 d3 6. Nb3 mate 4. Nb4+ Ka1 5. Kc1 c2 5. ... d3 6. Nxd3 Ka2 7. Kc2 Ka1 8. Nc1 a2 9. Nb3 mate 6. Nxc2+ Ka2 7. Nxd4 Ka1 8. Kc2 Ka2 9. Ne2 Ka1 10. Nc1 a2 11. Nb3 mate.
Discovery: The check 1. ... Qg5+ exposes a discovery to White’s queen. However White replies he must lose material. Problem IV.
Problem V.
Skewer: The direct attack 1. ... Rf8, backed up by the bishop, skewers queen and rook. The rest is bad for White.
“Solitaire Chess” scores: Total your score to determine your approximate rating below: Total Score 95+ 81-94 66-80 51-65 36-50 21-35 06-20 0-05
Approx. Rating 2400+ 2200-2399 2000-2199 1800-1999 1600-1799 1400-1599 1200-1399 under 1200
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