Atlanta Tournaments

Atlanta Chess Center
3155A East Ponce de Leon Avenue
Scottdale, Georgia 30079

December 26
Third Annual Time Control Open
4SS - Round 1 G/30, Round 2 G/45, Round 3 G/60, Round 4 G/75
This format sounds fascinating. I would have loved to play in this event, but I didn't find out until the day after.

January 8
January 2005 Atlanta G/45 Championship (4 Round Swiss)
I will be playing in this event.

January 21-23
2005 Atlanta Winter Congress (5 Round Swiss)
The time limit for this tournament is 30/90 SD/1, with an option to play round 1 Saturday morning at a time limit of G/90.
I will be playing in this event, taking advantage of the accelerated first round option.

February 5
February 2005 Atlanta G/45 Championship (4 Round Swiss)
I will not be playing in this event.

February 4-6 2005
Georgian Peach Open (5 Round Swiss, G/120)
I will be playing in this event.
[This event is not at the Atlanta Chess Center.]

[modified]

Another game (new time limit)

I have entered a tournament in January with a G/45 time limit. In order for my wife and me (she might play too) to get some training in before the tournament, we decided to change the time limit of the games we've been playing from G/10 (3 sec delay) to G/45 (5 sec delay). Perhaps this will result in increased quality in our games, although I wouldn't necessarily bet on this. Hopefully, it will at least reduce the number of blunders.

RMD - ALD, 12/28/2004 [B31]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 d6 4. Bb5 Bd7 5. O-O Nf6 6. d3 [This was played in Matulovic-Velimirovic, 1973; more common are 6. d4 and 6. Re1.] g6 7. Bf4 Bg7 8. Bxc6 Bxc6 [=] 9. h3 [I don't really see the point of this move.] Qd7 10. Bg3 [10. Re1] O-O 11. Qe2 b5! 12. d4!? [12. Qe3] b4 13. e5 [13. d5] dxe5 [13. ... Nh5] 14. dxe5 [14. Nxe5] Nh5 15. Ne4 Nxg3 16. fxg3 Bxe4 [16. ... Qd5! with some advantage.] 17. Qxe4 e6 18. Rad1 Qc7 19. Rd6 Rac8 [19. ... Qa5] 20. b3 [20. Rfd1] Rfd8 21. Rfd1 Bf8 22. R6d3 Rxd3 23. cxd3 [This leaves the pawn backward as a target on the semi-open file. Better is 23. Qxd3.] Rd8 24. Rf1 [24. Rd2] Be7 [24. ... Rd5] 25. g4 a5 26. h4 [26. Nd2] Bf8 [26. ... Qa7 - RMD] 27. Ng5 Rd7 28. Rf4!? Rd4 [28. ... Bh6!] 29. Qe3 Rxf4 30. Qxf4 Bg7 31. Nf3 Qc6 32. Kh2 [32. h5 - RMD] Qd5 33. Qe3 Kf8 [Too timid. I gave serious consideration to 33. ... a4!? 34. bxa4 Qxa2 but ruled it out as too risky. But as it turns out after 35. Qxc5 Qxa4 36. Kg3 b3 the advantage lies with Black.] 34. Kh3 h6 35. g5 [Over the board I considered this move inferior, but post-mortem analysis reveals it to be correct.] h5 36. g4 hxg4+ 37. Kxg4 Qc6 [The elapsed times at this point were White 0:30 Black 0:35.] 38. h5 gxh5+ 39. Kxh5 Qc7 40. Qe4 Kg8 41. g6 fxg6+ 42. Qxg6 Qf7 [Best was 42. ... Qc6 43. Kg4 Kf8 =; now White has an edge.] 43. Ng5 Qxg6+ 44. Kxg6 Bxe5 45. Nxe6 Bd6 46. Nd8 [46. Kf6] Bc7 [46. ... Kf8] 47. Nc6 [47. Nb7] Kf8 48. Kf6 Ke8 49. Ke6 Bb6 [49. ... Kf8 50. Kd7 Bf4 51. Nxa5 Kf7 52. Nb7 Be3 53. Kc6 Ke7 54. Nxc5 Bd2 is likewise insufficient to hold the draw.] 50. Kd5? [This allows the Black King in. 50. Kd6 Kf7 51. Ne5+ Ke8 52. Nc4 Bd8 53. Kxc5 gave White the best winning chance.] Kd7 51. Ne5+ Kc7 52. Kc4 [52. Nc4!] Kd6 53. Nf7+ [The last chance was 53. Kb5 but after 53. ... Bc7 54. Nc4+ Kd5 55. Nxa5 Bh2 56. Nc4 Bg1 57. Nb6+ Kd4 58. Nd7 Kd5, White has won a pawn but the position is drawn with best play.] Kc6 [I offered a draw here, but my wife wanted to play on. The rest of the game doesn't really warrant any comment.] 54. Ne5+ Kd6 55. Nf3 Kc6 56. Ng5 Bd8 57. Nf7 Be7 58. d4 cxd4 59. Kxd4 Bc5+ 60. Kc4 Be7 61. Ne5+ Kb6 62. Nd7+ Kc6 63. Nb8+ Kb6 64. Nd7+ Kc6 65. Ne5+ Kb6 66. Ng6 [Avoiding the three-fold repetition although at this point nothing can prevent the draw.] Bd6 67. Kd5 Bh2 68. Ne7 Kb5 69. Nc8 a4 70. Nd6+ Ka5 71. Nc4+ Kb5 72. bxa4+ Kxa4 73. Kc5 Bg1+ 74. Kc6 Bd4 75. Kd5 Bg7 [Here my wife offered a draw, which I accepted. The elapsed times were White 0:39 Black 0:41.]

Keene's Latest "Book"

World Chess Championship - Kramnik Vs Leko 2004
Ray Keene
£10.99/$17.99
157 pages, Hardinge Simpole

Less than 10 days after the match ended the book of the tournament has already hit the shelves

I have been racking my brain but have been completely unable to figure out any scenario in which this is a good thing. A world championship match, and the book is out in 10 days? Superficial-analysis much? If I wanted silly superficial inaccurate off-the-cuff analysis with no depth, I'd analyze the games myself. Keene has been an obscene hack for a long time, but this just takes the cake. What a joke!

Two Games

RMD - ALD, 12/26/2004 [C50]

1. Nf3 Nc6 2. e4 e5 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Bd5 [6. d3] Re8 7. d3 d6 [7. ... Nd4] 8. Ng5 [8. Bg5] Nxd5 9. Nxd5 [=] Ne7? [A mistake; 9. ... h6 is correct. - RMD] 10. Qh5! [I had only seen 10. Qf3. Had I seen this I would not have played 9. ... Ne7.] f6??? [10. ... Nxd5 does not work, but 10. ... Ng6 hangs on although White is obviously much better.] 11. Qxh7+? [Misses a mate in three with 11. Nxe7+! Rxe7 12. Qxh7+ Kf8 13. Qh8#.] Kf8 12. Qh8+? [Missing the much stronger 12. Nxf6! when Black's best is 12. ... d5 (to free up the square d6 for the King's escape) 13. Qh8+ Ng8 14. Qxg8+ Ke7 15. Qxg7+ Kd6 16. exd5 with a strong attack.] Ng8 13. Nf3 [13. b4!? was worth considering.] c6 14. Nc3 [White has won a pawn, but the attack has dissipated.] Bg4 15. Nh4 Kf7 16. Qh7 [16. Nf5] Ne7 17. Nf5? [Now this is a mistake; 17. Bh6!] Bxf5 18. exf5? Rh8! White resigns

As my wife and I occasionally do, we agreed to re-play this game from White's 15th move since my wife was not happy with 15. Nh4, although I did not see anything wrong with it.

RMD - ALD, 12/26/2004 [C50]

1. Nf3 Nc6 2. e4 e5 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Bd5 Re8 7. d3 d6 8. Ng5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 Ne7 10. Qh5 f6 11. Qxh7+ Kf8 12. Qh8+ Ng8 13. Nf3 c6 14. Nc3 Bg4 15. h3 [I think the original 15. Nh4 was better.] Bxf3 16. gxf3 Kf7 [16. ... d5] 17. Qh4 [17. Qh5+ Kf8 18. f4] Ne7 18. Qg3 Rh8 19. Na4 [I thought my wife was shifting her attention to the queenside, but she did not follow up this move. She didn't even trade the knight for my bishop. I think continuing on the kingside with 19. f4 was better.] Qd7 20. Kg2 Rh7 21. Be3 Bxe3 22. fxe3 Rah8 [22. ... Rh6] 23. Rh1 Ng6 24. Rh2? [24. Rag1] Nh4+ [Missing 24. ... Rh5! (threatening ...Rg5) 25. h4 Nxh4+ winning back the pawn with the better position.] 25. Kf2 f5 [25. ... Rh6 - RMD] 26. Rah1 [26. Nc3] Kf6 27. f4 [27. Rg1] exf4 28. exf4 Re8 29. Qg5+ Kf7 30. Nc3 g6 [30. ... Qc7] 31. a4 [Another move which does not follow from or lead to anything else in the game.] Rh5 32. Qg3 Re6 [Wasted move; 32. ... Qd8.] 33. Re1 Re8 [33. ... fxe4 34. dxe4 d5] 34. Rhh1 b6 35. e5!? [35. Rhg1] dxe5 36. Rxe5 [36. Qe3] Qd4+ [36. ... Rxe5 37. fxe5 f4] 37. Qe3 Qxe3+ 38. Rxe3 Rxe3 39. Kxe3 Ng2+ [39. ... g5!?] 40. Kf3 Nh4+ 41. Kg3 Kf6 42. d4 [42. Ne2] g5 43. Ne2 [43. fxg5+] gxf4+ [43. ... Ng6] 44. Kxf4 [44. Nxf4] Ng6+ 45. Kf3 Rh8 46. Nf4 [46. b4] Nxf4 47. Kxf4 Rh4+48. Ke3 Re4+ 49. Kd3 Kg5 50. Kc4 [50. c4] Kh4 [50. ... f4!] 51. c3 [51. Rf1 to take advantage of the fact that I did not push the f pawn.] Re3 52. Rf1 Kxh3 [This was the pivotal decision of the game; I believe 52. ... Kg5 was stronger. - RMD] 53. Rxf5 Re7 54. b4 [54. a5!?] Kg4 55. Rf8 Kg5 [55. ... Rc7] 56. a5 bxa5 57. bxa5 Rc7 58. a6 Rh7 59. Rc8 Kf5 60. Rxc6 Ke4 61. d5 Rd7 [Chessmaster suggests 61. ... Kf5, but after 62. Re6 Black's chances in the endgame aren't any better than in the actual game.] 62. d6 Ke5 63. Kc5 Ke6 [63. ... Rd8] 64. c4 Ke6 [64. ... Rg7] 65. Kb4? [65. Kc7 Rxd6 66. Re7+ Re6 67. Rxe6+ Kxe6 68. Kc6 and White wins.] Kd4? [I was scared to trade rooks, but the only drawing chance lay in 65. ... Rxd6 66. Rxd6 Kxd6. Now White's win is just a matter of (very simple) technique.] 66. c5 Kd5 67. Rc7 Rd8 68. Rxa7 Kc6 [68. ... Rf8] 69. Rb7 [69. Kc4] Rf8 70. Rc7+ Kd5 71. a7 Ra8 72. Kb5 [72. d7] Ke6 73. Kc6 Rd8 74. Kb7 0-1

Tratado General de Ajedrez

For those who can read Spanish, I highly recommend the four-volume Tratado General de Ajedrez by the late Argentine master Roberto Grau. Although Grau died in 1944, this book has been reprinted many times since then, and I recently came across a $10 copy of volume 1 on the internet here. I think these four volumes (over 1500 pages all told) have everything you need to go from rank amateur to expert.

Volume 1 ("Basic Principles") starts off at the very beginning with the movement of the pieces, simple mates, and elementary tactical concepts like the pin. It also has a great number of short games to work through and many exercises. Volume 2 ("Strategy") goes through a detailed discussion of strategy - the fight for the center, etc., and attack and defense concepts (e.g., the sacrifice on h7, etc.). There are also a good number of classic grandmaster games, analyzed in a great deal more detail than the games in volume 1, with detailed text explaining the ideas behind a position as well as lengthy analytical variations. Once you have mastered the material in the first two volumes, I would be amazed if you did not have a rating in the neighborhood of 1600.

Volume 3 ("Pawn Formations") and Volume 4 ("Advanced Strategy") -- which I have not finished working through -- look to have everything you would need to get from 1600 to expert territory (2000). I would rank them on a par with Dvoretsky's series in terms of pedagogical quality (but with lower expectations regarding the reader's expertise, as well as with more analytical mistakes).

Four Games

ALD - RMD, 12/5/2004 [C42]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nxe4 4. Qe2 d5 [4. ... Qe7 or 4. ... d6] 5. d3 Qf6? [5. ... Qe7] 6. Nxf7? [Way to throw an opportunity away. After the natural 6. Nf3, I would have won the Knight. Now the position is even.] Qxf7? [With 6. ... Qxf2+!, Black would even have recovered the pawn.] 7. dxe4 d4 8. Qb5+ Nc6 9. Bc4 Qd7 [9. ... Qg6] 10. Bg5 [10. O-O] Qg4 [10. ... Bd6] 11. Qd5 Qd7 [Qf7+ isn't really a worrisome threat; 11. ... Ne7.] 12. Qxd7+ Bxd7 13. O-O Be7 [13. ... h6] 14. Bf4 [14. Bxe7 Kxe7 15. f4] O-O-O 15. c3 [15. Nd2] Bc5 [15. ... Bf6 16. cxd4 Bxd4 is more accurate.] 16. Rd1 [Because of Black's slight inaccuracy on the last move, White now has 16. b4 Bb6 17. b5 Na5 18. Be2. Otherwise, 16. cxd4 Bxd4 is also an OK way to proceed. The move I selected is a non sequitor.] Bg4 17. Rd2 Rhf8 [Black's pressure provides sufficient compensation for the pawn deficit, so the position is basically even.] 18. Bg3 a6 [18. ... Rfe8] 19. Rd3 [I was trying to set up f3, but this move doesn't actually help make that possible; 19. Bd5.] Be2 20. Be6+ Kb8 21. Rd2 Bb5? [21. ... d3!] 22. c4 Rfe8 [22. ... Ba4 23. b3 d3 gave Black more counterplay than this.] 23. Bd5? [Duh! Of course 23. cxb5 since if 23. ... Rxe6, 24. bxc6. Now Black has a chance to escape.] Bxc4? [23. ... Nb4! 24. Na3 (24. cxb5? Nxd5!) Ba4 25. b3 Bd7 =] 24. Bxc4 Rxe4 25. Re2 [25. Rd1] Rxe2 26. Bxe2 d3 27. Bd1 Nb4 [27. ... d2] 28. Nc3 Bd4 29. Rc1 [29. Bb3!] Bxc3 [29. ... d2! 30. Ra1 Bxc3! (removing a defender of d1) 31. bxc3 Re8! (threatening mate) with strong winning chances.] 30. Rxc3 Nxa2? [30. ... Rd7] 31. Bxc7+ Kc8 [31. ... Ka7 is better, but Black is lost in any event.] 32. Bxd8+? [32. Bg4+! Rd7 33. Rxd3! with an immediate win.] Nxc3 33. bxc3 Kxd8 34. Kf1 b5 35. Ke1 Kc7 36. Kd2 a5 37. c4 [37. Kxd3] Kb6 [37. ... bxc4] 38. cxb5 Kxb5 39. Kxd3 Kb4 40. Ke4 a4 41. Bxa4 Kxa4 42. f4 [It's all over now. Even I couldn't screw this position up.] Kb4 43. g4 Kc5 44. Ke5 g6 45. h4 Kc6 46. Ke6 Kc7 47. f5 gxf5 48. gxf5 Kd8 49. Kf7 h5 50. Kg7 1-0

ALD - RMD, 12/23/2004 [D07]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 [My wife loves this defense, yet I've never learned to play against it properly.] 3. Qa4 [While this move does make an occasional appearance in master play (3. Nf3 Bg4 4. Qa4 = appears as D07/1), I don't really like it. I regretted playing it the second I hit my clock. 3. Nf3, 3. Nc3, 3. cxd5 and 3. e3 are all more common, as well as more suited to my style.] Bd7? [This loses a pawn, although I overlooked it. Correct is 3. ... e6.] 4. Qb3? [I didn't play 4. cxd5 because I mistakenly thought Black could respond 4. ... Nxd4.] Nxd4 [4. ... dxc4] 5. Qd3 [On this square, the White Queen interferes with White's development. Better to abandon the bad strategy commenced on the third move by playing 5. Qd1.] e5 6. cxd5 Nf6 7. e4?! [7. Nc3] Bb4+ [Missing 7. ... Nxd5!? 8. exd5 Bf5 9. Qd2 Bb4 10. Nc3 Nc2+ 11. Kd1 Nxa1.] 8. Bd2 a5 [Chessmaster says 8. ... Nxd5!? is still playable, but I don't see it myself.] 9. a3 [It was time to continue developing with 9. Nc3; I don't know what kind of hypnosis I was under in this game.] Bc5 [Missing 9. ... Ba4! when White can't play 10. axb4 because of 10. ... Nc2+.] 10. Nc3 Nb3 11. Rd1 Ng4! 12. Be3 [12. Nh3] Bxe3 13. fxe3 a4 14. h3??? Nf6? [Missing the mate in three with 14. ... Qh4+!] 15. Nf3 [After all the back-and-forth swings, this position is esentially even.] Nc5 16. Qc2 Qe7 17. Bd3 O-O 18. Nb1 [I was planning Nb1-d2-c4 to put pressure on the e5 pawn, but this plan is absurdly slow. Much better was 18. O-O.] c6 19. dxc6 Bxc6 20. Nbd2 Rfd8 21. Nc4 [21. Be2 is better, although White is already worse off.] Nfxe4 [Or 21. ... Rxd3 22. Rxd3 Bxe4 23. Nfxe5 Nxd3+ 24. Nxd3 Rd8 with the edge for Black.] 22. Nfxe5? [22. O-O was way overdue! Now it's all over for White!] Qh4+! 23. Kf1 Ng3+ 24. Kg1 Nxd3 25. Rxd3 Be4 26. Rxd8+ Rxd8 27. Qf2?? [27. Nf3] Rd1+! 28. Kh2 Rxh1#

As a side note, this game reinforced the fact that my wife's opening repertoire is about 100 years out of style (although perfectly solid and playable nonetheless). Against 1. d4, she plays either the Queen's Gambit Accepted or the QGD Chigorin Defense as in this game. She never even thinks about any of the Indian Defenses. Against 1. e4, she responds 1. ... e5 - never the French or the Sicilian. With White it's 1. e4 almost 100% of the time, and if I respond 1. ... e5, she plays Giuoco Piano or the Ruy Lopez Exchange Variation. I am always torn between spending some time studying these openings or spending time studying variations I am more likely to see from other players in a tournament.

ALD - RMD, 12/26/2004 [D07]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 [At the time, I saw this move as unnecessarily giving up the center, but after the game a quick review of ECO demonstrated that this is quite playable.] 6. bxc3 g6 [6. ... e5 immediately.] 7. Bc4 [7. Nf3] e5 [As long as 6. ... g6 was played, this should be followed up with 7. ... Bg7.] 8. d5 Ne7 [The counter-intuitive 8. ... Nb8 is also worth considering, as happened in Ratner-Terpugov, USSR 1950 (without the intervening Bc4 g6).] 9. Bb3 [9. Nf3] b5 [Huh?] 10. Ne2 Bg4 11. f3 Bd7 12. O-O f5!? 13. a3 [13. a4!] Bg7 14. Bb2 Qb8 15. Qd2 Qb6+ 16. Kh1 f4 [Prematurely releases the pressure on White's center.] 17. c4 O-O-O? [The straightforward 17. ... bxc4 18. Bxc4 Rb8 is necessary.] 18. Nxf4 exf4 [18. ... Rhe8] 19. Bxg7 bxc4? [Trying to be too slick. The plain 19. ... Rhg8 is correct.] 20. Bxh8 [White had better with 20. Bxc4 Rhg8 21. Bd4 c5 22. Bxc5 Qxc5 23. Ba6+ Kb8 24. Rab1+ and a clear win.] cxb3 21. Bd4 c5? [In this line this is not playable; 21. ... Qb7.] 22. dxc6e.p.? [22. Bxc5! when Black has lost a pawn for nothing since 22. ... Qxc5? is not possible because of 23. Rac1!] Bxc6 [22. ... Be8] 23. Bxb6 [23. Rfd1] Rxd2 24. Ba5? [I didn't think so at the time, but there is time for White to play 24. Bxa7!] Re2 25. Rab1 Re3 [25. ... Ba4 is a better way to defend the pawn.] 26. Rfc1 Kb7 27. Rc3 [27. Bd8 Nc8 28. Rc4] Ba4 28. Rc7+ Ka6 29. Bd2 Black resigns

Neither my wife nor I are prone to premature resignation, but in this game I thought my wife could have fought on for at least a while longer. After 29. ... Nc8 30. Bxe3 fxe3, Black is down both exchanges but has two passed pawns as compensation. Of course, with best play I should win, but she should know better than to expect best play from me.

RMD - ALD, 12/26/2004 [C68]

1. Nf3 Nc6 2. e4 e5 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. Nxe5 Qd4 6. Nxf7? [My wife and I had reached this position once before on 11/27, and she played this move then too. I still don't understand the need for this desperation.] Qxe4+ 7. Qe2 Qxe2+ 8. Kxe2 Kxf7 9. d4 Nf6 10. f3 [The first deviation from our previous game, where my wife played 10. Bf4, which is better than the move in this game.] Bf5 11. c3 Bxb1 [11. ... Re8+] 12. Rxb1 Bd6 13. Kd3 Rhe8 14. b4 [14. Bg5] Nd5 [14. ... b5!? is a move I didn't even consider, but it's definitely worth looking at.] 15. a3 [15. a4] Nf4+ [15. ... Bf4] 16. Bxf4 Bxf4 17. g3 Bg5 [17. ... Re3+ was worth considering, but if not that then I should have played 17. ... Bd6. What I chose just allows White to play 18. f4 with gain of tempo.] 18. f4 Bf6 19. Rhf1 [19. g4] Rad8 20. g4 Kg8 [I considered this move as well as 20. ... Kg6. However, it turns out that 20. ... Be7 was best.] 21. g5 Be7 22. c4 [22. h4! At this point, I was thinking that White has the initiative but Black is definitely winning. I knew that as long as I didn't blunder it was in the bag.] b6 [The first inaccuracy. Better was 22. ... c5 23. d5 c6 stemming Black's initiative.] 23. Kc3 [23. Rbe1] c5 [A second inaccuracy. Now 24. dxc5 bxc5 25. b5 axb5 26. Rxb5 would give White an outside passed pawn.] 24. d5 [Not bad, but not fully capitalizing on Black's error.] cxb4+ [A third inaccuracy; 24. ... Bd6] 25. axb4 c6? [And now finally a downright error. I analyzed all sorts of replies to this but somehow missed the obvious 26. dxc6. I can't believe I was playing so badly that I made four consecutive bad moves. My wife's initiative was making me lose my cool.] 26. dxc6 Rc8 27. b5 axb5 [27. ... a5 - RMD] 28. cxb5 Bd6 [28. ... Rf8] 29. Rbd1 Re3+ [29. ... Rcd8] 30. Rd3 [30. Kc4] Rxd3+ 31. Kxd3 Kf7 [31. ... Ra8 to get some counterplay.] 32. h4 Kg6 [32. ... h5] 33. f5+ Kh5!? 34. Rh1 [34. f6] Bg3 [Despite Black's extra piece, the position is now actually dead even. With 34. ... Bc7 Black keeps some sort of edge.] 35. f6 gxf6 36. gxf6 Rf8 37. Rf1 [It's insanely difficult for the non-grandmasters among us to know if 37. Rf1 or 37. Rc1 is the correct move in this position. That is, which passed pawn should the rook get behind? Chessmaster suggests 37. Rc1, but since that passed pawn is supported and the King is closer to it, I like 37. Rf1 better myself. But what do I know?] Bxh4 38. c7 [38. Kd4! Kg6 39. Kd5 Kf7 40. c7 gave better chances, but I think this position was just too subtle for either one of us to really understand what was going on.] Bg3 [38. ... Rc8 39. Rc1 Kg6 and Black maintained a small advantage.] 39. Rh1+ Kg4 [I did not play 39. ... Kg6 because I was afraid of the pin 40. Rg1, but it turns out that Black's best practical winning chances lay here after 40. ... Rc8 41. Rxg3+ Kxf6 42. Rf3+ Kg7 43. Rg3+ Kh8 44. Re3 Rxc7, where Black now has an extra passed pawn. Now the position is drawn - if I don't screw it up.] 40. Rxh7 Bxc7 [Too soon. The Black King is too far away. Better is 40. ... Kf5 41. Rd7 Bxc7 42. Rxc7 Rxf6.] 41. Kc4?? Rxf6?? [I have no idea what hallucination affected both me and my wife here.] 42. Rxc7 [White's pieces are more active and the Black King is far away from the pawns, so all the winning chances are now with White.] Rf4+ [42. ... Rf5! - RMD] 43. Kd5 Rf5+ ["Patzer sees a check, patzer gives a check." I don't know what I was thinking; 43. ... Rf6!] 44. Kc6 Rf6+ 45. Kb7 Kf4 46. Rc6 Rf7+ 47. Kxb6 Ke5 48. Rc5+ Kd6 49. Rc6+ Kd5 [Chessmaster claims that the correct 49th move for White was 49. Rc2 and that 49. Rc6+ allowed Black to reach a theoretically drawn position with 49. ... Ke5. Some time spent with Comprehensive Chess Endings: Rook Endings confirmed that this is in fact not the case. White's endgame play was flawless. Once upon a time, I could count upon getting excellent chances of winning an even position or drawing an inferior position by going into the endgame. But no longer; now my wife is at least as good as I in the endgame. Ah, well...] 50. Ka5 Rb7 51. Rc8 [51. Ka6] Kd6 [51. ... Ra7+ - RMD] 52. b6 Kd7? [The losing move; 52. ... Rf7 held out some hope.] 53. Rc1 [The correct idea.] Kd6 54. Ka6 Rb8 55. Ka7 Re8 56. b7 Re7 57. Ka8 1-0

Review of "Chess Tactics for the Tournament Player"

If this book were truly representative of "the once-secret Russian method of chess training" no Soviet player would ever have become a grandmaster in the entire course of chess history. This book simply does not live up to the hype. Keep in mind as you read the following that according to the authors the alleged goal of these books is "to provide the knowledge necessary to reach expert strength." Nobody is going to achieve a rating anywhere remotely near expert strength using this book.

My complaints are numerous:
[1] These books violate the basic tenet to know your audience. The material oscillates between being absurdly simple for the alleged target audience to being absurdly unclear. For example, at one point they explain what a pin is. Elsewhere, they provide a complicated example from the Fischer-Spassky 1972 match with absolutely no commentary.
[2] The examples are too sparsely commented (an obscene number of them have no comments at all) to be of any use to a serious student trying to learn from them. As just one ridiculous example, page 180 contains a 19-move analysis with a single comment ("now follows a beautiful variation"); well, thanks, that was very useful. The famous game Lasker-Bauer, Amsterdam 1889, merits a comment on only one move as well.
[3] Many of the examples are downright useless, consisting as they do of a single move. That this book would have any one-move examples boggles my mind. We are given no indication of how the position was arrived at or how the magical move (1. Qa7!!) was decided upon or even why it merits two exclamation points.

On page 14, the authors write, "When studying lessons on tactics, pay close attention to both the means and circumstances that give rise to forced play." Yeah, that's what I thought I was reading this book for. Unfortunately, anyone looking to this book to learn this stuff will go away disappointed. Alburt & Palatnik clearly do not have the ability to teach tactics to their target audience. The book consists of vague generalities illustrated with examples of dubious instructional value.

The bottom line is -- if you are rated below 1600, you will not learn anything from Alburt & Palatnik; try Jeremy Silman's or Yasser Seirawan's books instead. If you are rated above 1600, you will not learn anything from these books either; try Dvoretsky's well-respected books (either the five books of the Dvoretsky-Yusupov school or Dvoretsky's more recent 4-volume School of Chess Excellence series).

Kasimdzhanov-Kasparov match is NOT a go

http://www.fide.com/news.asp?id=605

FIDE announces the termination of negotiations with the candidate organiser of the World Chess Championship match Kasimdzhanov-Kasparov, originally sheduled for January 2005 in Dubai. The organiser from Dubai did not supply FIDE with the required financial guarantees within the deadline set by the FIDE President.

The Kasimdzhanov-Kasparov match is now scheduled to be organised in spring 2005 and FIDE has already entered discussions with other candidate organisers and sponsors. Further information on the progress of these discussions will be officially announced until the end of this year.

Now let me see if I've got this straight. The January 2005 match in Dubai was just a figment of the FIDE President's imagination (as Kasparov suggested in his letter to the FIDE Congress), but this newly announced spring 2005 match with super-duper-secret unmentionable sponsors is legitimate. And we're supposed to believe this because...??? I can live with an idiot running things, and I can live with a crook running things . . . but a crooked idiot is too much to take. FIDE is turning professional chess into a bad joke. Can you imagine if Wimbledon or the Masters did not take place on schedule?

Two games

RMD - ALD, 11/27/2004 [C68]

1. e4 e4 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. Nxe5 Qd4 [=, ECO] 6. Nxf7? [There's no need for this desperation. After 6. Ng4, White's game is perfectly playable.] Qxe4+ 7. Qe2 [White should not trade queens down material; 7. Kf1.] Qxe2+ 8. Kxe2 Kxf7 9. d4 Nf6 10. Bf4 Bd6 11. Be5 [11. Bxd6] Bxe5 [11. ... Re8] 12. dxe5 Nd5 13. Nd2 [13. Re1] Re8 14. Nc4 b5 15. Ne3 Nxe3 16. fxe3 Rxe5 17. Rhf1+ Ke7 18. h3 Bd7 19. g4 [19. Rf3] Rf8 [19. ... h5] 20. Rfd1 c5 21. Kd3? Rd5+ [21. ... Rf3!] 22. Kc3 [22. Ke2] Rxd1 [22. ... b4+] 23. Rxd1 Rf3 24. Rd3 [24. Rh1] Rxh3 25. g5 Bf5 [25. ... c4] 26. Rd5 Rxe3+ 27. Kd2 Rf3 28. Rxc5 Rf2+ [Patzer sees a check, patzer gives a check; 28. ... Kd6.] 29. Ke3 Rxc2? [29. ... Kd6] 30. Rxf5 Rxb2 31. Re5+ Kd6 32. Rf5 Rxa2 33. Rf7 Ra3+ 34. Ke4 Ra4+ 35. Ke3 g6 36. Kf3 [36. Rxh7] Rh4 37. Kg3 [37. Rf6+] Rh5 38. Kg4 h6 [38. ... a5 ends all resistance.] 39. Rf6+ [39. gxh6] Ke7 [39. ... Ke5] 40. Rxg6? [White can't trade rooks; better to play 40. Rxa6, although the game is lost in any case.] Rxg5+ 41. Rxg5 hxg5 42. Kxg5 c4 0-1

ALD - RMD, 12/11/2004 [A20]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 e4 4. Nd4 [4. Ng5] Bc5 5. Nb3 Bb4 6. a3 [6. d4] Bxc3 7. dxc3 b6 8. c5 O-O 9. cxb6 axb6 10. e3 [10. g3] d5 11. c4 Bg4 12. Be2 [12. Qc2] Be6 [12. ... Bxe2] 13. cxd5 Qxd5 14. Qxd5 Bxd5 15. Nd4 c5 16. Nf5 Ra4 [Odd.] 17. Ne7+ Kh8 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. O-O h6 20. Rd1 Rd8 21. b3 Ra7 22. Bc4 Rad7 23. Bxd5 [23. Ra2] Rxd5 24. Rxd5 Rxd5 25. Bb2 [25. Kf1] Rd3 26. b4 Kh7 [26. ... Rb3] 27. g3 [27. bxc5] c4 28. Rc1 b5 29. Rc3 [29. a4 or 29. Kf1 is better.] Nc6 [29. ... Rd2 30. Bc1 Ra2] 30. Kf1 f6 [30. ... Rd2] 31. Ke2 Kg8 [Black seems to have no plan; 31. ... Ne5.] 32. a4 bxa4 [32. ... Rxc3] 33. Rxc4 Rb3 34. Rxc6 [34. Bc1] Rxb2+ 35. Ke1 [35. Kf1] Rxb4 [35. ... a3!] 36. Ra6 Kh7 37. Kd1 h5 38. Kc2 Kg6 39. Kc3 Rb3+ 40. Kc2 Rb4 41. Kc3 [I would have been happy with a draw by repetition at this point, but my wife would have none of that.] Rb1 42. Rxa4 f5 43. h4 Rf1 44. Ra6+ Kh7 45. Ra2 Kh6 46. Kd4 g5 [46. ... Rc1, =] 47. hxg5+ [Fails to take advantage of Black's inaccuracy on the previous move; 47. Ke5!] Kxg5 48. Ke5 Kg4 49. Rd2 Kf3 50. Kxf5 Rxf2? [This loses the endgame; 50. ... Rh1!] 51. Rxf2+ Kxf2 52. Kf4 Kg2 53. g4 h4 [53. ... hxg4 likewise loses.] 54. g5 h3 55. g6 h2 56. g7 h1=Q 57. g8=Q+ [While playing this position, I was under the impression it was a draw. It turns out I had a win all along and didn't even know it. Because of the bad position of Black's king, there's a win (Comprehensive Chess Endings: Queen Endings section 2.41).] Kf2 58. Qg3+?? [Now it's a draw! White would win with 58. Qa2+! Kg1 59. Qb1+ Kh2 60. Qxh1+ Kxh1 61. Kxe4.] Ke2 59. Qg4+?? [Now it's a win for Black! After 59. Qg5, the position could have been abandoned as a certain draw. Two moves, two blunders. Wow!] Qf3+! 60. Qxf3+ exf3 61. e4 f2 62. e5 f1=Q+ 0-1

One game, twice

RMD - ALD, 12/11/2004 [D01]

1. Nc3 Nf6 2. d4 d5 3. Bg5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. e3 Bd6 6. Bd3 Bxd3 7. Qxd3 Nbd7 [=] 8. Nb5 [8. e4 is recommended in this type of position.] O-O 9. Nxd6 cxd6 10. O-O Qb6 11. Bxf6 [My wife second-guessed herself after playing this, but I don't see anything wrong with it.] Nxf6 12. Rab1 Rac8 13. Rfc1 Rc7 14. Nd2 Rfc8 15. c3 g6 [15. ... e5] 16. f3 Kg7 17. b3 Qa5 18. c4! dxc4 19. Nxc4?! [Setting a trap for Black.] Qxa2?? [The second I hit my clock I realized with horror the point of White's last move. I had fallen for the trap. The way to refute 19. Nxc4 is 19. ... Qa6 20. Re1 b5 21. Nd2 Qxa2 22. Ra1 Qb2 when the queen is able to escape with the extra pawn.] 20. Ra1 Black resigns

Given the interesting position and the idiotic nature of my loss, my wife and I decided to play the same position again.

RMD - ALD, 12/11/2004 [D01]

1. Nc3 Nf6 2. d4 d5 3. Bg5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. e3 Bd6 6. Bd3 Bxd3 7. Qxd3 Nbd7 8. Nb5 O-O 9. Nxd6 cxd6 10. O-O Qb6 11. Bxf6 Nxf6 12. Rab1 Rac8 13. Rfc1 Rc7 14. Nd2 Rfc8 15. c3 g6 16. f3 Kg7 17. b3 Qa5 18. c4 dxc4 19. Nxc4 Qb5 [My second chance at this position, and still I could not find the right move. 19. ... Qa6 is stronger, retaining an edge for Black. Now the position is even.] 20. e4? [20. Qd2] d5 21. e5 dxc4? [Duh! Because the White Knight is pinned, there's time for 21. ... Nd7, capturing on the next move.] 22. exf6+ Kxf6 23. Rxc4 [23. bxc4] Rxc4 24. bxc4 Qxc4 25. Qxc4 Rxc4 26. Rxb7 Rc1+ 27. Kf2 Rc2+ 28. Kg3 Rxa2 29. h4 a5 [Better to first put a stop to White's ambitions on the queen side with 29. ... h6.] 30. f4 [30. Rb6] a4 [30. ... Rd2] 31. Rb1 [31. Ra7, behind the pawn!] a3 32. Kf3 [32. Rb3] Rd2 [32. ... Rb2] 33. Ra1 [33. Rb4 a2 34. Ra4] a2 34. g3 Rd3+ 35. Kg4 [35. Ke4 since the pawn on g3 can not be taken.] h5+ 36. Kh3 Ra3 37. Kg2 Kf5 38. Kh3 [38. Kf1 also loses.] f6 [Thinking of 39. Kg2 Kg5 when it's all over. But 38. ... Ke4 was faster.] White resigns

2005 U.S. Chess Champions

Hikaru Nakamura of White Plains NY is the new U.S. Chess Champion! The 16-year-old swept the playoff match against Alex Stripunsky 2-0. Rusa Goletiani, also from NY, won her playoff against Tatev Abrahamyan with the same 2-0 score to win the Women's U.S. Championship.

Distribution of Prize Money:
1st. Nakamura - 7, won playoff [$25,000]
2nd. Stripunsky - 7, lost playoff [$17,000]
3rd. Kaidanov - 6, tiebreak formula [$13,000]
4th. Kudrin - 6, tiebreak formula [$10,200]
5th. Shulman - 6, tiebreak formula [$8,100]
6th-8th. Serper, Benjamin and Onischuk - 6 [$5,200]
9th-17th. Goldin, Ibragimov, Gulko, Becerra, Akobian, Kamsky, Wojtkiewicz, Fishbein and Yermolinsky - 5.5 [$4,294.44]
18th-31st. Gurevich, Gonzalez, Bercys, Perelshteyn, Altounian, Christiansen, Milman, Lapshun, DeFirmian, Novikov, Shabalov, Finegold, Lakdawala, Ivanov - 5 [$3,250]
1st women's. Goletiani - 4.5, won playoff [$12,500]
2nd women's. Abrahamyan - 4.5, lost playoff [$9,200]
32nd-39th. Schneider, Lugo, Kriventsov, Burnett, Browne, Casella - 4.5
3rd women's. Krush - 4, tiebreak formula [$7,100]
4th women's. Battsetseg - 4, tiebreak formula [$5,500]
40th-47th. Zilberstein, Martinez, Friedel, Hoekstra, Muhammad and Enkhbat - 4 [$2,525]
48th-54th. Zatonskih, Adamson, Lopez, Kraai, Lein, Zenyuk and Airapetian - 3.5 [$2,400]
55th-60th. LaRota, Shahade, Ross, Vayserberg, Hahn and Levina - 3 [$2,200]
61st-63rd. Kleiman, West and Epstein - 2.5 [$2,200]
64th. Sagalchik - 0.5 [$2,200]

Two games

ALD - RMD, 12/4/2004 [A34]

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d3 Nf6 5.Bg5 Be7 6. g3 O-O 7. Bg2 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Bxe7 Ndxe7 10. O-O a6 [I could not find this specific position in the opening books, but it is a very typical position in this line of the English. Chances are even here.] 11. Na4 Qd6 [11. ... Qa5] 12. Rc1 Nb4 [12. ... Bg4] 13. Rxc5?! [13. a3] b5 14. Rxe5 [14. Nxe5 bxa4 15. d4] Bb7? [I don't understand why my wife didn't just grab the piece she had just won.] 15. Nc5 [15. Rxe7 Qxe7 16. Nc3 was better.] Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Qxe5 17. Bxa8? [Missing the intermediate 17. d4!] Rxa8? [17. ... Qxc5! 18. Bg2 Nxa2] 18. d4 Qd5 19. a3 Nbc6 20. e3 h6 21. Qd3 Qa2 [Odd.] 22. Qb3 Qxb3 23. Nxb3 a5 24. Rc1 a4 25. Nc5 g5 [25. ... Na5] 26. Nd7 Kg7 27. d5 Nb8 28. Nxb8 Rxb8 29. e4 Nc8 [29. ... Rc8] 30. f4 Nb6 31. Kf2 Nc4 32. Rc2 Kf6 [32. ... Rd8] 33. Kf3 [33. Ke2] h5 34. h3 Nd6?? [A blunder. Black had the cute 34. ... g4+ 35. hxg4 hxg4+ when White can not respond 36. Kxg4? because of Ne3+.] 35. e5+ Ke7 36. exd6+? [Missing the strong intermediate check 36. Rc7+!] Kxd6 37. fxg5 [It was essential to hang on to the strong passed pawn with 37. Ke4. The extra passed pawn in the center is generally a win (e.g., Rubinstein-Lasker, Saint Petersburg 1909, and Fischer-Ghitescu, Liepzig 1960). Now the position is drawish. ] Kxd5 38. Kf4 b4 39. Kf5 [This dissipates White's remaining advantage. Necessary was 39. Rc7.] bxa3 40. bxa3 Rb3 41. Rd2+ [Pretty much forced.] Kc4 42. g4 [42. Kf6] Rxa3 [With 42. ... h4 Black equalized; now White again has winning chances.] 43. gxh5 Rxg3 44. h6 a3 45. Kf6 Rd3 [Chessmaster recommends 45. ... Rh5, but I think a much stronger defense than either 45. ... Rd3 or 45. ... Rh5 is given by 45. ... Rg3.] 46. Ra2 [Otherwise 46. ... Kc3 with the threat of 47. ... Rd2.] Rf3+ 47. Kg7 Rg3 48. Rxa3? [Why? Now the position is a dead draw. After 48. Kxf7 Rxg5 49. Rxa3, White retains some winning chances.] Rxa3 49. h7 Rh3 50. h8=Q Rxh8 51. Kxh8 Kd5 52. Kg7 Ke6 53. Kf8 Kf5 54. Kxf7 Kxg5 1/2-1/2

RMD - ALD, 12/4/2004 [B45]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 e6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Be7 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Nc3 Qc7 8. O-O Nf6 [Another typical position in this line of the Sicilian. Chances are even.] 9. Qf3 [9. Re1] O-O 10. Be3 [10. Bf4] a5 [10. ... d5] 11. Rfe1 Ba6 12. Bb3 Bb4 13. Bg5 Qe5 14. h4 h6 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Qxf6 gxf6 17. Re3 d5 18. Na4 [18. Rf3] d4 19. Rf3 Kg7 20. a3 Be7 21. Nb6 Ra7 22. Nc4 a4 23. Ba2 e5 24. c3 [24. Nd2] c5 25. Nb6 Rb7? [Chessmaster recommends 25. ... Rb8, but I prefer to save the pawn with 25. ... Bb7.] 26. Nxa4 Bb5 27. b3? [It's a subtle error, but this move gives back the extra pawn to 27. ... Ra8 28. cxd4 cxd4 29. Bb1 Bxa4 30. bxa4 Rb2 31. Ba2 Rxa4.] Bxa4? 28. bxa4 Ra7 29. Bb3 c4! 30. Bd1 d3 [=] 31. g4 [31. Rb1] Rb8 32. Kg2 Rb2 33. Rf5 Bc5 34. Kg3 Rd2 35. g5 hxg5 36. hxg5 Be7 [36. ... fxg5 37. Rxg5+ Kf8] 37. f4!? [37. Bh5] Rxd1? [Insufficient. Black had an edge; there was no reason to get "cute." The simple 37. ... exf4+ 38. Kxf4 fxg5+ 39. Ke3 Rh2 maintained the edge.] 38. Rxd1 Rxa4? [38. ... exf4+ was still correct. Now the advantage switches to White.] 39. gxf6+ Bxf6 40. fxe5 Be7 41. Rdf1 Bxa3? [41. ... Kf8] 42. Rxf7+ Kg8 43. e6 Ra6 [43. ... Ra8] 44. e7 Rg6+ 45. Kh3 Rh6+ 46. Kg4 Bxe7 47. Rxe7 [Time to resign.] Rd6 48. e5 Rd8 49. Re6 [Missing a mate in 7 with 49. Kh5 d2 50. Kg6 d1=Q 51. Rxd1 Kf8 52. Rf7+ Ke8 53. Rh1 Rd6+ 54. exd6 Kd8 55. Rh8#.] d2 50. Rd6 1-0 [50. ... Re8 51. Kg5 d1=Q 52. Rdxd1 Rc8 53. Rd6 Rc7 54. Rg6+ Kh8 55. Rh1+ Rh7 56. Rxh7+ Kxh7]

US Championship Round 9 Resuls

It was an exciting last round. GM Nakamura defeated GM Ibragimov, and GM Stripunsky defeated GM Goldin. Therefore, it didn't matter what happened on any of the lower boards. Nakamura and Stripunsky are now tied for first place at 7 points. There will be a rapid chess playoff tomorrow to decide the titleholder.

On the next boards, Kudrin, Shulman and Serper all won (Goldin and Ibragimov only drew). Joining them at 6 points were Kaidanov, Benjamin and Onischuk, who also won their games.

As the highest women scorers at 4.5 points, Goletiani and Abrahamyan will also meet tomorrow in in rapid chess playoff to decide the U.S. women's champion.

Final standings:

• Stripunsky and Nakamura - 7
• Kudrin, Shulman, Serper, Kaidanov, Benjamin and Onischuk - 6
• Goldin, Ibragimov, Gulko, Becerra, Akobian, Kamsky, Wojtkiewicz, Fishbein and Yermolinsky - 5.5
• Gurevich, Gonzalez, Bercys, Perelshteyn, Altounian, Christiansen, Milman, Lapshun, DeFirmian, Novikov, Shabalov, Finegold, Lakdawala, Ivanov - 5
• Schneider, Lugo, Kriventsov, Burnett, Browne, Goletiani, Casella and Abrahamyan - 4.5
• Zilberstein, Martinez, Friedel, Krush, Hoekstra, Muhammad, Battsetseg and Enkhbat - 4
• Zatonskih, Adamson, Lopez, Kraai, Lein, Zenyuk and Airapetian - 3.5
• LaRota, Shahade, Ross, Vayserberg, Hahn and Levina - 3
• Kleiman, West and Epstein - 2.5
• Sagalchik - 0.5

By the way, if you visit the http://www.uschesschampionship.com/ website, you can find the complete crosstable, round by round results, photos, review articles of each round, annotated games and PGN files containing all the games. Check it out!

Two (very poor) games

ALD - RMD, 12/4/2004 [D07]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Bg5 Ne4 6. Nxd5? [6. Nxe4] Nxf5 7. Nxg5 [7. Qb3] e6 8. Nxf7 [8. Nc3] Kxf7 9. Ne3??? [9. Nc3] Bb4+! White resigns

ALD - RMD, 12/4/2004 [D07]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. cxd5 [An improvement over the previous game.] Nxd5 6. e4 Bxf3 7. gxf3 Nf6 [7. ... Nxc3 (Ribli-Wittmann, Dubai Olympiad 1986) and 7. ... Nb6 (Keres-Terpugov, USSR Championship 1951) have been played before.] 8. d5 Ne5 9. Bf4 Ng6 10. Bg3 [10. Qa4+] e6 [10. ... e5] 11. Bb5+ Nd7 12. dxe6 fxe6 13. Bc4 [13. Qb3] e5 [13. ... Qe7] 14. Qd5 Qf6 15. Qxb7 Nb6? [15. ... Rb8] 16. Qxc7? [16. Nd5! would have demolished Black's position.] Nxc4 17. Qxc4 h5? [Pointless. 17. ... Rd8 put up some sort of defense.] 18. Qb5+! Kf7 [18. ... Kd8 is likewise insufficient.] 19. Qd5+ Black resigns

Two Queen Pawn Games

ALD - RMD, 11/21/2004 [D02]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Bf5 3. Bf4 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. e3 Nf6 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Bd3 [=] Ne4 8. O-O Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bxd3 [Correct; 9. ... Bxc3?] 10. Qxd3 Ba5 [10. ... dxc4] 11. cxd5 [Too slow. White now has a small edge which he foolishly dissipates. Better is 11. Ng5.] exd5 12. c4 [12. Rab1] Nc6 13. cxd5 Qxd5 14. Rfc1 h6 [14. ... Bb6] 15. Rc5 [15. e4] Qe6? 16. d5 Qd7? [16. ... Qf6!] 17. Rd1? [17. Qb5!] Nb4 [17. ... Bb6] 18. Qa3 Qe7? [18. ... b6!] 19. Qxa5? [19. Rxa5] b6 20. Qxb4 Qxc5? [Black is in no position to trade queens; 20. ... bxc5.] 21. Qxc5 bxc5 22. Bxc7 a6 [22. ... Rac8] 23. Rc1 [23. d6] f6 24. e4? [24. Rxc5] Ra7 25. Bb6 [25. d6] Rb7 26. Bxc5 Rfb8 [26. ... Re8] 27. g3 a5 [27. ... f5] 28. Bd4 Rb4 29. e5 a4? [29. ... fxe5] 30. exf6 gxf6 31. Bxf6 a3 [31. ... Rb1 or 31. ... Kf7] 32. d6 Kf7 33. Be7? [33. d7 and Black might as well resign.] Ke6? [Loses. A defense could be put up after 33. ... Rb1 34. Rxb1 Rxb1+ 35. Kg2 Rb2.] 34. Re1+! Kd7 35. Ne5+ Ke8 36. d7+?? [Missing a win. 36. Bh4!! R4b7 37. d7+ Rxd7 38. Nc6+ Kf7 39. Nxb8.] Kxe7 37. Re3 [Another inaccuracy; 37. Re3.] Kxd7 38. Nxb4 Rxb4 [This simplified ending is probably still won for White, but much more accuracy is required now.] 39. Re3 Ra4 40. Kg2 Kd6 41. Kf3 Kd5 42. Re8 [42. g4] Kc5 [42. ... Rc4] 43. Rh8 [43. Re5+] Rd4 44. Rxh6?! [Gives Black too much counterplay; 44. Ke3.] Rd2 45. Rh5+ Kb4 46. Rh4+ Kc3 47. Rh8 Kb2 [47. Rxa2] 48. Ke3 Rc2 49. h4 Kxa2 50. h5 Kb1 [50. ... Rc7] 51. h6 a2 52. Ra8 [52. Rb8+, which I considered and discarded, is stronger.] Rc7 [52. ... Rc8!] 53. g4 a1=Q 54. Rxa1+ Kxa1 [This endgame is lost for Black because his King is too far away to help the Rook with the defense.] 55. g5 Re7+ 56. Kf3 Rh7 57. Kg4 Kb2 58. f4 Kc3 59. Kh5 Rf7 [59. ... Rb7 puts up a stronger defense, but Black is lost in any event.] 60. g6 Rxf4 61. g7 Rf5+ 62. Kg6 Rf3 63. h7 Rg3 64. Kf7 Kd3 65. Kg8 Rd3 66. Kh8 Rd8+ 67. g8=Q Rxg8+ 68. hxg8=Q 1-0

RMD - ALD, 12/3/2004 [D03]

1. Nf3 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 e6 [4. ... h6 is recommended by Chessmaster, but this was played in Kavalek-Quinteros, Hanover 1983 (Informant 36/439), when White got a strong plus out of the opening. I like the text move better.] 5. e4 dxe4 6. Nxe4 Be7 7. Nxf6+ Bxf6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. c3 O-O 10. Bb5 Ne7 11. O-O Rd8 12. Ne5 Ng6 [12. ... c5] 13. Qh5 Nxe5 14. dxe5 Qf4 [14. ... Qe7] 15. Rfe1 [15. Rad1] Rd2 16. Re2 Rxe2 [16. ... Rd5] 17. Qxe2 a6 18. Bd3 b5? [18. ... Bd7] 19. Be4 [Missing 19. g3 Qa4 20. b3 Qa5 21. Qe4 Rb8 22. Qxh7+ Kf8 23. Qh8+ Ke7 24. Rd1 c5 25. Qxg7, with two pawns to the good and an overwhelming position.] Rb8 20. b4 [20. Qd3] Bb7 21. Bxb7 Rxb7 22. g3 Qf5 23. Kg2 c6 24. a4 Rc7 25. f4 [25. axb5 keeps a small edge; now the position is even.] g6 26. Qe3 [26. h4] Qc2+ 27. Kh3 [27. Kg1] Qf5+ [27. ... Rd7] 28. g4 Qc2 29. Qc5? [29. Rc1 maintained equality.] Qd3+? [Missing 29. ... Rd7, threatening 30. ... Rd2, with a strong attack.] 30. Kh4 h6 [Too slow; 30. ... Qd2.] 31. axb5? axb5? [Missing 31. ... g5+ 32. fxg5 hxg5+ 33. Kxg5 Qd2+ 34. Kh4 Qxh2+ 35. Kg5 Kg7 with a strong attack.] 32. g5? hxg5+ 33. Kxg5 [33. Kg4] Qf5+ 34. Kh4 Qxf4+ 35. Kh3 Qf3+ 36. Kh4 Rd7 37. Rg1? [37. Ra8+ is a stronger defense, although White is still lost in any case. The text move allows a mate in 6 with 37. ... Qh5+ 38. Kg3 Rd3+ 39. Qe3 Rxe3+ 40. Kf4 Qxe5+ 41. Kg4 Qf5+ 42. Kh4 Rh3#.] Qf4+ 38. Kh3 [This allows a mate in 7 similar to the one described before, starting with 38. ... Qf5+, but 38. Rg4 also allows White to create a mating net with 38. ... Rd3+.] Rd3+ 39. Rg3 Qf1+? [Black loses his way; 39. ... Qf5+ mated.] 40. Kh4 g5+? [And now the attack is completely gone. 40. ... Rd2 was necessary to retain mating chances.] 41. Kxg5 Qf5+ 42. Kh4+ Rxg3 43. hxg3 Qe4+ [This queen endgame is completely drawn.] 44. g4 Qd5 45. Qd4 Qxd4 46. cxd4 Kg7? [Forgetting the elementary concept of opposition; 46. ... Kh8!] 47. Kh5? [White could get a strong position by grabbing the opposition with 47. Kg5 Kg8 48.Kf6 Kf8 49. g5 Ke8 50. g6 fxg6 51. Kxg6 Ke7 52. Kg7 Ke8 53. Kf6 Kd7 54. Kf7 Kd8 55. Kxe6.] Kh7 48. g5 Kg7 49. Kg4 Kg6 1/2-1/2

US Championship Round 8 Resuls

After 8 rounds, Stripunsky and Nakamura are in the lead at 6 points. They are followed closely by Kudrin, Goldin, Shulman, Ibragimov and Serper at 5.5 points. The last round is tomorrow.

US Championship Round 7 Resuls

After 7 rounds, Stripunsky and Nakamura are in the lead with 5.5 points. They are followed closely by Kudrin, Goldin and Shulman at 5 points.

At the bottom of the table Sagalchik finally got on the scoreboard by drawing against Esther Epstein.

US Championship Round 6 Resuls

Stripunsky defeated Fishbein to take sole possession of first place with 5 points. He's followed by Nakamura, Shulman, Serper and Kaidanov at 4.5 points.

US Championship Round 5 Resuls

In round 5, Serper defeated Schneider to join Stripunsky, Nakamura and Kudrin in the lead at 4 points.

US Championship Round 4 Resuls

After round 4, Stripunsky, Nakamura and Kudrin are at 3.5. Interestingly, top-seed Kamsky just scored his first win this round and stands at 2.5.

Three games

ALD – RMD, 11/13/2004 [D21]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nc6? [This fails to 4. d5, which unfortunately I did not notice.] 4. Bf4 Bf5 5. e3 [5. Nc3] b5!? [5. … e6] 6. Nc3 a6 7. a4 Nb4 8. e4 Bg6 9. axb5 Nf6? [The obvious 9. … axb5 is the right move.] 10. Bxc4 [10. bxa6] axb5 11. Rxa8 [11.Bxb5+] Qxa8 12. Bxb5+ Kd8?! [12. … c6] 13. Bd3? [13. O-O] Nxd3+ 14. Qxd3 Qa1+ [The immediate 14. … Nxe4 is stronger.] 15. Nd1 Bxe4 16. Qc3 [16. Qb5 was more correct.] Nd5! 17. Qd2 [17. Qc1 Qa6 18. Ne5 f6 19. Nf7+ Ke8 20. f3 Bxf3 21. gxf3 Kxf7 also maintains an edge.] f5 [Missing 17. … Bxf3 18. gxf3 e5 19. Bg5+ f6 20. O-O fxg5 21. dxe5 c6 22. Nc3 Qa5 23. Qxg5+ Kc8.] 18. Nh4 [18. O-O] e6 [18. … Qa6] 19. O-O Qa7 [19. … Bb4] 20. Nc3 Bb4 21. Bg5+ Kd7? [21. … Nf6] 22. f3 Nxc3? [22. … Qa5! 23. fxe4 fxe4 24. Rc1 Rf8 25. Qe1 Nxc3 26. bxc3 Qxg5 27. cxb4 Qf6 with an attack.] 23. bxc3 Bc6 [23. … Bxc3] 24. cxb4 Rb8 25. Qc3 g6 26. Rc1 Bb5 27. Qc5 Qxc5 28. dxc5 Bc6 29. g4 [29. Rd1+] Rxb4 30. Rd1+ Kc8 31. gxf5 [31. Rd8+] exf5 32. Kf2 Rc4 33. Rd8+ [Now 33. Rc1 is better.] Kb7 34. Rh8 Rxc5 [34. … f4] 35. Rxh7 Rc2+ 36. Kg3 Rc3 37. Nxg6 [37. Rg7] Rxf3+ 38. Kh4 Be4 39. Bd8 Rc3 40. Nf4 Kb6 41. Ne6 f4 [41. … Kb5] 42. Rxc7 Rxc7 43. Bxc7+ Kc6 44. Bxf4 Kd5 45. Ng5 Bg2 46. Kg3 Bf1 47. h4 Be2 48. Nf3 Bd3 [48. … Ke4] 49. h5 Ke6 50. Kg4 Kf6 51. Be5+ Kf7 52. Ng5+ Kg8 53. h6 Bb1 54. Kh5 Bc2 55. Nh3 Bb1 56. Nf4 Be4 57. Bg7 Kh7 58. Ne6 Kg8 59. Kg5 Kh7 60. Kf6 Bc2 61. Kf7! [This wins.] Bg6+ 62. Kf8 Bb1 63. Ng5+ Kg6 64. h7 Kxg5 65. h8=Q 1-0

RMD – ALD, 11/21/2004 [C68]

1. Nc3 Nc6 2. e4 e5 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. Nf3 Bd6 6. d4 exd4 7. Qxd4 f6 8. O-O [8. Be3] c5 [8. … Be6] 9. Qd5 c6 10. Qh5+ g6 11. Qh4 f5?! 12. Qxd8+ [12. Bg5!] Kxd8 13. Bg5+ Be7 [13. … Kc7] 14. e5 [14. Rfe1] Bxg5 15. Nxg5 Nh6 [15. … Ke7] 16. Na4 c4 17. Rae1 b5 18. Nb6 Rb8 19. Nxc8 Kxc8 20. h3 Rb7 21. f4 Re8 22. c3 [22. Rd1] Rbe7 23. Re2 Nf7? [23. … Rd8] 24. h4? [24. Nxh7] Nxg5 25. hxg5 Kd7 26. Rd1+ Ke6? [26. … Kc7] 27. Rd6+ Kf7 28. Rxc6 Re6 29. Rc7+ R8e7 30. Rc8 Rd7 31. Kh2 Rde7 32. b4 Rd7 33. Re3 Rd2? [33. … Ke7] 34. Rc7+ [Missing 34. Rh3! Re7 (34. … Kg7? 35. Rc7+) 35. Rxh7+ Ke8 36. Rh6 Rxa2 37. Rxg6 with advantage.] Re7 35. Rxe7+ [35. e6+] Kxe7 [Despite having an extra pawn (and a passed one at that), White has no obvious winning path.] 36. a3? [36. Rh3] Ra2 37. Kh3 Rxa3 38. g4 [White has been relegated to defense, so 38. Rf3 was necessary.] fxg4+ [The immediate breakthrough with 38. … a5 is better.] 39. Kxg4 Ke6 40. Rg3 [40. Rh3] a5 [Too little, too late. This is only good for a draw now.] 41. Rf3? [Trying to get slick. It’s best just to accept the draw with 41. bxa5.] axb4 42. cxb4 Rxf3? [42. … Rb3! leaves Black with a lasting edge. It’s all over now.] 43. Kxf3 Kf5 44. Ke3 Ke6 45. Ke7 ½-½

ALD – RMD, 11/27/2004 [B00]

1. d4 Nc6 2. d5 Na5 3. e4 e5 4. Nf3 Bd6 [Cramps Black’s position too much. Better is 4. … Nf6.] 5. a3 b6 6. b4 Nb7 7. Ng5 [7. Bd2] h6 8. Qh5 Qe7 9. Nf3 Nf6 10. Qf5 [10. Qh4] c6 11. c4 a5 12. b5?! [12. axb5 is simpler.] cxb5 [12. … cxd5] 13. cxb5 Nc5 [Taking the outpost. Chessmaster suggests 14. Bc5, but I like this better.] 14. Be3? [14. Nbd2] Nb3? [14. … Ncxe4] 15. Ra2 Bc5 [15. … Bb4+] 16. Nxe5? [16. Qxe5!] d6! 17. Nc6 Qxe4? [17. … Bxf5 18. Nxe7 Bxe4 19. Nc6 Bxe3 20. fxe3 Nxd5] 18. Qxe4+ Nxe4 19. Bxc5 Nexc5 20. Bc4 O-O 21. O-O Bd7 22. Re1 [22. a4] Rae8 23. Rxe8+ Rxe8 24. Re2 Kf8 25. Rxe8+ Rxe8 26. a4 Bf5! [After this move, Black maintains enduring pressure for the rest of the game.] 27. Nc3 g6 [Unnecessary.] 28. f3 Bc2 29. Na7 Kd7 30. Kf2 Nd2! 31. Be2 Nxa4 32. Nxa4 Bxa4 33. Ke3 Nb1 34. f4? [34. Kd4] Nc3? [34. … Bb3 wins a pawn immediately because 35. Kd4 fails to 35. … Bxd5! 36. Kxd5 Nc3+.] 35. Bc4 f5 36. h3 h5 37. Kd3 Nb1 38. Kd4 [38. Nc6] Na3 39. Be2 Bc2 40. g4 [40. g3] h4 41. gxf5? [Loses, although White’s game can probably not be saved with the objectively best 41. … Kc3.] Bxf5 42. Bf1? [42. Bd3 Bxh3 43. Bxg6 held more hope.] Nc2+! 43. Kc3 Ne3 0-1 [White can not avoid the loss of a second pawn (or probably a third pawn either) or the exchange of one set of minor pieces.]

57th Russian Championship

1. Kasparov (7.5)
2. Grischuk (6)
3. Dreev (5.5)

http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=2050

US Championship Round 3 Resuls

GM Sergey Kudrin defeated GM Ildar Ibragimov, so after 3 rounds, he has the only 3-0 result.

Following Kudrin at 2.5 points are Nakamura and Stripunsky (who in this round drew against each other in 25 moves), Nick De Firmian, Igor Novikov, and Gregory Kaidanov.

US Championship Round 2 Resuls

After two rounds, the following players have 2-0 results.

GM Ildar Ibragimov (who defeated GM Fishbein)
GM Sergey Kudrin (who defeated GM Goldin)
GM Alex Stripunsky
GM Hikaru Nakamura

US Championship Round 1 Resuls

The winners in round 1 were...

GM Gregory Kaidanov
GM Alexander Goldin
GM Boris Gulko
GM Igor Novikov
GM Alexander Onischuk
GM Hikaru Nakamura
GM Ildar Ibragimov
GM Varuzhan Akobian
GM Alex Stripunsky
GM Nick DeFirmian
GM Larry Christiansen
GM Sergey Kudrin
GM Aleks Wojtkiewicz
GM Yury Shulman
GM Julio Becerra
GM Alexander Fishbein
GM Dmitry Gurevich
GM Walter Browne
WGM Anna Zatonskih (defeated GM Alexander Shabalov!)
IM Ben Finegold
IM Cyrus Lakdawala
IM Renier Gonzalez
IM Yury Lapshun
IM Stanislav Kriventsov
IM Dmitry Schneider

U.S. Championship

THE SCHEDULE

Wednesday, November 24, 1:00PM - Round One
Thursday, November 25, 12:00PM - Round Two
Friday, November 26, 1:00PM - Round Three
Sunday, November 28, 1:00PM - Round Four
Monday, November 29, 1:00PM - Round Five
Tuesday, November 30, 1:00PM - Round Six
Thursday, December 2, 1:00PM - Round Seven
Friday, December 3, 1:00PM - Round Eight
Saturday, December 4, 1:00PM - Round Nine
Sunday, December 5 - Play Off (if necessary)

THE PLAYERS

43 players from 11 qualifier open tournaments
· 2003 Foxwoods Open: GM Hikaru Nakamura and GM Sergey Kudrin
· 2003 Chicago Open: GM Yuri Shulman and IM Eugene Perelshteyn
· 2003 National Open: GM Joel Benjamin and FM Michael Casella
· 2003 World Open: IM Yury Lapshun and FM Matthew Hoekstra. Women's qualifier: Iryna Zenyuk
· 2003 U.S. Open: GM Larry Christiansen. Women's qualifier: WGM Rusudan Goletiani
· 2003 North American Open: IM Ben Finegold, GM Gregory Serper, Robby Adamson and Lev Altounian. Women's qualifier: WIM Jennifer Shahade
· 2004 Foxwoods Open: GM Julio Becerra, IM Renier Gonzalez, GM Alex Stripunsky and GM Alex Ivanov. Women's qualifier: WIM Esther Epstein
· 2004 Chicago Open: GM Alex Fishbein, FM Joshua Friedel, Chouchanik Airapetian and GM Dmitry Gurevich. Women's qualifier: Tatiana Vayserberg
· 2004 National Open: GM Alex Yermolinsky, IM Stanislav Kriventsov, IM Blas Lugo and GM Anatoly Lein. Women's qualifier: Vanessa West
· 2004 World Open: IM Jesse Kraai, FM Dmitry Zilberstein, FM Stephen Muhammad and FM Enkbaat Tegshuren. Women's qualifiers: WFM Tsagaan Battsetseg and WFM Laura Ross
· 2004 U.S. Open: FM Marcel Martinez, FM Bruci Lopez, IM Dmitry Schneider and Jake Kleiman. Women's qualifiers: WFM Anna Levina and WFM Olga Sagalchik

11 seeded players based on rating
· Six top-rated players: GM Gregory Kaidanov, GM Alexander Onischuk, GM Igor Novikov, GM Boris Gulko, GM Alexander Goldin and GM Ildar Ibragimov (who replaced GM Yasser Seirawan, who declined)
· Five top-rated women players: WGM Anna Zatonskih, WGM Irina Krush, WGM Elena Donaldson-Akhmilovskaya, WGM Anjelina Belakovskaia and Tatev Abrahamyan (who replaced GM Susan Polgar, who declined)

8 seeded players based on title
· 2004 US Senior Open: FM Fabio LaRota
· 2004 & 2003 U.S. Junior Champions: IM Varuzhan Akobian and FM Lev Milman, respectively
· Defending 2003 U.S. Champion: GM Alexander Shabalov
· 2003 U.S. Women's Champion: WIM Anna Hahn
· 2003 Grand Prix Champion: GM Aleks Wojtkiewicz
· 2002 Grand Prix Champion: GM Nick de Firmian (who replaced GM Lev Alburt, who declined when he was selected to replaced GM Aleks Wojtkiewicz, who was already seeded)
· USCF State Champion of Champions: IM Ronald Burnett

2 wild card players
· NM Salvajius Bercys and GM Gata Kamsky

History of the US Championship

1857, Paul Morphy wins 1st American Chess Congress, New York, +14-1=3
1871, George Henry Mackenzie wins 2nd American Chess Congress, Cleveland, +14-2=3
1874, George Henry Mackenzie wins 3rd American Chess Congress, Chicago, +10-1=1
1876, 4th American Chess Congress, Philadelphia, Not for the US title
1880, Mackenzie vs. Max Judd Match, +7-5=3
1880, George Henry Mackenzie wins 5th American Chess Congress, +11-2=5
1886, Mackenzie vs. Solomon Lipschutz Match, +5-3=5
1887, Judd vs. Hodges Match, 5-2, Not for the US title
1889, New York 1889 Tournament, +22-9=7, Top American finisher was Solomon Lipschutz
1890, Showalter vs. Lipschutz Match, Louisville, Won by Showalter
1890, Judd vs. Showater Match, Saint Louis, 7-3, Judd becomes champion
1891-2, Showalter vs. Judd Match, Saint Louis, +7-4=3, Showalter regains title from Judd
1892, Lipschutz vs. Showalter Match, New York, +7-1=7, Lipschutz wins title, retires as champion, title reverts to Showalter
1893-4, Showalter vs. Halpern Match, New York, +5-3=1, Showalter retains
1894, Showalter vs. Hodges Match, New York, +7-6=4, Showalter retains
1894, Hodges vs. Showalter Match, +5-3=1, Hodges wins title, retires as champion, title reverts to Showalter
1895, Showalter vs. Lipschutz Match, New York, +7-4=3
1896, Showalter vs. Kemeny Match, Philadelphia, +7-4=4, Showalter retains
1896, Showalter vs. Barry Match, +7-2=4, Showalter retains
1897, Pillsbury vs. Showalter Match, Brooklyn, +10-8=4
1898, Pillsbury vs. Showalter Match, New York, +7-3=2
1904, 7th American Chess Congress, Judd wins, but not for the title
1909, Marshall vs. Showalter Match, Kentucky, +7-2=3
1923, Marshall vs. Ed Lasker Match, +5-4=9
1936, Sammy Reshevsky, New York, 11½-3½
1938, Sammy Reshevsky, New York, 13-3
1940, Sammy Reshevsky, New York, 13-3
1941, Sammy Reshevsky over I.A. Horowitz in Match 9½-6½
1942, Sammy Reshevsky, Isaac Kashdan, New York, 12½-2½
1944, Arnold Denker, New York, 15½-1½
1946, Arnold Denker over Herman Steiner in Match, Los Angeles, 6-4
1946, Sammy Reshevsky, New York, 16-2
1948, Herman Steiner, South Fallsburg, 15-4
1951, Larry Evans, New York, 9½-1½
1952, Larry Evans over Herman Steiner in Match 10-4
1954, Arthur Bisguier, New York, 10-3
1957/8, Bobby Fischer, New York, 10½-2½
1958/9, Bobby Fischer, New York, 8½-2½
1959/60, Bobby Fischer, New York, 9-2
1960/1, Bobby Fischer, New York, 9-2
1961/2, Larry Evans, New York, 7½-3½
1962/3, Bobby Fischer, New York, 8-3
1963/4, Bobby Fischer, New York, 11-0
1965/6, Bobby Fischer, New York, 8½-2½
1966/7, Bobby Fischer, New York, 9½-1½
1968, Larry Evans, New York, 8½-2½
1969, Sammy Reshevsky, New York, 8-3
1972, Robert Byrne, Sammy Reshevsky, Lubomir Kavalek, New York, 9-4
1973, Lubomir Kavalek, John Grefe, El Paso, 9½-2½
1974, Walter Browne, Chicago, 9½-3½
1975, Walter Browne, Oberlin College, 8½-4½
1977, Walter Browne, Mentor, 9-4
1978, Lubomir Kavalek, Pasadena, 10-4
1980, Walter Browne, Larry Christansen, Larry Evans, Greenville, 7½-4½
1981, Walter Browne, Yasser Seirawan, South Bend, 9-5
1983, Walter Browne, Larry Christiansen, Roman Dzindzichashvili, Greenville, 9-4
1984, Lev Alburt, Berkeley, 12½-4½
1985, Lev Alburt, Estes Park, 9½-3½
1986, Yasser Seirawan, Estes Park, 10½-4½
1987, Joel Benjamin, Nick de Firmian, Estes Park, 8-5
1988, Michael Wilder, Cambridge Springs, 6½-4½
1989, Roman Dzindzichashvili, Stuart Rachels, Yasser Seirawan, Long Beach, 9½-5½
1990, Lev Alburt, Jacksonville, 10½-3½
1991, Gata Kamsky, Los Angeles, 7½-2½
1992, Patrick Wolff, Durango, 10½-4½
1993, Alexander Shabalov, Alex Yermolinsky, Long Beach, 8-3
1994, Boris Gulko, Key West, 9½-3½
1995, Nick de Firmian, Patrick Wolff, Alexander Ivanov, Modesto, 8½-4½
1996, Alex Yermolinsky, Parsippany, 9-4
1997, Joel Benjamin, Chandler, 11-5
1998, Nick de Firmian, Denver, 10-3
1999, Boris Gulko, Salt Lake City, 12½-5½
2000, Joel Benjamin, Alexander Shabalov, Yasser Seirawan, Seattle, 6½-4½
2002, Larry Christiansen, Nick de Firmian, Seattle, 6½-2½
2003, Alexander Shabalov, Seattle, 6½-2½

Two games

I’ve come to the decision that in analyzing previous games, I was not dedicating enough time to the endgame. Beginning with these games, I’ve been spending more time analyzing the endgame.

RMD – ALD, 11/20/2004 [B50]
My new analysis approach paid off in this game, where I made some real discoveries.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 e6 4. O-O d6 5. d3 Nf6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Be3? [7. Bf4] O-O? [Missing 7. … d5 8. Bb5 d4.] 8. a3? [8. Bb3] Bd7? [8. … d5 is still there.] 9. Bb5 Rc8 10. Bxc6 bxc6 [10. … Bxb6] 11. e5 Nd5 12. exd6 Bxd6 13. d4 [13. Ne4] Nxc3 14. bxc3 cxd4 15. cxd4 c5 16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. Ne5 [17. Qe2] Bb5 [17. … Ba4] 18. c4 Qxd1 19. Rfxd1 Ba4 20. Rdc1 Bxe3 21. fxe3 Rc5 22. Nd3 Rc7 23. Rab1 h6 24. Rb4 Bc6 25. Ne5 Rfc8 26. Kf2 f6 27. Nxc6 Rxc6 28. Kf3 Kf7 29. Rb7+ R8c7 30. Rxc7 Rxc7 31. c5 Ke7 32. Rc4 Kd2 33. Kf4 [33. Ra4] Kc6 34. Ke4 Kb5 35. Kd4 Rd7+ [35. … e5+] 36. Kc3 a5 37. a4+ Kc6 38. Rd4? [As a rook endgame this is drawn, but after this move White has some slight problems.] Rxd4 39. exd4 e5 [39. … Kd5] 40. Kc4 exd4 41. Kxd4 g6 [41. … h5] 42. h3 [Chessmaster recommends 42. g3, but I think this is actually stronger.] f5 43. g3? [Now this is a mistake; 43. h4!] g5 44. Ke5? f4? [I didn’t have the time to calculate it all out, and I felt that White had sufficient time to gobble up all the Black queen side pawns. This was not the case. 44. … Kxc5 45. Kxf5 Kb4 46. Kg6 Kxa4 47. Kxh6 Kb4 48. Kg5 a4 49. h4 a3, and Black should win. Now with best play, it should be a draw.] 45. gxf4 gxf4 46. Kxf4 Kxc5 47. Ke3 Kb4 48. Kd2? [White should lose after this. The draw was to be had after 48. Kd4! Kxa4 49. Kc4 Ka3 50. Kc3 a4 51. h4 h5 52. Kc2 Kb4 53. Kb2 a3+ 54. Ka2 Ka4 55. Kb1 Kb3 (based on section 6.23 of Comprehensive Chess Endings: Pawn Endings).] Kxa4 49. Kc2 Ka3? [Now the game reverts to the drawn line previously given. Correct was 49. … h5! 50. h4 Kb4 51. Kb2 Kc5 52. Ka3 Kd5 53. Ka4 Ke4 54. Kxa5 Kf5 55. Kb4 Kg4 56. Kxh4 Kd3 with a win.] 50. Kb1? [Allowing White to get back in it. 50. Kc3! is correct.] a4? [Neglecting to take advantage of White’s oversight with 50. … Kb3!] 51. Ka1? [Losing. 51. h4! preserves the draw.] Kb3 52. Kb1 a3? [Letting the win slip yet again. 52. … h5!] 53. Ka1? [53. h4! for the draw.] h5? [The final error in an endgame which has turned out to be a comedy of errors upon being subjected to scrutiny. This move was correct earlier, but now it leads only to a draw. Correct was 53. … Kc4!] 54. h4 Kc3 55. Ka2 Kd3 56. Kxa3 Ke3 57. Kb3 Kf3 58. Kc2 Kg3 59. Kd2 Kxh4 60. Ke2 Kg3 61. Kf1 h4 62. Kg1 h6 63. Kh1 h2 ½-½

ALD – RMD, 11/20/2004 [D24]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d5 3. Nc3 dxc4 4. Nf3 Bg4 [4. … Bf5] 5. Bf4 [5. e3] Bxf3 6. exf3 Nc6 [Not best.] 7. d5 Nb8 8. Bxc4 a6 9. O-O b5 10. Bb3 g6 [10. … c5] 11. Re1 Bg7 12. d6 [12. Qe2] cxd6 13. Bxd6 Nc6 14. Bf4 [14. Bc5] e6 15. Qxd8+ Rxd8 16. Rad1 [16. Bxe6!?] O-O 17. Bg5 Rxd1 18. Rxd1 Nb8 [18. … Na5] 19. g3 h6 20. Bf4 Nh5 21. Bxb8 [21. Be3] Rxb8 22. Rd7 Bxc3 23. bxc3 Kg7? [23. … Rc8!] 24. c4? [Missing 24. Bxe6!] Nf6 25. Ra7 Rb6 26. cxb5 axb5 27. Kf1 g5 28. Ke2 Rd6 29. Ke3 Nd5+ 30. Ke2 Kg6 31. h3 f5 32. Bxd5 Rxd5 33. f4 gxf4 34. gxf4 e5 [34. … Rd4] 35. fxe5 [35. Ra6+] Rxe5+ 36. Kf3 Kg5 37. Rh7 b4 38. h4+ Kh5 39. Kg3 [39. Rb7.] Rc5 [Missing the stronger 39. … Re4, with a slight edge. Now the game is completely even.] 40. Rb7 Rc4 41. Rb5 Rg4+ 42. Kf3 Kxh4 43. Rxf5 h5 44. Rf4 Rxf4+ 45. Kxf4 [A study of similar positions from section 6.12 of Comprehensive Chess Endings: Pawn Endings leads to the conclusion that this position is a draw because of the Kings’ vicinity to the two passed pawns.] Kh3 46. Kg5 h4 47. f4 Kg3 48. f5 h3 49. f6 h2 50. f7 h1=Q 51. f8=Q Qd5+ 52. Kg6 Qa5 53. Qd6+ Kf3 ½-½

Strongest Chess Tournaments of All Time

I am not going to attempt to rank these into a top list; I have satisfied myself with providing a merely chronological listing, although I do feel the list is fairly exhaustive. More information can be found at:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/g.giffen/tournaments.htm
http://www.endgame.nl/super.htm
http://www.geocities.com/lifemasteraj/best_tourneys.html

· London 1851, the first international tournament (organized to coincide with the world exhibition), won by Anderssen (Zipped PGN)
· Baden-Baden 1870 won by Anderssen (Zipped PGN)
· Vienna 1873 (world exhibition) won by Steinitz after a playoff with Blackburne (Zipped PGN)
· Leipzig 1877 won by Paulsen
· Paris 1878 (world exhibition) won by Zukertort after a playoff with Winawer (Zipped PGN)
· Vienna 1882 won by Steinitz and Winawer
· London 1883 won by Zukertort
· Hastings 1895 won by Pillsbury in his first international tournament appearance
· St. Petersburg 1895-6 won by Lasker
· Nurenberg 1896 won by Lasker (Zipped PGN)
· Vienna 1898 won by Tarrasch after a playoff with Pillsbury (Zipped PGN)
· London 1899 won by Lasker (Zipped PGN)
· Paris 1900 (world exhibition) won by Lasker
· Monte Carlo 1903 won by Tarrasch
· Cambridge Springs 1904 won by Marshall (PGN)
· Ostend 1907 won by Tarrasch
· St. Petersburg 1909 won by Lasker and Rubinstein (PGN)
· San Sebastian 1911 won by Capablanca in his first international tournament appearance
· San Sebastian 1912 won by Rubinstein
· St. Petersburg 1914 won by Lasker, who came from behind to take first place from Capablanca (Zipped PGN)
· Mährisch Ostrau 1923 won by Lasker
· New York 1924 won by Emanuel Lasker (Zipped PGN)
· Moscow 1925 won by Bogoljubow
· Baden-Baden 1925 won by Alekhine
· New York 1927 won by Capablanca
· Bad Kissingen 1928 won by Bogoljubow
· Carlsbad 1929 won by Nimzowitsch
· San Remo 1930 won by Alekhine (Zipped PGN)
· Bled 1931 won by Alekhine
· Moscow 1935 won by Botvinnik and Flohr
· Moscow 1936 won by Capablanca
· Nottingham 1936 won by Capablanca and Botvinnik (Zipped PGN)
· AVRO 1938 won by Keres and Fine (Zipped PGN)
· Groningen 1946 won by Botvinnik
· Moscow 1947 won by Botvinnik
· Soviet Championship Leningrad 1947 won by Keres
· Soviet Championship Moscow 1950 won by Keres
· Budapest Candidates 1950 won by Bronstein and Boleslavsky
· Soviet Championship Moscow 1951 won by Keres
· Soviet Championship Moscow 1952 won by Botvinnik and Taimanov
· Zurich/Neuhausen Candidates 1953 won by Smyslov (PGN)
· Soviet Championship Moscow 1955 won by Geller and Smyslov
· Moscow 1956 won by Botvinnik and Smyslov
· Bled 1961 won by Tal
· Stockholm Interzonal 1962 won by Fischer
· Curacao Candidates 1962 won by Petrosian
· Moscow 1967 won by Stein
· Palma de Mallorca 1970 won by Fischer
· Moscow 1971 won by Karpov and Stein
· Soviet Championship Moscow 1973 won by Spassky (Zipped PGN)
· Soviet Championship Leningrad 1974 won by Tal and Beliavsky
· Bugojno 1978 won by Spassky and Karpov
· Montreal 1979 won by Tal and Karpov (PGN)
· Tilburg 1981 won by Beliavsky
· Moscow 1981 won by Karpov
· Turin 1982 won by Karpov and Andersson
· Tilburg 1983 won by Karpov
· Bugojno 1986 won by Karpov
· Tilburg 1986 won by Beliavsky
· OHRA 1986 won by Kasparov
· Amsterdam 1987 won by Karpov and Timman
· Brussels 1988 won by Karpov
· Belfort 1988 won by Kasparov
· Soviet Championship Moscow 1988 won by Karpov and Kasparov (PGN)
· Skelleftea 1989 won by Karpov and Kasparov
· Reggio Emilia 1991 won by Anand
· Linares 1992 won by Kasparov
· Dortmund 1992 won by Kasparov and Ivanchuk (PGN)
· Linares 1993 won by Kasparov
· Linares 1994 won by Karpov
· Dortmund 1995 won by Kramnik (PGN)
· Dos Hermanas 1996 won by Kramnik and Topalov (Zipped PGN)
· Las Palmas 1996 won by Kasparov
· Tilburg 1997 won by Svidler, Kasparov and Kramnik
· Dortmund 1997 won by Kramnik
· Linares 1998 won by Anand
· Linares 1999 won by Kasparov
· Linares 2000 won by Kramnik and Kasparov
· Wijk and Zee 2001 win by Kasparov
· Dortmund 2001 won by Kramnik and Topalov

Category 21 Tournaments

1996 Las Palmas
1. Kasparov 6.5/10; 2. Anand 5.5; 3-4. Kramnik, Topalov 5; 5-6. Karpov, Ivanchuk 4

1998 Linares
1. Anand 7.5; 2. Shirov 7; 3-4. Kasparov, Kramnik 6.5; 5. Svidler 5.5; 6. Ivanchuk 5; 7. Topalov 4

2000 Linares
1-2. Kramnik, Kasparov 6/10; 3-6. Leko, Anand, Khalifman, Shirov 4.5

2001 Dortmund
1-2. Kramnik, Topalov 6.5/10; 3. Leko 5.5; 4.Morozevich 5; 5. Adams 3.5; 6. Anand 3

Two games

RMD – ALD, 11/12/2004 [C49]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. e4 e5 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. Bxc6 [5. O-O] dxc6 6. Nxe5 Qe7 7. d4 Bxc3+ [7. … Nxe4] 8. bxc3 Nxe4 9. Bb2 O-O 10. Qf3 [10. O-O] Ng5 11. Qe3 f6 12. Nd3 [12. h4!? was worth considering.] Qxe3+ 13. fxe3 Re8 14. Kd2 Bf4 [14. … Ne4+] 15. h3 b6 16. g4?! [16. Nf2] Be4! 17. Rhf1 [17. h4!?] Nxh3 [17. … Bg2!] 18. Nf2 Nxf2 19. Rxf2 Re6 20. c4 Rae8 [20. … b5] 21. Re1 Bg6 22. c5 b5 23. a3 a5 24. Bc3 Ra8 25. Rf4 Re4 26. Rxe4 Bxe4 27. Rg1 Kf7 28. g5 fxg5 29. Rxg5 h6 30. Rg4 Bd5 31. e4 Be6 32. Rh5 Re8 33. Ke3 a4 34. Rh5 Re8 35. Kf4 [35. Ba5] Kg6 [35. … g5+] 36. Rh1 Bc7 37. e5 [37. Kf3] Bd5 38. Rg1+ Kf7 39. Bd2 [39. Ba5] g5+ 40. Kg3 Kg6 41. Rf1 Re7 42. Rf8 [It would have been better not to simplify.] Rf7 43. Rxf7 Kxf7 44. Kg4 Kg6 45. Ba5 h5+ 46. Kg3 Kf5 47. Bxc7 h4+ 48. Kf2? [48. Kh3 puts up a much stronger defense.] Kg4 [48. … g4 is quicker.] 49. Kg1 Kf3 50. Kh2? [This loses by force. 50. Bd8 was necessary.] g4 [50. … b4 also wins.] 51. c3 g3+ 52. Kg1 h3 53. e6 h2+ 54. Kh1 Kf2#

ALD – RMD, 11/17/2004 [C50]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. Nc3 O-O 6. d3 d6 7. Re1 [7. h3 is most common; this move was played in Sowa-Madej 2001.] Ng4 [7. … Bg4] 8. Re2 b6 9. h3 Nxf2!? [9. … Nf6] 10. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 11. Kxf2 Qf6? [Just plain bad.] 12. Nd5 [Or 12. Bg5 Qg6 13. Bb5 Bb7 14. Nd5 Rae8 15. Bxc6 Bxc6 16. Ne7+ Rxe7 17. Bxe7.] Qd8 13. Bg5! Qd7 14. Nh4 [Missing 14. Nf6+!! gxf6 15. Bxf6, when Black is forced to give up the queen with 15. … Qe6. Otherwise, White gets an overwhelming attack with …Ng5 and …Qh5.] Na5 [With the idea of going after the strong bishop on c4, but both 14. … Nd4 and 14. … h6 are better.] 15. Ne7+? [Missing yet another win, this time with 15. Qh5! Qe6 16. Ne7+ Qxe7 17. Bxe7 Nxc4 18. Bxf8 Kxf8 19. dxc4.] Kh8 16. Qh5 Nxc4 17. dxc4 [17. Nd5 would have preserved more of an edge.] Bb7 18. Ke3 [19. Re1] Rae8 [19. … Qe6] 19. Neg6+? [Patience was called for. 19. Rf1 would have kept a small but long-term advantage. Now White has to fight to maintain equality.] fxg6 20. Nxg6+ Kg8 21. Nxf8 Rxf8 22. Qe2? [22. Kd3] h6 23. Bh4? [23. Bxh6] Qf7? [23. … Rf4] 24. Bg3 Qg6 [24. … Bxe4] 25. Qg4 Qxg4 26. hxg4 Rf6 27. Rh1 a6 28. Bh4? Rf4 29. Bd8 Rxe4+ 30. Kd3 Rd4+ [32. … Rxg4] 31. Kc3 Bxg2 32. Rg1 Bc6 33. Bxc7 b5 34. cxb5 axb5 35. a3 Be4 36. Ba5? [36. b3] Rc4+ 37. Kb3 [37. Kd2] Bxc2+ [37. … Bd5! wins faster.] 38. Ka2 d5 39. Re1 Rxg4 40. Rxe5 Be4 41. Bc3 Kh7 42. Re7 Bd3 43. Re5 [43. Be5] Bc4+ [43. … d4] 44. Kb1 [44. b3] d4 45. Bb4 Rg5 [45. … d3] 46. Re1 Rg2 47. Rd1 d3 48. Bc3? [47. Kc1] g6 [Missing the win with 48. … Bb3! 49. Re1 d2 50. Bxd2 Rxd2.] 49. Re1 h5 [Black is going way too slowly. 49. … d2 is faster.] 50. Rd1? [50. ... Bb3] h4 51. Bd2?? [51. Rh1] h3 [51. … Bb3] 52. Bf4 h2 53. Be3? [53. Bxh2 could not be avoided, although White is lost in any event.] g5 54. Rh1 Kg6 55. Kc1 d2+ 56. Kc2 g4 [56. … Bd5] 57. Bxd2 g3 58. Kc3 Kf5? [58. … Rg1] 59. b3? [59. Be1] Bxb3? [59. … Rg1] 60. Kxb3? [I might as well have resigned if I was going to play this. 60. Be3 was necessary, not that there was any chance of saving the game in any event.] Rxd2 61. Kc3 Rd5 62. Kc2 Kg4 63. Kc3 Kh3 64. Kc2 g2 65. Re1 h1=Q 66. Rxh1+ gxh1=Q 0-1

Two games

RMD – ALD, 11/11/2004 [C47]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Ne5 [Unusual and not best. Correct is 5. … Bb4.] 6. Bf4 [6. f4 is a stronger reply to Black’s weak fifth move.] Ng6 7. Bg3 Bb4 8. Qd3 [8. Bd3] O-O 9. a3 Bc5 10. Nd5 [10. Be2] Nxd5 11. exd5 Qf6 [11. … Re8+] 12. c3 [12. O-O-O] Ne5 [12. … d6] 13. Qf5 Qxf5 14. Nxf5 d6 [14. … Re8] 15. Ne7+ Kh8 16. Nxc8 Raxc8 17. b4 Bb6 18. Be2 Rfe8 19. O-O Re7 20. Rac1 Rce8 21. Bb5 Nd7 22. a4 a6 23. Bxd7 [23. Bd3] Rxd7 24. Rfe1 Rde7 25. Rxe7 Rxe7 26. Kf1 h6 27. a5 Ba7 28. Re1 Rxe1+ 29. Kxe1 b6 30. axb6 Bxb6 31. Ke2 a5 32. bxa5 Bxa5 33. c4 Kh7 34. Bh4 f6 35. f4 Kg6 36. g4 h5 37. h3 hxg4 38. hxg4 f5 39. Kf3 Bb6 40. Bd8 Ba5 41. Be7 [41. c5!? was worth a try.] Bb6 42. Bf8? [White could maintain the equilibrium with 42. Bh4, but this move gives Black an unexpected opportunity] Ba5? [An opportunity on which he does not capitalize. 42. … fxg4+ 43. Kxg4 Kf7.] 43. c5? [43. Be7] dxc5? [43. … Kf7] 44. Bxc5 fxg4+ 45. Kxg4 Bc3 46. f5+ [46. Be7] Kf7 47. Ba7 g6 48. Bb8 [The game could have been abandoned as a draw at this point.] gxf5+ 49. Kxf5 Ba5 50. Ba7 Bb6 51. Bxb6 cxb6 52. d6 Ke8 53. Ke5 Kd7 54. Kd5 b5 55. Kc5 b4 56. Kxb4 Kxd6 ½-½

RMD – ALD, 11/14/2004 [B88]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 e6 4. O-O d6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Nf6 7. Nc3 Be7 8. b3 [In this line, this square is usually reserved for the bishop.] O-O 9. Be3 Bd7 10. Qf3 [10. f4] Ne5 11. Qg3 Nxc4 12. Bh6? [Trying to get fancy. 12. bxc5 should be played immediately.] Ne8? [Missing 12. … Nh5, which allows Black to keep the extra piece.] 13. bxc4 Bh4 14. Qg4 e4 [14. … Rc8 is stronger. Now the position is completely even.] 15. Nf5 Bxf5 16. exf5 Rc8 [16. … Kh8] 17. Nb5 a6 18. Na7 [Odd] Ra8 19. Be3 Bf6 20. Rab1 Qc7 21. Qe4 Rb8 22. Qd5 b6 [22. … Be7 - RMD] 23. Nc6 Rb7 24. f4 exf4 25. Rxf4 [25. Bxf4 puts strong pressure on the d6 pawn.] Be5 26. Nxe5 dxe5 27. Rff1 [Not the best square for the rook; it prevents doubling.] Nf6 28. Qd3 Rc8 29. c5 bxc5 30. Qxa6 Rxb1 31. Rxb1 h6 [31. … Ng4 is better; after 32. Bxh6 the position would get exciting.] 32. c4 Qc6 33. Rb6 Qa8 34. Rxf6!? [A shot from the blue.] gxf6 35. Qxf6 Rc6 [35. … Qa5] 36. Qxe5 Qc8 37. f6 Qf8? [This does not actually protect the h6 pawn; actually, this loses.] 38. Bc1? [Missing the win after 38. Bxh6! Qxh6 39. Qe8+ Qf8 40. Qxc6.] Re6 39. Qg3+ Kh7 40. h4? [40. Qf4] Qg8? [40. … Rxf6] 41. Qd3+ Qg6 42. Qxg6+ [I don’t have a specific suggestion, but trading Queens is probably not best. Black has an edge in the endgame, but with the queens on the board I don’t see a win.] Kxg6 43. Bb2 [43. Ba3 put up a stronger defense.] Ra6 [43. … Re4 - RMD] 44. a3 Rb6 45. Be5 Rb3 46. Bd6 Rxa3 47. Bxc5 Rc3 48. Be7 Rxc4 49. g3 Rc2! 50. Kf1 h5 51. Kg1 Kf5 52. Kf1 Kg4 53. Bd6 Rc6 54. Be5 Re6 55. Bf4 Rxf6 56. Kg2 Rxf4! [The fastest way to the win.] 57. gxf4 Kxf4 58. Kh3 f5 59. Kg2 Kg4 60. Kf2 f4 61. Kg2 f3+ 62. Kf2 Kf4 63. Kf1 Kg3 64. Kg1 Kxh4 65. Kf2 Kg4 66. Kf1 h4 67. Kg1 h3 68. Kh2 f2 69. Kh1 f1=Q+ 70. Kh2 Qg2#

Two games

My wife and I have been playing a lot of speed chess. It occurred to me that it was a simple matter to call out our moves into a tape recorder, so now I have some games of my own to post here.

RMD-ALD, Atlanta 11/7/2004 [C45]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 [Now this was a surprise! In all the games we've played over the years, my wife had not once played the Scotch Game.] exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Bc4 [7. Bd3 is more common.] Nf6 8. Bg5 [8. O-O, Tartakower-Kostic, Ljuljana 1938] Bxf2+? [I tried to get fancy, but this is incorrect.] 9. Kxf2 Ng4+ 10. Qxg4! Bxg4 11. Bxd8 Rxd8 [+-] 12. Rhe1 O-O 13. Bb3 Rfe8 14. Ba4 Bd7 15. Re3 Re5 16. h3 Rde8 17. Rae1 f5 18. Kf3 [18. exf5] fxe4+ 19. Rxe4 Rf8+ 20. Kg3 [20. Ke3] Rg5+ 21. Kh2 Rf2 22. R1e2? [This lets slip the win. Correct is 22. Rg1.] Rgxg2+! ½-½ [23. Kh1 Rh2+ 24. Kg1 Rhg2+]

RMD-ALD, Atlanta 11/7/2004 [B56]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 d6 4. Bb5 Bd7 5. O-O Nf6 6. d4 [6. Re1] cxd4 7. Nxd4 g6 [An unusual move order to arrive at a standard Sicilian position.] 8. Nxc6 [Book is 8. Re1 or 8. Be3. 8. Bxc6 is also sometimes played in this position.] bxc6 9. Ba4 [9. Bc4, Solovjov-Dubinka, Saint Petersburg 1999] Bg7 10. Bf4 O-O 11. e5? [This loses a pawn to the correct response.] dxe5? [11. ... Nh5!] 12. Bxe5 Rc8 13. Qd4 [13. Bb3] Nh5? [13. ... Qa5 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Qxd7 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Qxa4 =] 14. Bxg7 Nxg7 15. Qxa7 [+-] Ra8 16. Qc5 Ne6 17. Qc4 Qb6 18. Rad1 Bc8? [18. ... Ra7] 19. Bxc6 Ba6 20. Qe4 Bxf1 [Trading when down two pawns is usually not good, but in this position 20. ... Rad8 isn't any better for Black.] 21. Bxa8 Qxb2 22. Kxf1? [22. Na4] Qxc3 23. Bd5 Rd8 24. Re1 Rd6 25. g3 [25. Bb3] Qa5 [25. ... Ng5] 26. Bb3 Qh5 27. h4 Rd4? [27. ... Qb5+] 28. Qa8+ [28. Qc6] Kg7 29. Qe8? [29. Bxe6 fxe6 30. Rxe6] Rd1? [29. ... Qf3!] 30. Qxe7? Qb5+? [30. ... Qf3! 31. Rxd1 Qh1+ 32. Ke2 Qe4+ 33. Kf1 Qh1+ ½-½] 31. c4 Rxe1+ 32. Kxe1 Qe5+ 33. Kf1 Qa1+ 34. Kg2 Qe5 35. c5?? Qxc5?? [35. ... Nf4+! wins] 36. Qxc5 Nxc5 37. f4 Kf6 38. Kf3 Ke7 39. Kg4 f6 40. h5 Kd6? [40. ... f5+ 41. Kh4 Kf6 puts up a tougher defense.] 41. Bg8 f5+ 42. Kg5 Ne4+ 43. Kh4 gxh5 44. Bxh7 Ke6 [44. ... Nc3] 45. a4 Nc5 46. a5 Kf6 47. Kxh5 Ke6 48. Kg5 Ne4+ 49. Kh4 Nc5 50. g4 [50. Bg6] fxg4 51. Kxg4 1-0 [White's two pawns can not be stopped.]

Kasimdzhanov-Kasparov match is a go?

According to an interview with FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov in the Russian paper Sport Express, the sponsorship of the K-K unification match in Dubai has been confirmed. The bank guarantees are allegedly in place and the match is scheduled for Jan. 14-Feb. 1.

When ChessBase spoke to Kasparov about these statements, he expressed concern that everything was still coming from Ilyumzhinov and not the Dubai organizers themselves.

Book Review

My Best Games of Chess 1908-1937 by Alexander Alekhine

Alekhine's analysis, while occasionally deep and insightful, is for the most part highly unobjective. He routinely neglects to mention defensive oversights by his opponents in order to make a dubious attack by him seem like a forced win. Furthermore, his opening analysis - more than dated, which one would have to accept for analysis this old - is simply incredibly weak and superficial in this book. Many of the lines he criticises harshly are now considered the "book." It almost seems that the more rudely he treats a line, the more respect that line currently receives.

But the most appalling thing of all about this book is that a good number of games have been doctored or made up out of whole cloth. Just a few of the most egregious examples:

Volume 1
(1) On page 69, he discusses a game he played as White in Moscow 1915 which ended with 5 queens on the board. In fact, his opponent Grigoriev had White, and the game provided never happened (White played 11.O-O-O, not 11.NPxP). The line he cites as the game actually come from an analysis of the game.
(2) On page 79, he changes the ending of the game. The game proceeded 36....QN5 not 36....BR5!
(3) On page 84, he claims Mieses resigned. In fact the game went on an additional 15 moves.
(4) On page 107, he changes the move order to highlight some analysis.
(5) On page 109, he claims he played 27.QK3! In fact, he played a weaker move and the game dragged on 21 more moves.
(6) On page 240, he cites a game Alekhine-Tenner 1907 which ended with a mate in 15. In fact, the line given comes from post-mortem analysis of a 23-move draw.

Volume 2
On page 250, he changes the ending of the game. He had played the weaker 22....PxB not 22....QxB leading to mate.

I find it truly disgusting that Alekhine would find it necessary to mutilate his games in order to enhance his chess reputation. That he may have done, but in my eyes he has destroyed his reputation as a human being. After learning this about his games, I find it easy to believe that he is in fact the author of the anti-Jewish diatribes that appeared under his byline and whose authorship he vehemently denied. Yeah, right, are we supposed to believe him?

[edited and reposted]

Mikhail Tal

I've been reading some games from The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal. Great book. I read somewhere that Tal is the best writer ever to be world chess champion, and after looking through this book I believe it.

My favorite Tal quote, during one of the Kasparov-Karpov matches (1987?), they asked him if he had any advice for the players. He replied, "I would tell them to play better."

Tal had a fascinating four decade run as one of the world's top grandmasters. Here's his record in the world championship cycles between his arrival on the chess scene in 1951 and his death in 1992.

1955-1957 Cycle: Played in the Baltic Zonal tournament but did not advance

1958-1960 Cycle: Went all the way! Won the title from Botvinnik 12½ – 8½!

1961-1963 Cycle: Made it to the Candidates tournament, which was won by Petrosian

1964-1966 Cycle: Made it to the Candidates Final Match, lost to Spassky

1967-1969 Cycle: Played in the Candidates Semi-Final matches (lost to Korchnoi)

1970-1972 Cycle: Did not participate

1973-1975 Cycle: Played in the Leningrad Interzonal but did not advance

1976-1978 Cycle: Played in Biel Interzonal, tied for 2nd but lost the tiebreak

1979-1981 Cycle: Played in the Candidates Quarter-Final matches (lost to Polugayevski)

1982-1984 Cycle: Played in the Moscow Interzonal but did not advance

1985-1987 Cycle: Played in the Candidates tournament, tied for 4th but lost the tiebreak

1988-1990 Cycle: Played in the Subotica Interzonal but did not advance

1991-1993 Cycle: Played in the Interzonal but did not advance