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