Connecticut Chess Magazine

Annual Pioneer Open Chess Tournament - Saturday, November 12th

noreply@blogger.com (Connecticut Chess Magazine by Rob Roy) — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 20:53:00 +0000

The Annual Pioneer Open Chess Tournament will be held on Saturday, November 12th, at the main campus of Sacred Heart University (SHU) in Fairfield, CT.

Directions: directions to campus and campus map. The tournament will be held at the Naclerio Commons near the main entrance.

This tournament is hosted by the SHU Chess Club and the Chess Club of Fairfield County.

Questions: chess@sacredheart.edu

GRADE 11 CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2022

noreply@blogger.com (Connecticut Chess Magazine by Rob Roy) — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 18:46:00 +0000

56th ANNUAL

SCHOLASTIC CHESS TOURNAMENT

GRADE 11 CHAMPIONSHIP

DATE: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2022.

SITE: Hall High School, 975 North Main Street, West Hartford, CT.

ELIGIBLE: Students attending any CONNECTICUT school (including Home School).

SCHEDULE: This is a four-round tournament. PLAY BEGINS AT 9:00 A.M.

Clocks may be placed on games with a time limit of one hour per player.

Players with 2.5-0.5 scores will be paired with 2-1 players in round 4.

PRIZES: TROPHIES TO THE CHAMPION (AND ANY CO-CHAMPIONS).

PLUS, ALL PLAYERS WHO SCORE 3-1 OR BETTER WILL RECEIVE

8,500 “TUITION REWARD” POINTS, WHICH CAN BE REDEEMED

FOR $8,500 IN TUITION CREDITS IF THE RECIPIENT IS ACCEPTED

AT AND ENTERS ANY OF 440 PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES COMPRISING

SAGE SCHOLARS. (See www.tuitionrewards.com for a list of the universities.)

ENTRY FEE: Send name, address, school, grade, chess rating (if any) and $20 entry fee

payable to Fred Townsend, 100 Wells St., Apt. 908, Hartford, CT 06103.

ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022..

QUESTIONS: Call 860-249-6266, or email to rickt@cshore.com.

CHESS SETS: PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN CHESS BOARDS, CLOCKS & SETS.

COVID: (1) PLAYERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS.

(2) PARENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED INSIDE THE PLAYING ROOM.

FOOD: Please bring your own food and beverages. No food service is available at this site. Please throw all trash in the trash containers.

TEAR OFF AND SEND WITH $20 ENTRY FEE TO

FRED TOWNSEND, 100 WELLS ST., APT. 908, HARTFORD, CT 06103

ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2022

NAME_______________________________ GRADE ____ SCHOOL______________________

ADDRESS____________________________________ CITY_________________ZIP _________

CHESS RATING (IF ANY) __________ EMAIL _______________________________________

Hans Niemann, a former CT player, defeats World Champion Magnus Carlsen round 3 Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis.

noreply@blogger.com (Connecticut Chess Magazine by Rob Roy) — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 21:03:00 +0000

Sorry to miss a week sending this out. I guess I was drained after two tournaments on consecutive weekends. Congrats to the winners of the Summer Open, Ian Harris and Nakul Ramaswamy! The tournament was a beautiful day in the (Wickham) Park.

ALL TOO HUMAN

The news that has rocked the chess world has a Connecticut angle to it. Hans Niemann, a former CT player, defeated World Champion Magnus Carlsen in the third round of the Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis. Hans spent his high school years living in Connecticut and playing tournaments at the Fairfield County Chess Club. He currently lives "out of a suitcase" in New York City, jetting off to tournaments around the world. Here is a link to his Wikipedia page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Niemann

The win against Carlsen would have been big enough as an announcement of Niemann's entry to the very top level of chess competition and race to succeed the outgoing World Champion, but Carlsen's dropping out of the tournament the next day and cryptic tweet elevated it to huge controversy. Wikipedia does an excellent job of fairly explaining it so I would like to focus on the game itself, which I (and Stockfish) analyse here:

https://lichess.org/study/taIJzUtz

The game itself shows no signs of computer assistance, containing the inevitable human mistakes from a long and complex game. Niemann outduels Carlsen in a magnificent endgame to extract the full point.

Having watched Hans in several interviews and noting his great confidence and single minded devotion to chess, I would like to offer one piece of unsolicited advice: Learn from the tragic life of Bobby Fischer, who accomplished everything in the chess world at the cost of everything that is most important in life. You also have a great talent but let it be your servant rather than your master.

GAME OF THE WEEK -- USCF in Hamden CT Sept 24

noreply@blogger.com (Connecticut Chess Magazine by Rob Roy) — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 15:56:00 +0000

This game, between two ex-experts who will probably be playing in the Westerly Chess Club Championship on September 22, is hard to explain. After the game my baffled opponent didn’t know what he did wrong, anyone would think that the isolated doubled pawns on the queenside should be weaknesses and the two bishops should be a strength. It doesn’t appear to make sense, but the computer confirms that Black seems to have an advantage.

Mike Smith(1944)-Alan Lasser(1939)

9/8/22

Westerly Chess Club

game/15

1.c4 c6

2.Nc3 d5

3.d4 Nf6

4.Nf3 Bf5

5.Qb3 Qb6

6.Qxb6 axb6

7.cxd5 Nxd5

8.Nxd5 cxd5

9.Bf4 Nc6

10.e3 e6

11.a3 Bb4+

12.Nd2?! -0.52/28

12.Kd1 +0.11/28 12...Be7 12...Kd7 13. Rc1 Bd6 14. Bxd6 Kxd6 15. Be2 h6 16. Nd2 Rhc8 17. Nb3 Na5 18. Nxa5 Rxc1+ 19. Kxc1 bxa5 +0.07 Stockfish 13.Bc7 Bd8 14.Bxd8 Rxd8 15.Bb5 f6 16.Ke2 O-O 17.Rhc1 Rc8 18.Rc3 Na7 19.Bd3 Bxd3+ 20.Kxd3 Rxc3+ 21.bxc3

12...Bxd2+

13.Kxd2 Na5

14.Bb5+?! -1.09/28

14.Rd1 -0.60/27 14...Rc8 15.Bd3 Nb3+ 16.Ke2 Bxd3+ 16...Ke7 17. Bxf5 exf5 18. f3 Kd7 19. h4 b5 20. Rhg1 g6 21. g3 Rhe8 22. Rge1 Rc2+ 23. Kd3 Rc4 -1.14 Stockfish 17.Kxd3 Ke7 18.Rb1 Rc6 19.Rhd1 f6 20.e4 dxe4+ 21.Kxe4 Rc4 22.Be3 Rd8 23.f4 Rc6 24.Kf3 Rcd6 25.Kf2 Kf7 26.Rd3

14…Ke7

15.Ke2 Rhc8?! -0.44/28

15...Nb3 -1.15/28 16.Rae1 Rhc8 17.Kf1 Rc2 18.h4 Nd2+ Stockfish thinks this variation is -4.64 after 19. Kg1 Rxb2 20. a4 Bc2 21. Rc1 Nc4 22. e4 Bxa4 23. Bxc4 dxc4 24. Rxc4 Bc6

16.Rac1 Nc4?! +0.19/26

16...Nb3 -0.39/29 17.Rxc8 17. Bc7 Ra5 18. Bd6+ Kxd6 19. Rxc8 Rxb5 20. Rd8+ Ke7 21. Rb8 e5 22. g4 Bg6 23. dxe5 Ke6 -2.39 Stockfish 17...Rxc8 18.Re1 Rc2+ 19.Kf1 Rxb2 20.a4 Nd2+ 20... Bc2 21. Kg1 Ra2 22. h4 Na5 23. Rc1 Kd8 24. g4 Nb3 25. Rf1 Nd2 26. Rc1 Bxa4 27. Bd3 b5 28. Bxh7 b4 -2.82 Stockfish 21.Kg1 Ne4 22.f3 Nc3 23.Ra1 Bc2 24.Bc7 Nd1 25.Bf4 Rb1 26.Rxb1 Bxb1 27.Bc7 Nxe3 28.Bxb6 Nc4 29.Bc5+ Kd8 30.a5

17.Bxc4 dxc4

18.Rc3 b5

19.f3?! -0.86/30

19.Kf3 -0.16/25 19...Bd3 20.e4 f6 20...Rd8 21. Ke3 Kd7 22. g4 b4 23. axb4 Ra2 24. b3 b5 25. bxc4 bxc4 = Stockfish 21.Re1 21. Bd2 b4 22. Rxd3 cxd3 23. Bxb4+ Kd7 24. Bc3 Rxa3 25. bxa3 Rxc3 26. Ke3 Rxa3 = Stockfish 21...Rd8 22.d5 exd5 23.exd5+ Kf7 24.d6 g5 25.Re7+ Kf8 26.Bg3 Re8 27.Rxe8+ Rxe8 28.Kg4 Bg6 29.f4 h5+ 30.Kf3 Be4+ 31.Ke3 Bc6+ 32.Kd2 Rd8 33.fxg5 fxg5 34.Be5

19...Bd3+

20.Kd2? -2.33/30

20.Kf2 -0.86/29 20...b4 21.axb4 Ra2 22.Kg3 Rxb2 23.Ra3 Rxb4 24.Rha1 24. e4 Rb3 25. Rha1 Kd7 26. h4 f5 27. exf5 Bxf5 -3.40 Stockfish 24...Rb3 25.e4 Rd8 25... Kd7 26. h4 f5 27. exf5 Bxf5 28. Bc1 Kd6 29. Ra5 c3 30. R1a3 Rb1 31. Rc5 Rxc5 32. dxc5+ Kd5 33. Rxc3 Kd4 -4.13 Stockfish 26.Kf2 Rd7 27.R1a2 Rb1 28.Ke3 f5 29.Bg5+ Kf7 30.Bh4 b5 31.Ra7 Rxa7 32.Rxa7+ Kg6 33.exf5+ exf5 34.g4 fxg4 35.fxg4 h5 36.gxh5+ Kxh5 37.Be7 Re1+ 38.Kf3 Be4+ 39.Kf2

20…b4

21.axb4 Ra2

22.Rhc1? -5.09/28

22.Rxd3 -2.44/26 22...cxd3 23.Kxd3 Rxb2 24.Ra1 Rb3+ 25.Kd2 Rxb4 25...f6 26. h4 Rxb4 27. Ra2 Rb5 28. h5 Rd8 29. Ke2 Rxh5 -5.71 Stockfish 26.g4 Rb2+

22...Rxb2+

23.Ke1 Rxg2?! -4.26/28

23...Ra8 -5.39/28 Black avoids the blunder 23...Rb4 24.Rd3 24.Rxd3 cxd3 25.Rd1 Rxg2 26.Kf1 Rb2 26...Rc2 27. e4 Raa2 28. Bg3 Rcb2 29. d5 exd5 30. exd5 Rb3 31. d6+ Kd7 -11.07 Stockfish 27.Ke1 Ra3 28.b5 Rxb5 29.e4 Rb4 30.Bd2 Rxd4 31.Rb1 Ra2 32.Rxb7+ Rd7 33.Rb4 f5 34.e5 Rd5 35.f4 g5

24.e4?! -6.85/28

24.Ra3 -4.26/28 24...g5 25.Rxd3 Rg1+ 26.Kd2 Rxc1 27.Bxg5+ f6 28.Ra3 Rb1 29.Bf4 Rb3 29...Rxb4 30. e4 Rb3 31. Ra7 h5 32. Ra2 Rxf3 33. Bg3 Rd3+ 34. Kc2 Rxd4 -10.33 Stockfish 30.Ra2 Rxb4 31.Kc1 Rb3 32.Ra7 Kf7

24.Rxd3 Rg1+ 25.Kd2 Rxc1 26.Ra3 -8.75 Stockfish

24...Ra8 next will come 25...Ra2 with mating threats 0-1

[Event "game/15"]

[Site "Westerly Chess Club"]

[Date "2022.09.08"]

[Round "?"]

[White "Mike Smith"]

[Black "Alan Lasser"]

[Result "0-1"]

[BlackElo "1939"]

[ECO "D15"]

[WhiteElo "1944"]

1.c4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nf3 Bf5 5.Qb3 Qb6 6.Qxb6 axb6 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Nxd5

cxd5 9.Bf4 Nc6 10.e3 e6 11.a3 Bb4+ 12.Nd2 $6 { -0.52/28 } ( 12.Kd1

{ +0.11/28 } 12...Be7

{ 12...Kd7 13. Rc1 Bd6 14. Bxd6 Kxd6 15. Be2 h6 16. Nd2 Rhc8 17. Nb3 Na5

18. Nxa5 Rxc1+ 19. Kxc1 bxa5 +0.07 Stockfish } 13.Bc7 Bd8 14.Bxd8 Rxd8

15.Bb5 f6 16.Ke2 O-O 17.Rhc1 Rc8 18.Rc3 Na7 19.Bd3 Bxd3+ 20.Kxd3 Rxc3+

21.bxc3 ) 12...Bxd2+ 13.Kxd2 Na5 14.Bb5+ $6 { -1.09/28 } ( 14.Rd1

{ -0.60/27 } 14...Rc8 15.Bd3 Nb3+ 16.Ke2 Bxd3+

{ 16...Ke7 17. Bxf5 exf5 18. f3 Kd7 19. h4 b5 20. Rhg1 g6 21. g3 Rhe8 22.

Rge1 Rc2+ 23. Kd3 Rc4 -1.14 Stockfish } 17.Kxd3 Ke7 18.Rb1 Rc6 19.Rhd1 f6

20.e4 dxe4+ 21.Kxe4 Rc4 22.Be3 Rd8 23.f4 Rc6 24.Kf3 Rcd6 25.Kf2 Kf7 26.Rd3 )

14...Ke7 15.Ke2 Rhc8 $6 { -0.44/28 } ( 15...Nb3 { -1.15/28 } 16.Rae1 Rhc8

17.Kf1 Rc2 18.h4 Nd2+

{ Stockfish thinks this variation is -4.64 after 19. Kg1 Rxb2 20. a4 Bc2

21. Rc1 Nc4 22. e4 Bxa4 23. Bxc4 dxc4 24. Rxc4 Bc6 } ) 16.Rac1 Nc4 $6

{ +0.19/26 } ( 16...Nb3 { -0.39/29 } 17.Rxc8

{ 17. Bc7 Ra5 18. Bd6+ Kxd6 19. Rxc8 Rxb5 20. Rd8+ Ke7 21. Rb8 e5 22. g4

Bg6 23. dxe5 Ke6 -2.39 Stockfish } 17...Rxc8 18.Re1 Rc2+ 19.Kf1 Rxb2 20.a4

Nd2+

{ 20... Bc2 21. Kg1 Ra2 22. h4 Na5 23. Rc1 Kd8 24. g4 Nb3 25. Rf1 Nd2 26.

Rc1 Bxa4 27. Bd3 b5 28. Bxh7 b4 -2.82 Stockfish } 21.Kg1 Ne4 22.f3 Nc3

23.Ra1 Bc2 24.Bc7 Nd1 25.Bf4 Rb1 26.Rxb1 Bxb1 27.Bc7 Nxe3 28.Bxb6 Nc4 29.Bc5+

Kd8 30.a5 ) 17.Bxc4 dxc4 18.Rc3 b5 19.f3 $6 { -0.86/30 } ( 19.Kf3

{ -0.16/25 } 19...Bd3 20.e4 f6

{ 20...Rd8 21. Ke3 Kd7 22. g4 b4 23. axb4 Ra2 24. b3 b5 25. bxc4 bxc4 =

Stockfish } 21.Re1

{ 21. Bd2 b4 22. Rxd3 cxd3 23. Bxb4+ Kd7 24. Bc3 Rxa3 25. bxa3 Rxc3 26. Ke3

Rxa3 = Stockfish } 21...Rd8 22.d5 exd5 23.exd5+ Kf7 24.d6 g5 25.Re7+ Kf8

26.Bg3 Re8 27.Rxe8+ Rxe8 28.Kg4 Bg6 29.f4 h5+ 30.Kf3 Be4+ 31.Ke3 Bc6+ 32.Kd2

Rd8 33.fxg5 fxg5 34.Be5 ) 19...Bd3+ 20.Kd2 $2 { -2.33/30 } ( 20.Kf2

{ -0.86/29 } 20...b4 21.axb4 Ra2 22.Kg3 Rxb2 23.Ra3 Rxb4 24.Rha1

{ 24. e4 Rb3 25. Rha1 Kd7 26. h4 f5 27. exf5 Bxf5 -3.40 Stockfish }

24...Rb3 25.e4 Rd8

{ 25... Kd7 26. h4 f5 27. exf5 Bxf5 28. Bc1 Kd6 29. Ra5 c3 30. R1a3 Rb1 31.

Rc5 Rxc5 32. dxc5+ Kd5 33. Rxc3 Kd4 -4.13 Stockfish } 26.Kf2 Rd7 27.R1a2

Rb1 28.Ke3 f5 29.Bg5+ Kf7 30.Bh4 b5 31.Ra7 Rxa7 32.Rxa7+ Kg6 33.exf5+ exf5

34.g4 fxg4 35.fxg4 h5 36.gxh5+ Kxh5 37.Be7 Re1+ 38.Kf3 Be4+ 39.Kf2 ) 20...b4

21.axb4 Ra2 22.Rhc1 $2 { -5.09/28 } ( 22.Rxd3 { -2.44/26 } 22...cxd3 23.Kxd3

Rxb2 24.Ra1 Rb3+ 25.Kd2 Rxb4

{ 25...f6 26. h4 Rxb4 27. Ra2 Rb5 28. h5 Rd8 29. Ke2 Rxh5 -5.71

Stockfish } 26.g4 Rb2+ ) 22...Rxb2+ 23.Ke1 Rxg2 $6 { -4.26/28 } ( 23...Ra8

{ -5.39/28 Black avoids the blunder 23...Rb4 24.Rd3 } 24.Rxd3 cxd3 25.Rd1

Rxg2 26.Kf1 Rb2

{ 26...Rc2 27. e4 Raa2 28. Bg3 Rcb2 29. d5 exd5 30. exd5 Rb3 31. d6+ Kd7

-11.07 Stockfish } 27.Ke1 Ra3 28.b5 Rxb5 29.e4 Rb4 30.Bd2 Rxd4 31.Rb1 Ra2

32.Rxb7+ Rd7 33.Rb4 f5 34.e5 Rd5 35.f4 g5 ) 24.e4 $6 { -6.85/28 } ( 24.Ra3

{ -4.26/28 } 24...g5 25.Rxd3 Rg1+ 26.Kd2 Rxc1 27.Bxg5+ f6 28.Ra3 Rb1 29.Bf4

Rb3

{ 29...Rxb4 30. e4 Rb3 31. Ra7 h5 32. Ra2 Rxf3 33. Bg3 Rd3+ 34. Kc2 Rxd4

-10.33 Stockfish } 30.Ra2 Rxb4 31.Kc1 Rb3 32.Ra7 Kf7 ) ( 24.Rxd3 Rg1+ 25.Kd2

Rxc1 26.Ra3 { -8.75 Stockfish } ) 24...Ra8

{ next will come 25...Ra2 with mating threats } 0-1

Alan Lasser

blacklightmazes@icloud.com

website: bla[Event "game/cklightmazes.com

Hamden CC September Showdown

Play More Chess Academy

Saturday, September 24, 2022

EVENT OVERVIEW

Tournament:  HCC September Showdown USCF G/45 Quads
Date/Time:   Saturday, September 24, 2022; 1:00PM. Round 1 at 1:00PM; subsequent rounds ASAP.
Location: Play More Chess Academy, 1227 Whitney Ave., Hamden, CT 06517
Format:  Four-person round-robin quads (3 games); G/45, d5 (Estimated round times 1:00pm, 2:45pm, 4:30pm. Tournament is expected to finish approximately 6:00pm. Some sections/quads may finish sooner). Players will be grouped in quads by USCF rating (or FIDE if no USCF). Adults of all levels are welcome. Children under 13 years old must be rated 1000+ to be eligible to participate.
Byes:  No byes permitted as this a three round tournament. All participants are expected to complete all of their games.
Entry fee: $25-40 (Discounts for early entry and for Hamden Chess Club members)
Entry deadline:  Early entry discounted fee: Thursday midnight before tournament; Regular entry deadline: Sat. 11:00AM day of tournament. No on-site registration.
Prizes:  $60 1st each quad; if one Swiss section is necessary a 2nd place prize of $30 for that section
Refunds/Cancellation Policy:  If you cannot play in this event, you may withdraw by emailing: info@PlayMoreChess.com. A request for a refund may be made no later than Thursday 11:59 PM (Thursday Before Tournament). Refunds must be requested by email and are subject to a $15 cancellation fee to cover administrative and credit card processing charges.

Additional Details:

USCF membership is required prior to registering for this tournament - available at uschess.org
Chess sets, clocks and scoresheets are provided. No need to bring anything.
Questions: please email: info@playmorechess.com

Address:

1227 Whitney Ave.
Hamden, CT 06517
United States

Sections:

Grand Prix Points:

Prize Fund:

FIDE Rated: No

Handicap Accessible: No

Residency Restriction: No

Online Event: No

ORGANIZER OVERVIEW

Hamden Chess Club

Email: info@playmorechess.com

Phone: 203-680-8456

Website: https://PlayMoreChess.com

https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/CT-reacts-to-death-of-Queen-Elizabeth-II-who-led-17428410.php?src=rdctplocal

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89546934763?pwd=VFk5OUxDU1FrQytHNlNYcTNJS1NRZz09

We have some interesting games from the Summer Open and Show Up tournaments https://lichess.org/study/01LojpRH

If time permits, we may tackle some more chess theory.

Hope to see you at 5,

Rick

NEW BRITAIN CHESS CLUB BEGINS NEW SEASON

noreply@blogger.com (Connecticut Chess Magazine by Rob Roy) — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 17:58:00 +0000

Dear friends and family of the New Britain Chess Club:

I would just like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the start of the club's fiscal year today, September 1.

If you have not renewed your membership to this wonderful organization, I hope that you will do so. To join or rejoin the club, please click on the link below.

NBCC (chessct.org)

As stated on our club's website,

The New Britain Chess Club, a non-profit, is the largest and longest-running chess club in CT. It was founded in 1901 by John Kirkham, an esteemed chess master and a CT State Chess Champion, together with a group of local chess aficionados.

Today, over 120 years later, the New Britain Chess Club continues to hold a prominent spot in the Connecticut chess scene, regularly running tournaments and providing weekly lectures by top chess players and masters.

The club meets every Tuesday at 6:15 pm at the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection, 1910 Stanley Street, New Britain, CT 06053. Meetings consist of a lecture followed by a tournament and/or casual play.

Prospective members and walk-ins are always welcome! Come check us out, socialize with like-minded chess enthusiasts, enjoy an intellectual workout, and play some high-quality chess.

All tournaments are open to the public.

Information on current and upcoming lectures and tournaments can be found on the homepage calendar and in the tournaments page.

We reached 101 members for the last fiscal year, which is close to the club record of 119. I also want to welcome our new club vice president, Justin Lalor, and thank him for his desire to serve. I also want to thank our outgoing club vice president, Lisa Smith, for her year of service to the club. We are grateful for them!

Our first event of the new season will be an honorary tournament for USCF NM Suhas Kodali, our club's president. Click below to check out his chess/NBCC biography.

SuhasKodali.pdf (chessct.org)

Our club's final major event of the calendar year and first event of the new season will be its Oktoberfest Open Chess Championship, which I am directing. I hope for a BIG turnout. I encourage everyone to play! Details on this fun event can be found on our club's website.

Enjoy this early taste of fall, with temperatures at night in the 50s and highs around 80.

God bless.

Bob Cyr

NBCC Historian and Lifetime Member

USCF Local TD

Former NBCC Vice President and Librarian

NM Arslan Otchiyev feature - GM Fishbein Simul/Lecture Sept 10 Hamden

noreply@blogger.com (Connecticut Chess Magazine by Rob Roy) — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 14:18:00 +0000

9/1/2022
Connecticut Chess Journal
NM Arslan Otchiyev: Chess Master, MMA Fighter, Wanderer

Arslan Otchiyev shares the story of his journey and origins from Turkmenistan to Ukraine to the United States. The 2018 Connecticut State Champion, chess coach and MMA professional prepares a post-COVID return to competition. Complete article here.

UPCOMING CSCA COMMUNITY EVENT
Sep 10 - Fall Lecture & Simul, featuring GM Alex Fishbein (Hamden), hosted by the Play More Chess Academy and Hamden Chess Club and co-sponsored by the Connecticut State Chess Association. Register here.

GAME OF THE WEEK, Zoom at 5pm today, Tournament Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Connecticut Chess Magazine by Rob Roy) — Sat, 27 Aug 2022 14:11:00 +0000

Zoom at 5pm today

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87412891694?pwd=ZWpBQmJUYUM2RHFSdmFhRWVoNUZXQT09

A lot of local chess activities as we come to the end of Summer:

The MVL Simul at the Bridgeport Open

Tomorrow's New Britain Summer Open at Wickham Park

Next Tuesday's "It's About Time" Lecture by FM Rick Bauer

Faithful participant Tom Zissu finally played a rated game last Tuesday

Any other chess topics are fair game

See you then?

Rick Bauer

GAME OF THE WEEK, by Alan Lasser

In a late round game, this sacrificial variation of the Two Knight’s Defense was a big factor in determining the eventual winner of the tournament. The eighteen year old Champion of India, Arjun Erigaisi, collected a pawn and the exchange from his opponent. The good news is that the line is considered to be theoretically equal, the bad news was that it put Ray Robson on the attack.

GM Arjun Erigaisi(2689)-GM Ray Robson(2682)

2022 Abu Dubai Masters

8/23/22

1.e4 e5

2.Nf3 Nc6

3.Bc4 Nf6

4.Ng5 d5

5.exd5 Na5

6.Bb5+ c6

7.dxc6 bxc6

8.Qf3 h6?! +0.66/25

8...Be7 +0.22/22 9.Bxc6+ Nxc6 10.Qxc6+ Bd7 11.Qf3 Rc8 12.O-O Ba4 13.b3 Bc6 14.Qf5 O-O 15.Bb2

9.Ne4 cxb5

10.Nxf6+ gxf6

11.Qxa8 Qd7

12.Qf3 Bb7

13.Qe2?! 0.00/29

13.Qxf6 +0.94/25 13...Rg8 14.Qxe5+ Be7 15.d3 15.Qb8 Bd8 16.Qe5 = Stockfish 15...Bxg2 16.Qb8+ Bd8 17.Rg1 Nc6 18.Qa8 Qh3 19.Be3 Ne5 20.Rxg2 Rxg2 21.Kd2 Rg1 22.a3 a5 23.Kc3 Qf3 24.Qxf3 Nxf3 25.Kb3 Rh1 26.Ka2 Rxh2 27.Nc3 Rh5 28.d4 Be7

13…Bxg2

14.Rg1 Rg8

15.d3 Nc6

16.Be3 Bf3

17.Qf1 Rxg1

18.Qxg1 Nb4? +1.15/26

18...Nd4 0.00/25 19.Kd2 e4 20.a3 exd3 21.Bxd4 Qxd4 22.Nc3 dxc2+ 23.Kxc2 Be4+ 24.Nxe4 Qxe4+ 25.Kd2 Qd4+ 26.Ke2 Qxb2+ 27.Kf3 Qc3+ 27...Bc5 28. Qe1+ Kd7 29. Rd1+ Kc7 30. Rd3 Kb6 31. Qe2 = Stockfish 28.Kg2 Bxa3 29.Qb1 Kf8 30.Ra2 Qc5 31.Qd3 Bb4 32.Ra6 Qg5+ 33.Kf1 Qc1+ 34.Kg2 Qg5+

19.Kd2 e4

20.d4?! +0.85/25

20.a3 +1.18/24 20...Nc6 21.Nc3 exd3 22.cxd3 Ne5 23.Qf1 Be7 24.d4 a6 25.Kc1 25.Re1 Bg4 26. Kc1 Nf3 27. Rd1 Nxh2 28. Qg2 Bxd1 29. Qg8+ Bf8 30. Bxh6 +1.57 Stockfish

20…Nc6

21.c3 Qd5?! +1.92/24

21...b4 +0.98/22 22.Qf1 f5 23.Kc2 bxc3 24.bxc3 Bd6 25.Nd2 f4 26.Nxf3 fxe3 27.fxe3 exf3 28.Qxf3 Ne7 29.Qa8+ Nc8 30.Rf1 Qa4+ 31.Kd3 Qa6+ 32.c4 Bxh2 33.a4 Bc7 34.e4

21...f5 22.Qf1 b4 23.Kc1 bxc3 24.Nxc3 Nb4 25.Qc4 f4 26.Bd2 Qg4 27.Qb5+ Kd8 28.Qb8+ Kd7 29.Qb7+ Ke8 = Stockfish

22.Ke1? +0.32/29

22.Qf1 +1.92/24 22...f5 23.Kc2 f4 24.Bxf4 Qh5 25.Nd2 25. b4 Be2 26. Qe1 a5 27. a3 f5 28. Nd2 a4 29. Qg1 Qf7 30. Kb2 Kd7 31. Qg3 +3.78 Stockfish 25...Be2 26.Qe1 Bd3+ 27.Kc1 Qg6 28.d5 Ne7 29.d6 Nd5 30.Bg3 Bxd6 31.Nxe4 Bxe4 32.Bxd6 f5 33.Bc5 Qg5+ 34.Kd1 a6 35.a4 Qg4+ 36.Kd2 Qf4+ 37.Be3

22…Ne5

23.Nd2 Nd3+

24.Kf1 Qh5

25.Qg3 Bd6

26.Nxe4 Bxe4

27.Qxd6 Qf3

28.Qb8+?! +0.08/23

28.d5 +0.55/24 28...Bxd5 29.b3 29. Qb8+ Ke7 30. b3 Be4 31. Qc7+ Ke6 32. Qc8+ Kd6 33. Qf8+ Ke6 34. Qe8+ Kd6 35. h3 f5 36. Qb8+ = Stockfish 29...Be4 30.Qb8+ Ke7 31.Qc7+ Ke6 32.Qc8+ Kd6 33.Qd8+ Ke6

28…Ke7

29.Qxa7+ Ke6

30.Qb6+

30.Qd7+

30…Kf5

31.Qb8 Ne5

32.Qc8+ Kg6

33.Qg8+ Kf5

34.dxe5 Bd3+

35.Kg1 Be4

36.Kf1 Bd3+

37.Kg1 Be4

½-½

[Event "2022 Abu Dubai Masters"]

[Site "?"]

[Date "2022.08.23"]

[Round "?"]

[White "GM Arjun Erigaisi"]

[Black "GM Ray Robson"]

[Result "1/2-1/2"]

[BlackElo "2682"]

[ECO "C58"]

[WhiteElo "2689"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Qf3

h6 $6 { +0.66/25 } ( 8...Be7 { +0.22/22 } 9.Bxc6+ Nxc6 10.Qxc6+ Bd7 11.Qf3

Rc8 12.O-O Ba4 13.b3 Bc6 14.Qf5 O-O 15.Bb2 ) 9.Ne4 cxb5 10.Nxf6+ gxf6 11.Qxa8

Qd7 12.Qf3 Bb7 13.Qe2 $6 { 0.00/29 } ( 13.Qxf6 { +0.94/25 } 13...Rg8 14.Qxe5+

Be7 15.d3 { 15.Qb8 Bd8 16.Qe5 = Stockfish } 15...Bxg2 16.Qb8+ Bd8 17.Rg1 Nc6

18.Qa8 Qh3 19.Be3 Ne5 20.Rxg2 Rxg2 21.Kd2 Rg1 22.a3 a5 23.Kc3 Qf3 24.Qxf3

Nxf3 25.Kb3 Rh1 26.Ka2 Rxh2 27.Nc3 Rh5 28.d4 Be7 ) 13...Bxg2 14.Rg1 Rg8 15.d3

Nc6 16.Be3 Bf3 17.Qf1 Rxg1 18.Qxg1 Nb4 $2 { +1.15/26 } ( 18...Nd4 { 0.00/25 }

19.Kd2 e4 20.a3 exd3 21.Bxd4 Qxd4 22.Nc3 dxc2+ 23.Kxc2 Be4+ 24.Nxe4 Qxe4+

25.Kd2 Qd4+ 26.Ke2 Qxb2+ 27.Kf3 Qc3+

{ 27...Bc5 28. Qe1+ Kd7 29. Rd1+ Kc7 30. Rd3 Kb6 31. Qe2 = Stockfish } 28.Kg2

Bxa3 29.Qb1 Kf8 30.Ra2 Qc5 31.Qd3 Bb4 32.Ra6 Qg5+ 33.Kf1 Qc1+ 34.Kg2 Qg5+ )

19.Kd2 e4 20.d4 $6 { +0.85/25 } ( 20.a3 { +1.18/24 } 20...Nc6 21.Nc3 exd3

22.cxd3 Ne5 23.Qf1 Be7 24.d4 a6 25.Kc1

{ 25.Re1 Bg4 26. Kc1 Nf3 27. Rd1 Nxh2 28. Qg2 Bxd1 29. Qg8+ Bf8 30. Bxh6

+1.57 Stockfish } ) 20...Nc6 21.c3 Qd5 $6 { +1.92/24 } ( 21...b4 { +0.98/22 }

22.Qf1 f5 23.Kc2 bxc3 24.bxc3 Bd6 25.Nd2 f4 26.Nxf3 fxe3 27.fxe3 exf3 28.Qxf3

Ne7 29.Qa8+ Nc8 30.Rf1 Qa4+ 31.Kd3 Qa6+ 32.c4 Bxh2 33.a4 Bc7 34.e4 ) (

21...f5 22.Qf1 b4 23.Kc1 bxc3 24.Nxc3 Nb4 25.Qc4 f4 26.Bd2 Qg4 27.Qb5+ Kd8

28.Qb8+ Kd7 29.Qb7+ Ke8 { = Stockfish } ) 22.Ke1 $2 { +0.32/29 } ( 22.Qf1

{ +1.92/24 } 22...f5 23.Kc2 f4 24.Bxf4 Qh5 25.Nd2

{ 25. b4 Be2 26. Qe1 a5 27. a3 f5 28. Nd2 a4 29. Qg1 Qf7 30. Kb2 Kd7 31.

Qg3 +3.78 Stockfish } 25...Be2 26.Qe1 Bd3+ 27.Kc1 Qg6 28.d5 Ne7 29.d6 Nd5

30.Bg3 Bxd6 31.Nxe4 Bxe4 32.Bxd6 f5 33.Bc5 Qg5+ 34.Kd1 a6 35.a4 Qg4+ 36.Kd2

Qf4+ 37.Be3 ) 22...Ne5 23.Nd2 Nd3+ 24.Kf1 Qh5 25.Qg3 Bd6 26.Nxe4 Bxe4 27.Qxd6

Qf3 28.Qb8+ $6 { +0.08/23 } ( 28.d5 { +0.55/24 } 28...Bxd5 29.b3

{ 29. Qb8+ Ke7 30. b3 Be4 31. Qc7+ Ke6 32. Qc8+ Kd6 33. Qf8+ Ke6 34. Qe8+

Kd6 35. h3 f5 36. Qb8+ = Stockfish } 29...Be4 30.Qb8+ Ke7 31.Qc7+ Ke6

32.Qc8+ Kd6 33.Qd8+ Ke6 ) 28...Ke7 29.Qxa7+ Ke6 30.Qb6+ ( 30.Qd7+ ) 30...Kf5

31.Qb8 Ne5 32.Qc8+ Kg6 33.Qg8+ Kf5 34.dxe5 Bd3+ 35.Kg1 Be4 36.Kf1 Bd3+ 37.Kg1

Be4 1/2-1/2

Alan Lasser

blacklightmazes@icloud.com

website: blacklightmazes.com

57th Annual New Britain Summer Open Chess Championship

Sunday, August 28, 2022, at Wickham Park

Under the Large Wickham Pavilion - Rain or Shine

3 SECTIONS: OPEN, UNDER 1622, SCHOLASTIC

Barbecue Lunch included for all players (Extra Lunch $10 advance, $15 On-site)

Entry Fees: $50 by 8/27 8pm, $60 Cash On-site by 9:45

Entries To: (payable to New Britain Chess Club)

Norman Burtness: 46 Brookmoor Rd, West Hartford, CT 06107

Online entries: Register on CaissaChess - https://caissachess.net/online-registration/index/1800

Sets will be provided. Please bring a digital clock. Weekend park entry = $9 per car

Byes: One 1/2 pt bye permitted. No final round byes.

Rounds: First Round is 10 AM, Lunch around 11:30. Subsequent rounds will start at 12:30 and then ASAP

E-mail: newbritainchessclub@gmail.com

Directions: I-84 Exit 60, West at end of ramp, park entrance is 200yds on your right, follow cars inside to Wickham Pavilion

Open (Minimum rating of 1422)

Prizes: Trophies to Top 2 places, Top U1900

Format: 4 Round Swiss, G/45;d5 (Affects both Quick and Regular rating.)

Schedule: Rounds 10, Lunch,12:30, 2, 3:30\

Under 1622

Prizes: Trophies to Top 2, Top Under-120

Biggest Upset Trophy (combined with Scholastic Section)

Format: 5 Round Swiss, G/25;d5 (Affects both Quick and Regular rating.)

Schedule: Rounds 10, 11, Lunch, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30

Scholastic (Maximum Rating of 1122)

Prizes: Trophies to Top 2, Top U900, U600

Biggest Upset Trophy (combined with U1622 Section)

Format: 5 Round Swiss, G/25;d5 Affects both Quick and Regular rating.

Schedule: Rounds 10, 11, Lunch, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30

Columns by Alan Lasser, and Rick Bauer

noreply@blogger.com (Connecticut Chess Magazine by Rob Roy) — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 22:55:00 +0000

Due to their extensive opening preparation, you don’t see many brevities in grandmaster play. It just goes to show you, it doesn’t matter what your rating is, anyone can have a bad game.

GM Matthieu Cornette(2551)-GM Sebastien Feller(2552)

8/13/22

2022 French Championships

1.d4 d5

2.c4 e6

3.Nc3 Nf6

4.cxd5 exd5

5.Bg5 c6

6.e3 Qb6

7.Qc2 Ne4

8.Nxe4 dxe4

9.Qxe4+ Be6

10.Nf3 Qxb2

11.Rb1 Qc3+

12.Kd1 Nd7

13.Bd3 h6?? #2/62

13...Nb6 0.00/22 14.Ke2 Qa3 15.Rhc1 Qxa2+ 16.Kf1 Bd6 17.Nh4 Qd5 18.Qxd5 Nxd5 19.Rxb7 Bc8

14.Qxe6+ 1-0

[Event "2022 French Championship"]

[Site "?"]

[Date "2022.08.13"]

[Round "?"]

[White "GM Matthieu Cornette"]

[Black "GM Sebastien Feller"]

[Result "1-0"]

[BlackElo "2552"]

[ECO "D35"]

[WhiteElo "2551"]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 c6 6.e3 Qb6 7.Qc2 Ne4 8.Nxe4 dxe4

9.Qxe4+ Be6 10.Nf3 Qxb2 11.Rb1 Qc3+ 12.Kd1 Nd7 13.Bd3 h6 $4 { #2/62 } (

13...Nb6 { 0.00/22 } 14.Ke2 Qa3 15.Rhc1 Qxa2+ 16.Kf1 Bd6 17.Nh4 Qd5 18.Qxd5

Nxd5 19.Rxb7 Bc8 ) 14.Qxe6+ 1-0

Alan Lasser

blacklightmazes@icloud.com

website: blacklightmazes.com

The star attraction of the Bridgeport Open was Maxime Vacher-LaGrave (MVL) the world blitz champion, whose ability to play fast and strong served him well in a series of Simuls (Simultaneous Exhibitions) played over the weekend. His lecture stressed the importance of playing with confidence, both for the impact it can have on your opponent and to save vital clock time. This is one vital edge that the top young players have.

MVL won all but one of his simul games, defeating his strongest opposition. He showed a wide range of opening knowledge, gaining an edge quickly in most games. The surprising upset winner was Chloe Gaw, an eleven year old prodigy from NY. She is ranked 7th nationally for girls her age. I was able to get copies of both her game and that of the top challenger to MVL, International Master Max Lu, whose game was broadcast to the auditorium. Both played the Sicilian, with the GM gaining a significant edge out of the opening. But the real action came late in both games, when the moves became most critical.

Here is a link to the two games (followed by past ones): https://lichess.org/study/taIJzUtz

ReplyReply allForward

New Britain Summer Open, Sunday, August 28, 2022, at Wickham Park

noreply@blogger.com (Connecticut Chess Magazine by Rob Roy) — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 14:28:00 +0000

57th annual New Britain Summer Open Chess Championship

CT’s BIGGEST Chess Outing of the Year!

A MUST-ATTEND EVENT!

Sunday, August 28, 2022, at Wickham Park

Under the Large Wickham Pavilion - Rain or Shine

Currently, we have 44 players pre-registered for this heritage event; the record is 78! Can we break it?!

Arkadijs Strazdins and FM Richard Bauer tie the record for the most wins or ties for first place in this historic tournament (10 each).

Winners of this tournament follow.

I hope to see you next Sunday. Get out and play some chess with your friends at the beautiful Wickham Park with a BBQ lunch! You can't beat it!

Wickham Park has been the host site of this event since 2012 (except for last year, when the park closed due to Tropical Storm Henri, and then we had to reschedule the event to the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection (our home) a week later.

Bob Cyr

NBCC Historian and Lifetime Member

USCF Local Tournament Director

Former NBCC Vice President and Librarian

3 SECTIONS: OPEN, UNDER 1622, SCHOLASTIC

Barbecue Lunch included for all players (Extra Lunch $10 advance, $15 On-site)

Entry Fees: $50 by 8/27 8pm, $60 Cash On-site by 9:45)

Entries To: (payable to New Britain Chess Club)

Norman Burtness: 46 Brookmoor Rd, West Hartford, CT 06107

Online entries: Register on CaissaChess - https://caissachess.net/online-registration/index/1800

Sets will be provided. Please bring a digital clock. Weekend park entry = $9 per car

Byes: One 1/2 point bye permitted. No final round byes.

Rounds: First Round is 10 AM, Lunch around 11:30. Subsequent rounds will start at 12:30 and then ASAP

E-mail: newbritainchessclub@gmail.com

Directions: I-84 Exit 60, West at end of ramp, park entrance is 200yds on your right, follow cars inside to Wickham Pavilion.

Open (Minimum rating of 1422)

Prizes: Trophies to Top 2 places, Top U1900

Format: 4 Round Swiss, G/45;d5 (Affects both Quick and Regular rating.)

Schedule: Rounds 10, Lunch,12:30, 2, 3:30

Under 1622

Prizes: Trophies to Top 2, Top Under-1200

Biggest Upset Trophy (combined with Scholastic Section)

Format: 5 Round Swiss, G/25;d5 (Affects both Quick and Regular rating.)

Schedule: Rounds 10, 11, Lunch, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30

Scholastic (Maximum Rating of 1122)

Prizes: Trophies to Top 2, Top U900, U600

Biggest Upset Trophy (combined with U1622 Section)

Format: 5 Round Swiss, G/25;d5 Affects both Quick and Regular rating.

Schedule: Rounds 10, 11, Lunch, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30

The New Britain Summer Open Chess Champions

The Summer Open is the NBCC's annual outdoor event, which generally attracts an average of fifty to sixty players from around the Northeast.

2022: Open: CAN IT BE YOU?!, U1622: CAN IT BE YOU?!, Scholastic: CAN IT BE YOU?!

2021: Open: Richard Bauer and Derek Meredith, U1621: Elizabeth Smith and Carter Clayton, Scholastic: Zachary Lacava

2020: Open: Gaetano Bompastore and Michael Pascetta, U1620: Elizabeth Smith

2019: Open: Mark Bourque and Joseph Hricko, U1619: Kyle Triplett, U919: Ethan Shemo

2018: Open: Richard Bauer, Nelson Castaneda, Jake Wang, and Charles Hua, U1618: Isaish Glessner and Theordoros Theodoropoulos, U918: Michael Boisselle

2017: Open: Hongtao Lau, U1617: Erin Strauts, U917: Jordan Lefkowitz, Aditya Kurra, Vedanta Bhargava, Peter Wolfe, and Yifan Jiang

2016: Open: Andrew Cowell, U1616: Luis Delgado, U916: Daniel Hoffman

2015: Open: Richard Bauer, U1815: Eric Hilhorst, U1415: James Kolega

2014: Open: Alexander Polak and Nelson Castaneda, U1814: John Sentilles and Robert Cyr, U1414: Avery Hood

2013: Open: Nelson Castaneda, U1813 Jozef Madej, U1413: Miguel Purgatorio

2012: Open: Richard Bauer and Nelson Castaneda, U1812: Jozef Madej, U1412: William Adamson

2011: Open: Alex Fikiet, U1811: Robert McDaniel, U1411: Ben Siegel and Shawn Andrews

2010: Open: Richard Bauer, U1700: Brian Kosnoff, U1300: David Fournier

2009: Open: Dennis Prawira, David Herscovici, Andres Castaneda, U1700: Justin Huguenin

2008: Open: Dennis Prawira and Jason Lenore, U1600: David Gaston

2007: Andres Castaneda and Gert Hilhorst

2006: Yogesh Raghunathan, Seth Neel, and Douglas Fiske

2005: Andres Castaneda

2004: Mark Wilkin and Anthony Diaz

2003: Nelson Castaneda

2002: James Wilkin

2001: Mark Wilkin

2000: Ronald Bourassa

1999: William Grzesiak and Richard Bauer

1998: John Baclawski

1997: James Bolton

1996: James Bolton

1995: Arkadijs Strazdins, James Bolton, and Richard Bauer

1994: Richard Bauer

1993: Arkadijs Strazdins

1992: Zimel Livshits

1991: Douglas Fiske and Richard Bauer

1990: Richard Bauer

1989: Eric Godin

1988: Roger Paul

1987: Scott Gunderman

1986: Scott Gunderman

1985: Eric Godin

1984: John Pires

1983: Arkadijs Strazdins

1982: Peter Thau and Eric Godin

1981: Matthew Coulombe

1980: Thomas Little and John Baclawski

1979: Ronald Bourassa

1978: Steven Strogatz

1977: Jerome Crawford

1976: Julius Fuster, Mary Conlon, and Arkadijs Strazdins

1975: James Bolton

1974: James Baker

1973: Arkadijs Strazdins and William Mammen

1972: Arkadijs Strazdins and Parker Montgomery

1971: Arkadijs Strazdins and Loren Lomasky

1970: William Edwards

1969: Peter Kloskowski

1968: Arkadijs Strazdins

1967: Arkadijs Strazdins

1966: Arkadijs Strazdins

CHESS by SM Rick Bauer. 3-day Bridgeport Chess begins Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Connecticut Chess Magazine by Rob Roy) — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 16:59:00 +0000

Maxime Vachier LaGrave (MVL) may well be the strongest human chess player ever to visit Connecticut. He is the World Blitz champion and top 10 in classical time control. Here are a few games against World Champion Magnus Carlsen to whet your appetite: https://lichess.org/study/taIJzUtz

He is coming courtesy of DIG Chess, the fantastic youth chess program based in Bridgeport. I am forwarding the latest announcement they have put out on the remarkable 3-day chess event.

Good Morning Everyone,

The Bridgeport Open Featuring MVL is less than a week away! I've attached a few pictures of the auditorium where MVL will be.

First, MVL will teach a lesson relative to the rating section for an hour. Then, the twenty players playing in the simul for that section will go on the stage to play MVL.

For each section, we will have a tripod camera set up to view the board of the top-rated player in the section. The tripod will broadcast the game live onto the big projector screen at the back of the stage so that people in the stands can watch the top-rated player in the section play his or her match against MVL.

For the Sunday Blitz Tournament consisting of the top two players from each section and MVL, we will have the tripod set up to view each of MVL's games so that people can watch them live on the big projector screen. If you don't qualify for the Blitz tournament on Sunday, you can stay to watch MVL's matches from the stands of the auditorium. It will be free to watch the blitz tournament in the stands. The person who finishes with the most points other than MVL in the blitz tournament will win $1,000 so it will be exciting! Who knows, maybe someone can beat MVL who is the current World Blitz Champion! You never know!

The tournament will be in the newly renovated gym in the school. We will also have a skittles area in the cafeteria.

We are excited to bring a big chess event to Bridgeport. This will hopefully inspire more people in Bridgeport to play chess. We have youth chess programs going at the Bridgeport Library, St Ann's K-8 School, Roosevelt K-8 School, Curial K-8 School, Central High School, Kolbe High School, and many other locations. We have developed players like Sebastian who are finding success in chess. Five to ten years from now, Bridgeport will rival other chess cities like St Louis and NYC!

Respectfully,

Coach Dan

502-468-6930

Coach Dan Bio

www.facebook.com/TeamDIGUSA

NEW BRITAIN CHESS CLUB, by Suhas Kodali

noreply@blogger.com (Connecticut Chess Magazine by Rob Roy) — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 12:54:00 +0000

NBCC Weekly News August 15, 2022

This Week’s News Items:

MVL in CT this weekend! - $25 discount for NBCC Members
Summer Open 2022 - Register Here
Upcoming Events: Summer Show-up
Mentor Tournament Recap
Upcoming Lectures on MVL - Suhas Kodali for 8/16
Saturday Study Group - 5pm Saturday

==================================================================

MVL in CT!

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave is the current world blitz champion and a top 10 chess player in the world. DIG partnered with Bridgeport to bring MVL to Connecticut on August 19-21th. It will be a festival, with tournaments, simul and lessons from the man with three names! Additionally, any extra money DIG makes from this event will be reinvested into Bridgeport. Check out DIG for more information on how you can meet, learn, play in a simul, and maybe even a 1 on 1 blitz match with MVL! Sign up early, as only the first 20 in each section can play in the simul.

DIG is offering a $25 discount for NBCC members. Contact Jithu at digcoachjithu@gmail.com to get the discount. The simul spots are also sold out for the U1900 and U1250 sections, so don’t wait too long!

==================================================================

Summer Open - Sunday August 28th at Wickham Pavilion

It’s time for our annual outdoor tournament - the Summer Open. We will be returning to the beautiful Wickham Park on the last Sunday in August.

You can register on CaissaChess for one of the three sections: Open (minimum rating of 1500), U1622, and Scholastic. Early entry of $40 ends on 8/21, so register early. Barbeque lunch is included as part of your entry.

==================================================================

Upcoming Events - Summer Show-up

Summer is a time when many of us can’t commit to multi-week tournaments. The Summer Show-up tournament allows you to get in a classical time control game any of the three weeks you show up.

Tuesday, August 16, 23, 30, 2022
Time controls: G/75;+30; G/60;d5 for Scholastic
Single game each week, pairings will be close in rating
Entry Fee: $5 for all three weeks; $5 per week for non-members
Prizes: Medals
USCF Rated
Regular Ratings used for pairing determination
Registration 7:00-7:15 P.M
Pairings and matches will start at 7:15

==================================================================

Mentor Matches Recap

Half our members last Tuesday got a chance to play two games against one of our improving players and mentor them. The other half got a golden opportunity to learn about the games from their opponent. I hope members will continue the tradition of post-game analysis.

==================================================================

Lecture on MVL - NM Suhas Kodali

In preparation for MVL’s arrival this Friday, I’d like to review a bit of his life, his chess, and his amazing personality. Come at 6:15pm to check it out!

==================================================================

Saturday Study Group at 5pm

The Saturday Study group will meet on Saturdays. It will start at 5pm and run for two hours.

FM Rick Bauer will send the zoom links on Saturday to those on his email list. If you are interested in attending the Saturday Study Group, please email the club and we will get you on that distribution list.

Cheers,

Suhas Kodali

President

New Britain Chess Club

newbritainchessclub.com

newbritainchessclub@gmail.com

ReplyReply allForward

GAME OF THE WEEK, by Alan Lasser

noreply@blogger.com (Connecticut Chess Magazine by Rob Roy) — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 14:33:00 +0000

It’s always a pleasure to honor a long-time reader of this letter who finally gains the master title. Unfortunately, while the letter was on hiatus, I was unable to congratulate Rod Hajaj on his achievement. Brandon Wang, however, had the good timing to wait until after I started writing again to become a master so I could feature his big accomplishment. When we first met, he was a little kid who liked to play bughouse. Soon he could beat me, and when he was eight years old, one of his wins against me appeared on this page. He took first in the expert section at the recent Continental Open, which is a profitable way to earn the title. It wasn’t easy for Brandon, he was losing for much of the final game; but a master needs persistence and determination, and Brandon soldered on in a difficult position until he had a chance to turn the table. Congratulations!

Brandon M. Wang(2217)-Evan Ling(2175)

7/25/22

Continental Open

Sturbridge, MA

1.Nf3 d5

2.d4 Nf6

3.c4 e6

4.Nc3 Nbd7

5.Bf4 dxc4

6.e4 Bb4

7.Qc2 b5

8.a4 c6

9.Be2 Bb7

10.O-O a6

11.Bg5

11.b3 cxb3 12.Qxb3 Bxc3 13.Qxc3 Nxe4 14.Qc2 Nef6 15.Bd6 Nb6 16.Bc5 Nfd7 17.Ne5 Nxc5 18.Qxc5 Nxa4 19.Rxa4 bxa4 20.Bf3 -0.36 Stockfish

11…h6

12.Bh4

12.Bd2 Bxc3 13.Bxc3 c5 14.axb5 axb5 15.b4 Bxe4 16.Qb2 cxd4 17.Nxd4 -1.61 Stockfish

12…Be7

13.Rad1

13.h3 O-O 14.Rad1 Nh5 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Qc1 Nhf6 17.Nh2 e5 18.dxe5 Qxe5 -1.35 Stockfish

13...O-O

14.Ne5

14.Nd2 Nh7 15.Bg3 Qb6 16.Kh1 Rac8 17.f3 Nhf6 18.b3 cxb3 19.Nxb3 Nh5 20.Bf2 -1.37 Stockfish

14…Nxe5

15.Bxf6 gxf6

15...Ng6 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.Qc1 Rad8 18.Qe3 Rd7 19.Rd2 Rfd8 20.Rfd1 Qg5 -2.39 Stockfish

16.dxe5 Qc7

17.exf6

17.f4 fxe5 18.f5 Bg5 19.Kh1 Rad8 20.fxe6 fxe6 21.Bg4 Rxf1+ 22.Rxf1 Qe7 -2.89 Stockfish

17…Bxf6

18.Qc1 Kg7

19.Bg4

19.Qe3 Rad8 20.Qc5 Rxd1 21.Rxd1 Rd8 22.Rxd8 Bxd8 23.g3 Bf6 24.axb5 axb5 -3.08 Stockfish

19…Rad8

20.Rde1 e5

20...b4 21.Ne2 c5 22.Ng3 Kh7 23.Re2 Rg8 24.Bh5 Rd4 25.Rc2 Bxe4 26.Nxe4 Rxe4 27.Rxc4 Bd4 -3.80 Stockfish

21.Ne2 Bg5

22.f4

22.Qb1 Rd3 23.Ng3 Rfd8 24.Nf5+ Kh7 25.Be2 Rd2 26.h4 Bf6 27.Rd1 Bc8 28.Rxd2 Rxd2 29.Rd1 Qd8 30.g3 Rxd1+ 31.Qxd1 Qxd1+ 32.Bxd1 Be6 -3.00 Stockfish

22…exf4

23.Qc3+?!

23.Nxf4 Qe5 24.Bf5 Rd6 25.Qe3 Qd4 26.e5 Qxe3+ 27.Rxe3 Rd4 28.Nh5+ Kh8 -3.62 Stockfish

23...f6? 0.00/22

23...Kg8 -1.60/22 24.Qh3 Qe5 24...Rfe8 25. Nc3 Bc8 26. Bxc8 Qxc8 27. Qh5 Qc7 28. Kh1 Qe5 29. axb5 axb5 30. h4 Bf6 -5.77 Stockfish 25.Qh5 Qxb2 26.h4 Bf6 27.Qxh6 Bg7

24.h4? -1.17/21

24.Nd4 0.00/22 24...Qb6 25.Rd1 Kg8 26.Kh1 c5 27.Ne6 Rxd1 28.Rxd1 Bc8 29.Qh3 Bxe6 30.Bxe6+ Kh8 31.Qg4 Rd8 32.Rxd8+ Qxd8 33.h4 33.Bd5 = Stockfish 33...f3 34.hxg5 fxg2+ 35.Kxg2 Qd2+ 36.Kh3 Qd3+ 37.Kh2 Qd2+ 38.Kh3

24...Rd3?! -0.82/24

24...Bxh4 -1.17/21 25.Nxf4 Bc8 26.Bxc8 Qxc8 27.Re3 27. g3 Bg5 28. e5 Bxf4 29. exf6+ Kh8 30. f7+ Kh7 31. Rxf4 Rd3 32. Qc2 -2.67 Stockfish 27...Qg4 28.Rh3 28. axb5 axb5 29. Ref3 Rfe8 30. Qe3 Kh7 31. b3 f5 32. e5 cxb3 33. Qxb3 Rxe5 -4.72 Stockfish 28...Kh7 29.Qc2 Kg8 30.Ng6 Qxg6 31.Rxh4 Rd3 32.Rhf4 Rg3 33.Rf5 Rg5 34.R5f2 Kh7 35.Rd2 Re5

25.Qc1

25.Qc2 h5 26.Bf5 Bh6 27.e5 Rd5 28.Nxf4 Bxf4 29.Rxf4 Rxe5 30.Rd1 -1.46 Stockfish

25...Qb6+?! -0.35/21

25...Bc8 -0.65/22 26.hxg5 hxg5 27.Bxc8 27. Nxf4 gxf4 28. Qxf4 Qxf4 29. Rxf4 Rd4 30. Bxc8 Rxc8 -3.70 Stockfish 27...Rxc8 28.Nc3 28. a5 Rh8 29. Nxf4 gxf4 30. Qxf4 Qxf4 31. Rxf4 Re8 32. Re2 Re5 -5.21 Stockfish 28...Qe5 28... Qa7+ 29. Rf2 Re8 30. axb5 axb5 31. Ne2 Rxe4 32. Kf1 Ree3 -7.36 Stockfish 29.axb5 Rh8 30.Rf2 f3 31.gxf3 Qg3+ 32.Rg2 Qh4 33.Kf1

26.Kh1 Bc8? +1.75/22

26...Qc7 -0.35/20 27.Rf3 27. Nxf4 Bxf4 28. Rxf4 Qe5 29. Ref1 c5 30. Qe1 c3 31. bxc3 Qxc3 -0.08 Stockfish 27...Qe5 27... Qd6 28. axb5 cxb5 29. hxg5 hxg5 30. Ng1 Rh8+ 31. Rh3 Rhxh3+ 32. Bxh3 Qd4 -0.70 Stockfish 28.hxg5 hxg5 29.Ng1 Bc8 30.Bxc8 Rxc8 31.Rh3 31. Rxd3 cxd3 32. Nf3 Rh8+ 33. Kg1 Qe7 = Stockfish 31...g4 32.Rh2 Rcd8

26...Qc5 27.Nxf4 Bxf4 28.Rxf4 Qe5 29.Ref1 c5 30.Qe1 c3 31.bxc3 Qxc3 32.Qxc3 Rxc3 33.e5 Rc2 34.exf6+ Rxf6 35.Rxf6 Bxg2+ 36.Kg1 Bxf1 37.Rxf1 Rc4 -0.06 Stockfish

27.Bxc8 Rxc8

27...f3 28.hxg5 hxg5 29.gxf3 Rxc8 30.Ng3 Rh8+ 31.Kg2 Kg6 32.Nf5 Qa5 33.Re2 Qc7 34.Rh1 Rdd8 +4.58 Stockfish

28.Nxf4 Bxf4

29.Qxf4 Rf8

29...Qd8 30.Qg4+ Kh8 31.Qh5 Rd7 32.e5 Qe8 33.Qxh6+ Rh7 34.Qxf6+ Kg8 35.Rf5 Rg7 36.Rg5 Rc7 37.e6 Rxg5 38.Qxg5+ Rg7 39.Qf4 Qg6 40.Qf3 +8.72 Stockfish

30.e5? +0.02/23

30.Qg4+ +1.53/23 30...Kh7 30...Kh8 31. e5 Qd4 32. Qh5 Kh7 33. e6 Qd5 34. e7 Rg8 35. Qxd5 Rxd5 36. e8=Q Rxe8 37. Rxe8 +18.89 Stockfish 31.Qf5+ 31. e5 Qd4 32. Qf5+ Kh8 33. Qh5 Kh7 34. e6 Qd5 35. e7 Rg8 36. Qxd5 Rxd5 37. e8=Q Rxe8 38. Rxe8 +22.34 Stockfish 31...Kh8 32.e5 Qc7 33.Qh5 f5 34.Qxh6+ Kg8 35.Rf4 Rg3 36.Qe6+ Rf7 37.Kh2 Rg7 38.Rxf5 Qe7 39.Qc8+ Qf8 40.Qxf8+

30...Qd4?? +6.13/25

30...f5 +0.02/23 31.e6 Qc5 32.Qc7+ Kg8 33.h5 33. axb5 axb5 34. Qf4 Kg7 35. Rf3 Qe7 36. Rfe3 Rd5 37. Ra3 Rd3 = Stockfish 33...Qd5 34.Kh2 Rd4 35.Rf4 Rd2 36.Rf2 Rxf2 37.Qg3+ Kh8 38.Qxf2 Re8

31.Re4 Qd8

32.Qf5? +1.21/22

32.Qg4+ +5.64/22 32...Kh7 33.e6 33. Rxf6 Rxf6 34. exf6 Qxf6 35. Re8 h5 36. Qxh5+ Kg7 37. Qh8+ Kg6 38. h5+ Kg5 39. Rg8+ Kf5 40. g4+ Ke6 41. Re8+ Kd7 42. Qxf6 Kxe8 +24.99 Stockfish 33...Qe7 34.Qf5+ Kh8 35.Qg6 Qg7 36.e7 Rg8 37.Qxg7+ Kxg7 38.Rg4+ Kf7 39.Rxg8 Kxe7 40.Rg7+ Ke6 41.Rg6 Ke5 42.Rxh6 Rd4 43.Rh8 c3 44.bxc3 Rxa4 45.h5 Rh4+ 46.Kg1 a5

32...Rd7?? +10.05/25

32...Rg3 +1.21/22 33.Rff4 Kh8 33...Qd5 34. Rg4+ Rxg4 35. Qxg4+ Kh8 36. Qg6 f5 37. Qxh6+ Kg8 38. Re3 +7.71 Stockfish 34.Rd4 Qe8 35.exf6 35. e6 Qg6 36. e7 Rg8 37. Qxg6 R3xg6 38. Rd8 Kh7 39. e8=Q Rxe8 40. Rxe8 +22.89 Stockfish 35...c5 36.Rd7 Qg6 37.Qxg6 Rxg6 38.Rd6 b4 39.Rxa6 c3 40.bxc3 bxc3 41.a5 c2 42.Rc4 Rgxf6 43.Rxf6 Rxf6 44.Rxc2 Rc6 45.Rc4 h5 46.g3 Kg7 47.Kh2 Kf7 48.Kg2 Ke7

33.exf6+ Kh8

33...Kg8 34.Qg6+ Kh8 35.Rd4 Rg8 36.Qh5 Qe8 37.Qxe8 Rxe8 38.Rxd7 Stockfish says that Black will be mated on move 57.

34.Qg6?! +6.30/25

34.Re7 Rxe7 35.fxe7 Qxe7 36.Qxf8+ Qxf8 37.Rxf8+ Stockfish sees mate on move 56

34...Rh7? +23.43/26

34...c5 +6.30/25 35.Rf5 35. Qxh6+ Rh7 36. Qg5 bxa4 37. Qxc5 Qc8 38. Qd4 Qd8 39. Qxc4 +16.83 Stockfish 35...Rd1+ 36.Kh2 Qc7+ 37.Ref4 Qh7 38.Qg7+ Qxg7 39.fxg7+ Kxg7 40.Rxf8 Rd7 41.R8f5 Rb7 42.Rxc5 Rb6 43.h5

35.f7 It's time for a new master to close the deal.

35…a5

36.Re8 Qxh4+

37.Kg1 Qd4+

38.Rf2 Qg7

39.Rxf8+ Qxf8

40.Qf6+ 1-0

[Event "Continental Open"]

[Site "Sturbridge, MA"]

[Date "2022.07.25"]

[Round "?"]

[White "Brandon M. Wang"]

[Black "Evan Ling"]

[Result "1-0"]

[BlackElo "2175"]

[ECO "D02"]

[WhiteElo "2217"]

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Bf4 dxc4 6.e4 Bb4 7.Qc2 b5 8.a4 c6

9.Be2 Bb7 10.O-O a6 11.Bg5 ( 11.b3 cxb3 12.Qxb3 Bxc3 13.Qxc3 Nxe4 14.Qc2 Nef6

15.Bd6 Nb6 16.Bc5 Nfd7 17.Ne5 Nxc5 18.Qxc5 Nxa4 19.Rxa4 bxa4 20.Bf3

{ -0.36 Stockfish } ) 11...h6 12.Bh4 ( 12.Bd2 Bxc3 13.Bxc3 c5 14.axb5 axb5

15.b4 Bxe4 16.Qb2 cxd4 17.Nxd4 { -1.61 Stockfish } ) 12...Be7 13.Rad1 (

13.h3 O-O 14.Rad1 Nh5 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Qc1 Nhf6 17.Nh2 e5 18.dxe5 Qxe5

{ -1.35 Stockfish } ) 13...O-O 14.Ne5 ( 14.Nd2 Nh7 15.Bg3 Qb6 16.Kh1 Rac8

17.f3 Nhf6 18.b3 cxb3 19.Nxb3 Nh5 20.Bf2 { -1.37 Stockfish } ) 14...Nxe5

15.Bxf6 gxf6 ( 15...Ng6 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.Qc1 Rad8 18.Qe3 Rd7 19.Rd2 Rfd8

20.Rfd1 Qg5 { -2.39 Stockfish } ) 16.dxe5 Qc7 17.exf6 ( 17.f4 fxe5 18.f5 Bg5

19.Kh1 Rad8 20.fxe6 fxe6 21.Bg4 Rxf1+ 22.Rxf1 Qe7 { -2.89 Stockfish } )

17...Bxf6 18.Qc1 Kg7 19.Bg4 ( 19.Qe3 Rad8 20.Qc5 Rxd1 21.Rxd1 Rd8 22.Rxd8

Bxd8 23.g3 Bf6 24.axb5 axb5 { -3.08 Stockfish } ) 19...Rad8 20.Rde1 e5 (

20...b4 21.Ne2 c5 22.Ng3 Kh7 23.Re2 Rg8 24.Bh5 Rd4 25.Rc2 Bxe4 26.Nxe4 Rxe4

27.Rxc4 Bd4 { -3.80 Stockfish } ) 21.Ne2 Bg5 22.f4 ( 22.Qb1 Rd3 23.Ng3 Rfd8

24.Nf5+ Kh7 25.Be2 Rd2 26.h4 Bf6 27.Rd1 Bc8 28.Rxd2 Rxd2 29.Rd1 Qd8 30.g3

Rxd1+ 31.Qxd1 Qxd1+ 32.Bxd1 Be6 { -3.00 Stockfish } ) 22...exf4 23.Qc3+ $6 (

23.Nxf4 Qe5 24.Bf5 Rd6 25.Qe3 Qd4 26.e5 Qxe3+ 27.Rxe3 Rd4 28.Nh5+ Kh8

{ -3.62 Stockfish } ) 23...f6 $2 { 0.00/22 } ( 23...Kg8 { -1.60/22 } 24.Qh3

Qe5

{ 24...Rfe8 25. Nc3 Bc8 26. Bxc8 Qxc8 27. Qh5 Qc7 28. Kh1 Qe5 29. axb5 axb5

30. h4 Bf6 -5.77 Stockfish } 25.Qh5 Qxb2 26.h4 Bf6 27.Qxh6 Bg7 ) 24.h4 $2

{ -1.17/21 } ( 24.Nd4 { 0.00/22 } 24...Qb6 25.Rd1 Kg8 26.Kh1 c5 27.Ne6 Rxd1

28.Rxd1 Bc8 29.Qh3 Bxe6 30.Bxe6+ Kh8 31.Qg4 Rd8 32.Rxd8+ Qxd8 33.h4

{ 33.Bd5 = Stockfish } 33...f3 34.hxg5 fxg2+ 35.Kxg2 Qd2+ 36.Kh3 Qd3+ 37.Kh2

Qd2+ 38.Kh3 ) 24...Rd3 $6 { -0.82/24 } ( 24...Bxh4 { -1.17/21 } 25.Nxf4 Bc8

26.Bxc8 Qxc8 27.Re3

{ 27. g3 Bg5 28. e5 Bxf4 29. exf6+ Kh8 30. f7+ Kh7 31. Rxf4 Rd3 32. Qc2

-2.67 Stockfish } 27...Qg4 28.Rh3

{ 28. axb5 axb5 29. Ref3 Rfe8 30. Qe3 Kh7 31. b3 f5 32. e5 cxb3 33. Qxb3

Rxe5 -4.72 Stockfish } 28...Kh7 29.Qc2 Kg8 30.Ng6 Qxg6 31.Rxh4 Rd3 32.Rhf4

Rg3 33.Rf5 Rg5 34.R5f2 Kh7 35.Rd2 Re5 ) 25.Qc1 ( 25.Qc2 h5 26.Bf5 Bh6 27.e5

Rd5 28.Nxf4 Bxf4 29.Rxf4 Rxe5 30.Rd1 { -1.46 Stockfish } ) 25...Qb6+ $6

{ -0.35/21 } ( 25...Bc8 { -0.65/22 } 26.hxg5 hxg5 27.Bxc8

{ 27. Nxf4 gxf4 28. Qxf4 Qxf4 29. Rxf4 Rd4 30. Bxc8 Rxc8 -3.70 Stockfish }

27...Rxc8 28.Nc3

{ 28. a5 Rh8 29. Nxf4 gxf4 30. Qxf4 Qxf4 31. Rxf4 Re8 32. Re2 Re5 -5.21

Stockfish } 28...Qe5

{ 28... Qa7+ 29. Rf2 Re8 30. axb5 axb5 31. Ne2 Rxe4 32. Kf1 Ree3 -7.36

Stockfish } 29.axb5 Rh8 30.Rf2 f3 31.gxf3 Qg3+ 32.Rg2 Qh4 33.Kf1 ) 26.Kh1 Bc8

$2 { +1.75/22 } ( 26...Qc7 { -0.35/20 } 27.Rf3

{ 27. Nxf4 Bxf4 28. Rxf4 Qe5 29. Ref1 c5 30. Qe1 c3 31. bxc3 Qxc3 -0.08

Stockfish } 27...Qe5

{ 27... Qd6 28. axb5 cxb5 29. hxg5 hxg5 30. Ng1 Rh8+ 31. Rh3 Rhxh3+ 32.

Bxh3 Qd4 -0.70 Stockfish } 28.hxg5 hxg5 29.Ng1 Bc8 30.Bxc8 Rxc8 31.Rh3

{ 31. Rxd3 cxd3 32. Nf3 Rh8+ 33. Kg1 Qe7 = Stockfish } 31...g4 32.Rh2 Rcd8 )

( 26...Qc5 27.Nxf4 Bxf4 28.Rxf4 Qe5 29.Ref1 c5 30.Qe1 c3 31.bxc3 Qxc3 32.Qxc3

Rxc3 33.e5 Rc2 34.exf6+ Rxf6 35.Rxf6 Bxg2+ 36.Kg1 Bxf1 37.Rxf1 Rc4

{ -0.06 Stockfish } ) 27.Bxc8 Rxc8 ( 27...f3 28.hxg5 hxg5 29.gxf3 Rxc8 30.Ng3

Rh8+ 31.Kg2 Kg6 32.Nf5 Qa5 33.Re2 Qc7 34.Rh1 Rdd8 { +4.58 Stockfish } )

28.Nxf4 Bxf4 29.Qxf4 Rf8 ( 29...Qd8 30.Qg4+ Kh8 31.Qh5 Rd7 32.e5 Qe8 33.Qxh6+

Rh7 34.Qxf6+ Kg8 35.Rf5 Rg7 36.Rg5 Rc7 37.e6 Rxg5 38.Qxg5+ Rg7 39.Qf4 Qg6

40.Qf3 { +8.72 Stockfish } ) 30.e5 $2 { +0.02/23 } ( 30.Qg4+ { +1.53/23 }

30...Kh7

{ 30...Kh8 31. e5 Qd4 32. Qh5 Kh7 33. e6 Qd5 34. e7 Rg8 35. Qxd5 Rxd5 36.

e8=Q Rxe8 37. Rxe8 +18.89 Stockfish } 31.Qf5+

{ 31. e5 Qd4 32. Qf5+ Kh8 33. Qh5 Kh7 34. e6 Qd5 35. e7 Rg8 36. Qxd5 Rxd5

37. e8=Q Rxe8 38. Rxe8 +22.34 Stockfish } 31...Kh8 32.e5 Qc7 33.Qh5 f5

34.Qxh6+ Kg8 35.Rf4 Rg3 36.Qe6+ Rf7 37.Kh2 Rg7 38.Rxf5 Qe7 39.Qc8+ Qf8

40.Qxf8+ ) 30...Qd4 $4 { +6.13/25 } ( 30...f5 { +0.02/23 } 31.e6 Qc5 32.Qc7+

Kg8 33.h5

{ 33. axb5 axb5 34. Qf4 Kg7 35. Rf3 Qe7 36. Rfe3 Rd5 37. Ra3 Rd3 =

Stockfish } 33...Qd5 34.Kh2 Rd4 35.Rf4 Rd2 36.Rf2 Rxf2 37.Qg3+ Kh8 38.Qxf2

Re8 ) 31.Re4 Qd8 32.Qf5 $2 { +1.21/22 } ( 32.Qg4+ { +5.64/22 } 32...Kh7 33.e6

{ 33. Rxf6 Rxf6 34. exf6 Qxf6 35. Re8 h5 36. Qxh5+ Kg7 37. Qh8+ Kg6 38. h5+

Kg5 39. Rg8+ Kf5 40. g4+ Ke6 41. Re8+ Kd7 42. Qxf6 Kxe8 +24.99 Stockfish }

33...Qe7 34.Qf5+ Kh8 35.Qg6 Qg7 36.e7 Rg8 37.Qxg7+ Kxg7 38.Rg4+ Kf7 39.Rxg8

Kxe7 40.Rg7+ Ke6 41.Rg6 Ke5 42.Rxh6 Rd4 43.Rh8 c3 44.bxc3 Rxa4 45.h5 Rh4+

46.Kg1 a5 ) 32...Rd7 $4 { +10.05/25 } ( 32...Rg3 { +1.21/22 } 33.Rff4 Kh8

{ 33...Qd5 34. Rg4+ Rxg4 35. Qxg4+ Kh8 36. Qg6 f5 37. Qxh6+ Kg8 38. Re3

+7.71 Stockfish } 34.Rd4 Qe8 35.exf6

{ 35. e6 Qg6 36. e7 Rg8 37. Qxg6 R3xg6 38. Rd8 Kh7 39. e8=Q Rxe8 40. Rxe8

+22.89 Stockfish } 35...c5 36.Rd7 Qg6 37.Qxg6 Rxg6 38.Rd6 b4 39.Rxa6 c3

40.bxc3 bxc3 41.a5 c2 42.Rc4 Rgxf6 43.Rxf6 Rxf6 44.Rxc2 Rc6 45.Rc4 h5 46.g3

Kg7 47.Kh2 Kf7 48.Kg2 Ke7 ) 33.exf6+ Kh8 ( 33...Kg8 34.Qg6+ Kh8 35.Rd4 Rg8

36.Qh5 Qe8 37.Qxe8 Rxe8 38.Rxd7

{ Stockfish says that Black will be mated on move 57. } ) 34.Qg6 $6

{ +6.30/25 } ( 34.Re7 Rxe7 35.fxe7 Qxe7 36.Qxf8+ Qxf8 37.Rxf8+

{ Stockfish sees mate on move 56 } ) 34...Rh7 $2 { +23.43/26 } ( 34...c5

{ +6.30/25 } 35.Rf5

{ 35. Qxh6+ Rh7 36. Qg5 bxa4 37. Qxc5 Qc8 38. Qd4 Qd8 39. Qxc4 +16.83

Stockfish } 35...Rd1+ 36.Kh2 Qc7+ 37.Ref4 Qh7 38.Qg7+ Qxg7 39.fxg7+ Kxg7

40.Rxf8 Rd7 41.R8f5 Rb7 42.Rxc5 Rb6 43.h5 ) 35.f7

{ It's time for a new master to close the deal. } 35...a5 36.Re8 Qxh4+ 37.Kg1

Qd4+ 38.Rf2 Qg7 39.Rxf8+ Qxf8 40.Qf6+ 1-0

Alan Lasser

blacklightmazes@icloud.com

website: blacklightmazes.com

CHESS by SM Rick Bauer, ConnMan

noreply@blogger.com (Connecticut Chess Magazine by Rob Roy) — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 20:25:00 +0000

People like to debate the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT), so who is the Greatest Connecticut player Of All Time (GCOAT)? Based on a lifetime body of work, it is definitely GM Sergey Kudrin. Despite being "semi-retired" he is the current state champion AND Senior champion, both of which he has won many times. He won the US Open in 1984 and 2007, an impressive span of years.

A July event at Sacred Heart University showcased his talents as a speaker. The audience was enthusiastic and highly engaged when he started with questions. For example:

Has the Dragon ever been refuted? Many times, but always revived.

Were you once the world's leading Sicilian Dragon player? Yes.

Prior to his Simultaneous Exhibition, he presented his two favorite games, both from 1984, the year he achieved his GrandMaster (GM) title. In one he goes toe to toe with former World Champion Mikhail Tal, in the other his final attack seems to perplex Stockfish! I have added some of his comments (SK) and some of my own (ConnMan). Note that this week's games are at the top of the study, with previous weeks listed below.

https://lichess.org/study/taIJzUtz

Members of the USCF

(U. S. Chess Federation)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2429314582

GAME OF THE WEEK, by Alan Lasser

noreply@blogger.com (Connecticut Chess Magazine by Rob Roy) — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 23:36:00 +0000

It’s almost the fiftieth anniversary of the most dramatic game from the Fischer-Spassky match. You won’t find this one in the collections of Fischer’s top games; the positions are complicated and intense, neither player can find the best moves. As I remember 1972, we chess fans knew that our guy was crazy and there was always the chance that his insanity would prevent him from winning the title. He forfeited the second game of the match like he didn’t even care. Nobody does that in a world championship match where every point is precious. Similarly confounding, he previously withdrew from the interzonal tournament while he was leading. There was no guaranty that Fischer would complete the match; even if he was winning, any perceived slight could drive him over the edge. Could he really become the first American to win the World Chess Championship? The thirteenth match game features an unusual unbalanced position, and the desperate Spassky couldn’t find the moves to hold back the final charge of the pawns. Fischer’s victory put him up by three games and took the fight out of his opponent, the remaining games of the match seemed merely played out for the inevitable result.

GM Boris Spassky-GM Robert James Fischer

8/10/72

Game 13

World Championship MAtch

Reykjavik, Iceland

1.e4 Nf6

2.e5 Nd5

3.d4 d6

4.Nf3 g6

5.Bc4 Nb6

6.Bb3 Bg7

7.Nbd2 O-O

8.h3?! +0.10/24

8.exd6 +0.46/22 8...exd6 9.O-O Nc6 10.c3 Re8 11.Re1 Rxe1+

8…a5

9.a4 dxe5

10.dxe5 Na6

11.O-O Nc5

12.Qe2 Qe8

13.Ne4 Nbxa4

14.Bxa4 Nxa4

15.Re1 Nb6

16.Bd2 a4

17.Bg5 h6

18.Bh4 Bf5

19.g4?! -0.73/23

19.Nd4 -0.32/22 19...Bxe4 20.Qxe4 c5 21.Nf3 Qd7 22.Rad1 Qc7 22...Qe6 23. Qxb7 g5 24. Bg3 Nc4 25. b3 Na5 26. Qd7 axb3 27. cxb3 Nxb3 28. Qxe6 fxe6 -1.00 Stockfish 23.c4 Rfd8 24.Rb1 Rd7 25.e6 f5 26.Qc2 Rdd8 27.Bg3 Qc6 28.Be5 Bxe5

19…Be6

20.Nd4

20.Qd3 Rd8 21.Qc3 Nc4 22.b3 axb3 23.cxb3 Nd6 24.Nxd6 cxd6 25.Qb4 Rd7 -1.65 Stockfish

20...Bc4

20...Bxe5 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.c3 Ra5 -2.12 according to Stockfish, but the doubled e-pawns are likely to require some defending.

21.Qd2 Qd7 Stockfish still wants to take the pawn, 21.Bxe5 22. Nc5 Bxd4 23. Qxd4 g5 24. Bg3 Rd8 25. Qe4 Qb5 26. Nxa4 Nxa4 27. b3 Bd5 28. Qxa4 Qxa4 29. bxa4 -1.22 Stockfish

21...Bxe5 22.Nc5 Bxd4 23.Qxd4 g5 24.Bg3 Rd8 25.Qe4 Qb5 Stockfish still takes the pawn -1.23

22.Rad1 Rfe8?! 0.00/22

22...Rfd8 -0.64/22 23.f4 23. Qc1 Bd5 24. e6 Qe8 25. Nc5 f5 26. Bg3 Bc6 27. Nd7 Nxd7 28. exd7 Rxd7 29. Be5 Bxe5 30. Rxe5 -0.52 Stockfish 23...a3 24.bxa3 Rxa3 25.Kh2 Rda8 26.Nc5 Qe8 27.Nxb7

22...Bd5 23.Nf6+ exf6 24.exf6 Rfe8 24...Bh8 25. Re7 Qd6 26. Nf5 gxf5 27. Qxh6 Rfe8 28. gxf5 Rxe7 29. Qg5+ Kh7 30. Qh5+ Kg8 31. Qg4+ Kh7 = 25.fxg7 Kxg7 26.Nf3 Rxe1+ 27.Rxe1 Re8 -0.75 Stockfish

23.f4?! -0.77/23

23.b3 0.00/22 23...axb3 23...c5 24. Nxc5 Qc7 25. Qb4 Rec8 26. Ne4 Bd5 27. e6 Bxe6 28. c4 axb3 29. Nxe6 fxe6 +0.06 Stockfish 24.cxb3 Bd5 25.Nc5 Qd8 26.e6 Qd6 27.Qc1 Be5 28.Nf3 Bg7 29.Nd4

23...Bd5

23...a3 24.b3 c5 25.Nxc5 Qc7 26.Ne4 Bd5 27.Nb5 Qc8 28.c4 Bxe4 29.Rxe4 Nd7 30.Qxd7 Qxd7 31.Rxd7 a2 32.Re1 a1=Q 33.Rxa1 Rxa1+ 34.Kf2 -0.43 Stockfish

24.Nc5 Qc8

25.Qc3

25.e6 Nc4 26.Qe2 Ra5 27.b4 Rxc5 28.bxc5 fxe6 29.f5 e5 30.Nb5 c6 31.Nc3 gxf5 32.gxf5 Qxf5 33.Nxd5 cxd5 34.Rxd5 Qf4 = Stockfish

25...e6

25...a3 26.bxa3 c6 27.Qd3 Na4 28.Nxa4 Rxa4 29.f5 Bc4 30.Qe4 g5 31.Bf2 Rxa3 -1.77 Stockfish

26.Kh2

26.Nb5 Nc4 27.Ne4 a3 28.Nxa3 Nxa3 29.bxa3 Ra4 30.Rd4 Qa8 31.Rxa4 Qxa4 -1.21 Stockfish

26...Nd7

26...c6 27.Bf2 Qc7 28.Ra1 Red8 29.Nd3 Nd7 30.Nb4 Rdc8 31.Re2 Nb6 32.Nxd5 Nxd5 -.2.60 Stockfish

27.Nd3?! -1.49/25

27.Nb5 -0.90/24 27...Nxc5 28.Qxc5 Ra5 29.c4 Bc6 30.Qb4 b6 31.Nd4 Qb7 Stockfish spots a much stronger line -2.62 here. 31...Qa8 32. Qa3 Bf8 33. Qd3 a3 34. b3 Be7 35. Bxe7 Rxe7 36. Nxc6 Qxc6 32.Rd2 Bf8 33.Qc3 a3 34.b3 Rea8 35.Ra2 Be8

27.Nxd7 Qxd7 28.Qd3 Ra5 29.Bf6 Bxf6 30.exf6 Qd6 31.Qe3 b5 32.h4 a3 33.bxa3 Rxa3 34.Qe5 Rc3 35.Qxd6 cxd6 -1.91 Stockfish

27…c5

28.Nb5 Qc6

29.Nd6 Qxd6

30.exd6 Bxc3

31.bxc3 f6

32.g5

32.Ra1 g5 33.Bf2 b6 34.h4 gxh4 35.Ra3 Kf7 36.Bxh4 Rg8 -4.82 Stockfish

32.Bf2 b6 33.g5 hxg5 34.fxg5 Kf7 35.gxf6 e5 36.Bg3 Bf3 37.Ra1 e4 -4.82 Stockfish

32...hxg5?! -1.91/28

32...c4 -2.28/27 33.Nb4 hxg5 34.fxg5 f5 35.Nxd5 exd5 36.Rxe8+ Rxe8 37.Rxd5 Ra8 37...Re2 38.Kg1 Rc2 39.Ra5 Rc3 40.Ra4 Kf7 41.Be1 Bc1 -6.64 Stockfish 38.Bf2 a3 39.Rd1 Kf7 40.h4 a2 41.Ra1 Ke6 42.Kg3 Kxd6 43.h5

32...Bf3 33.Ra1 c4 34.Nb2 b5 35.gxf6 Kf7 36.Bf2 Red8 37.Nd1 Nxf6 38.Be3 Rxd6 -5.66 Stockfish

33.fxg5 f5

33...c4 34.Nf4 Bf3 35.Ra1 Kf7 36.gxf6 Bc6 37.Ne2 e5 38.Ng3 Rh8 39.Bg5 Ke6 40.Ne2 Kxd6 41.Rad1+ Kc7 -4.68 Stockfish

34.Bg3 Kf7

34...a3 35.Ne5 Nxe5 36.Bxe5 Red8 37.Rd3 a2 38.c4 Bxc4 39.Rf3 b5 40.Rf4 Ra3 41.Ba1 Kf7 -4.94 Stockfish

35.Ne5+ Nxe5

36.Bxe5 b5

36...Red8 37.c4 The point of this move is to make the passed d-pawn more powerful with the rook behind it. 37...Bxc4 38.h4 a3 39.h5 gxh5 40.g6+ Kxg6 41.Rg1+ Kh6 42.Rg7 Be2 43.Re1 Bg4 44.Re7 f4 45.Bxf4+ Kg6 46.Be5 a2 47.Rg7+ Kh6 48.d7 Ra4 49.Bf6 Rda8 50.Be5 Rd4 51.Bxd4 cxd4 52.Re7 Rd8 53.Ra1 Kg6 54.Rxa2 Kf6 55.Re8 Rxd7 56.Rf8+ Ke5 57.Ra1 Bf5 58.Re8 Kd5 -4.00 Stockfish

37.Rf1

37.c4 Bxc4 38.d7 Red8 39.Bf6 a3 40.Rd6 b4 41.Kg3 a2 42.h4 Bb5 43.Rb6 Bxd7 44.Bxd8 a1=Q 45.Rxa1 Rxa1 46.Bf6 Rd1 -0.12 Stockfish

37...Rh8?! -0.89/29

37...Red8 -1.22/28 38.Rb1 Bc4 39.Rf4 Ke8 40.Rh4 Kd7 41.Rh7+

37...a3 38.Ra1 Rg8 39.Rf4 Ke8 40.Rh4 Kd7 41.Rh7+ Kc6 42.Rc7+ Kb6 43.h4 a2 44.Rh7 f4 45.Bxf4 Rgf8 46.Bg3 Be4 47.d7 Kc6 48.Re7 Bxc2 -4.74 Stockfish

38.Bf6?! -1.17/28

38.Bxh8 -0.89/29 38...Rxh8 39.Rfe1 Rd8 40.Rb1 Rb8 41.Kg3 a3 42.Rbd1 Ra8 43.Kf4 a2 44.h4 Rh8 45.Kg3 Bc4 46.Re5 Rd8 47.Ree1 Bd5 48.Rd2 Re8 49.Rg1 Rh8 50.Re1 Rd8 51.Ra1 Ra8 52.Rdd1 If Spassky goes into this variation, the likely result is a draw, which is bad for his match situation; probably why he doesn't play this line, opting to try and make something of his d-pawn.

38…a3

39.Rf4?! -1.54/29

39.Ra1 -1.13/27 39...a2 40.Rfd1 Rhb8 40...Rhd8 41. Bxd8 Rxd8 42. Rxd5 exd5 43. Rxa2 Rxd6 44. Kg3 Re6 45. Kf2 Rb6 46. Kf3 Ke6 -0.35 Stockfish 41.d7 Rd8 42.Bxd8 Rxd8 43.Rxd5 exd5 44.Rxa2 44. Kg3 Rxd7 45. Rxa2 Re7 46. Kf2 f4 47. Kf3 Re3+ 48. Kxf4 Re4+ 49. Kf3 Rc4 -0.08 Stockfish 44...Rxd7 45.Ra5 Rb7 46.Kg3 Re7 47.Kf3 Re4 48.Rxb5 Rc4 49.Rb3 Ke6 50.Ke2 f4 51.Kd3 Kf5 52.Rb6 Re4 53.Rd6 Re5 54.Rc6 c4+ 55.Kd4 Re6 56.Rc8 Kxg5 57.Kxd5 Re3 58.Rc5 Rxh3 59.Kxc4+ Kg4

39…a2

40.c4 Bxc4

41.d7 Bd5

41...e5 42.Bxe5 Rhd8 43.Bf6 Be2 44.Re1 Rxd7 45.Rxe2 a1=Q 46.Bxa1 Rxa1 47.Rh4 Kg7 48.Rf4 Rad1 49.Rff2 Kf7 50.Kg3 R7d5 51.Re3 Rg1+ 52.Kh2 Rxg5 -6.66 Stockfish

42.Kg3 Ra3+

43.c3 Rha8

44.Rh4 e5

45.Rh7+ Ke6

46.Re7+ Kd6

47.Rxe5 Rxc3+

48.Kf2 Rc2+

49.Ke1 Kxd7

50.Rexd5+ Kc6

51.Rd6+ Kb7

52.Rd7+ Ka6

53.R7d2 Rxd2

54.Kxd2 b4

55.h4 Kb5

56.h5 c4

56...gxh5 57.g6 c4 58.Ra1 h4 59.g7 h3 60.Kc1 h2 61.Kb2 f4 62.Be5 Kc5 63.Bxf4 Re8 64.Rh1 Re2+ 65.Ka1 Rg2 66.Rxh2 Rxg7 67.Kxa2 Ra7+ 68.Kb1 Kd4 -0.15 Stockfish

57.Ra1 gxh5

58.g6 h4

59.g7 h3

60.Be7?! -4.14/31

60.Kc1 -2.50/30 The Hiarcs software comes to the wrong conclusion. Stockfish looks deeper and says that 60.Kc1 was Spassky's first chance to hold the position. 60...h2 61.Kb2 b3 61...f4 62. Be5 Kc5 63. Bxf4 Re8 64. Rh1 Re2+ 65. Ka1 Rg2 66. Rxh2 Rxg7 67. Kxa2 Ra7+ 68. Kb2 c3+ 69. Kb1 Rd7 70. Be5 Kc4 71. Bxc3 bxc3 = Stockfish 62.Be5 Rd8 63.Ka3 Rg8 64.Kb2 f4 65.Rh1 Rd8 66.Bxf4 66. Bd6 f3 67. Bxh2 Rd2+ 68. Ka3 Rg2 69. Be5 f2 70. Rf1 Rg1 71. Ba1 b2 72. Kxb2 Rxf1 73. g8=Q Rb1+ 74. Kc2 Rc1+ 75. Kb2 c3+ 76. Kb3 Rb1+ 77. Kxa2 Rxa1+ 78. Kb3 Rb1+ 79. Kxc3 Rc1+ 80. Kb2 f1=Q 81. Qb8+ Kc6 = Stockfish 66...Kb4 67.Be5 Rd2+ 68.Ka1 Rg2 69.Bd4 Rg4 70.Kb2 Ka4 71.Rxh2 Rxd4 72.g8=Q c3+ 73.Kxc3 a1=Q+ 74.Rb2 Qc1+ 75.Kxd4 Qxb2+ 76.Kc4 Qc2+ 77.Kd4 Qd2+ 78.Kc4 Qc1+ 79.Kd4 b2

60…Rg8

61.Bf8 It looks like five pawns for a rook but the bishop still controls some important squares that could allow White to hold. If it really was the five pawns versus the rook, Black on the move, would win by 61...c3 62.Kd3 h2 63.Kd4 c2 64.Kd3 Ka4 65.Ra2 Kb3 66.Ra1 Kb2 67.Rh1 c1Q 68.Rh2 Kb3 69.Rg2 Qe1 If, in this hypothetical ending, it were White's move instead, the position could be held 62.Ra2 f4 63.Kc1 Kc5 64.Rf2 h2 65.Rxh2 Kd4 66.Rh3 c3 67.Kd1 b3 68.Rf3 b2 69.Kc2 Ke4 70.Rf1(also drawing is71.Rc3 f3 72.Kb2 f2 73.Rc1 Kf3) Ke3 71.Kxc3 Ke2 72.Rb1 f3 73.Rxb2+ Ke3 74.Rc2 f2 75.Rc1 Ke2 76.Kc4 f1=Q

61...h2

61...c3+ 62.Kd3 h2 63.Rf1 f4 64.Rh1 f3 65.Rf1 f2 66.Rd1 c2 67.Rf1 67.Kc2 loses to 67... Kc4 68. Kb2 b3 69. Rc1+ Kd3 70. Rh1 Ke4 71. Rf1 Kf3 72. Bc5 Kg3 73. Bxf2+ Kg2 74. Ra1 Rxg7 75. Kxb3 Rb7+ 76. Kc4 h1=Q 77. Rxh1 Kxh1 67...b3 68.Kc3 Kc6 69.Kxb3 Kd5 70.Kxc2 Ke4 71.Kb2 Ke3 72.Bc5+ Kd3 73.Kxa2 Rxg7 -0.10 Stockfish This is a theoretical draw after the two pawns come off.

62.Kc2 Kc6?? -0.01/30

62...f4 63.Kb2 b3 64.Rf1 Kc6 65.Rd1 f3 66.Rd6+ It is this use of the bishop to protect the rook that allows the position to be held. 66...Kc7 67.Rd1 f2 68.Kc3 Kc8 69.Kb2 Kb7 70.Kc3 Ka6 71.Rd6+ Ka7 72.Rd7+ = Stockfish

63.Rd1?? -4.14/39 A bad evaluation by Hiarcs. As the note to the next move shows, White can still draw.

63.Kb2 -0.01/30 63...b3 64.Rh1 Kd5 64...f4 65. Rxh2 Kd5 66. Rh3 Ke5 67. Ka1 Ke4 68. Rc3 f3 69. Rxc4+ Kd3 70. Rf4 Ke2 71. Re4+ Kd2 72. Rf4 = Stockfish 65.Rxh2 c3+ 66.Ka1 Ke4 67.Rh8 Kd3 68.Rh4 Kd2 69.Rh2+ Ke3 70.Rh8 c2 71.Rh1 Kd2 72.Kb2

63...b3+

63...f4 64.Kb2 b3 65.Rd6+ The bishop helps again! 65...Kb7 66.Rd1 f3 67.Rd7+ Kb8 68.Rd8+ Kc7 69.Rd1 f2 70.Kc3 Kb7 71.Rd7+ Kc8 72.Rd1 Kc7 73.Kb2 Kc6 74.Rd6+ Kb5 75.Rd1 Ka5 76.Rf1 Kb6 = Stockfish

64.Kc3 h1=Q

64...Kb6 65.Rh1 Kc6 66.Kb2 Kd5 67.Rxh2 c3+ 68.Ka1 Ke4 69.Rh8 Kd3 70.Rh4 Kc2 71.Rh2+ Kd1 72.Rh1+ Ke2 73.Rh3 c2 74.Rh2+ Kf1 75.Rh1+ Kg2 76.Rc1 f4 77.Kb2 f3 78.Kxb3 f2 79.Kxa2 f1=Q 80.Rxf1 Kxf1 81.Kb2 c1=Q+ 82.Kxc1 = Stockfish

64...f4 65.Kb2 f3 66.Rd6+ Kc7 67.Rd1 f2 68.Kc3 Kc6 69.Rd6+ Kb5 70.Rd5+ Kb6 71.Rd6+ Ka7 72.Rd1 = Stockfish

65.Rxh1 Kd5

66.Kb2

66.Rd1+ Ke4 67.Re1+ Kf3 68.Kb2 Kg2 69.Rc1 f4 70.Rxc4 f3 71.Rg4+ Kh3 72.Rf4 Kg2 = Stockfish Also a draw is 72...Kg3 73. Rf7 Kg2 74. Bc5 Kh1 75. Ra7 Kg2 76. Kxb3 f2 77. Rxa2 Rxg7 78. Rxf2+

66…f4

67.Rd1+

67.Rh3 Kd4 68.Rf3 c3+ 69.Ka1 c2 70.Rxf4+ Kc3 71.Rf3+ Kd2 72.Ba3 Rxg7 73.Rxb3 c1=Q+ 74.Bxc1+ Kxc1 75.Rb2 = Stockfish

67…Ke4

68.Rc1 Kd3

69.Rd1+?? -15.99/31 This is the blunder that decided the game and, some might say, the match.

69.Rc3+ 0.00/39 69...Kd4 70.Rf3 c3+ 71.Ka1 c2 72.Rxf4+ Kc3 73.Rf3+ Kd2 74.Ba3 Rxg7 75.Rxb3 Rc7 76.Rh3 c1=Q+ 77.Bxc1+ Kxc1 78.Kxa2 Rb7 79.Rh2 Rb5 80.Ka3 Rb6 81.Ra2 Rb7 82.Rh2 Rb5 83.Ra2 Rb7

69…Ke2

70.Rc1 f3

71.Bc5

71.Rxc4 f2 72.Re4+ Kf3 73.Rb4 a1=Q+ 74.Kxa1 f1=Q+ 75.Kb2 Ke3 76.Kxb3 Qd3+ 77.Ka4 Qa6+ 78.Kb3 Kd3 79.Kb2 Qf6+ Black can now give up the rook next 80...Rg7 81.Bg Qg7 and win this well known ending.

71…Rxg7

72.Rxc4 Rd7

73.Re4+ Kf1

74.Bd4 f2

0-1

Unfortunately for Spassky, 75.Rf4 is no defense, 75...Rd4 76.Rd4 Kg2 77.Rg4 Kf3 78.Rg8 f1Q 79.Rf8 Ke2 80.Rf1 Kf1 81.Ka1 Ke2 82.Kb2 Kd3 83.Ka1 Kd4 84.Kb2 a1=Q+ 85.Kxa1 Kc3 86.Kb1 b2 87.Ka2 Kc2 88.Ka3 b1=Q 89.Ka4 Qb6 90.Ka3 Qa5#

[Event "1972 World Championship Match"]

[Site "Rejkavik, Iceland"]

[Date "1972.08.10"]

[Round "13"]

[White "GM Boris Spassky"]

[Black "GM Robert James Fischer"]

[Result "0-1"]

[BlackElo "2785"]

[ECO "B04"]

[WhiteElo "2660"]

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 g6 5.Bc4 Nb6 6.Bb3 Bg7 7.Nbd2 O-O 8.h3 $6

{ +0.10/24 } ( 8.exd6 { +0.46/22 } 8...exd6 9.O-O Nc6 10.c3 Re8 11.Re1 Rxe1+

) 8...a5 9.a4 dxe5 10.dxe5 Na6 11.O-O Nc5 12.Qe2 Qe8 13.Ne4 Nbxa4 14.Bxa4

Nxa4 15.Re1 Nb6 16.Bd2 a4 17.Bg5 h6 18.Bh4 Bf5 19.g4 $6 { -0.73/23 } (

19.Nd4 { -0.32/22 } 19...Bxe4 20.Qxe4 c5 21.Nf3 Qd7 22.Rad1 Qc7

{ 22...Qe6 23. Qxb7 g5 24. Bg3 Nc4 25. b3 Na5 26. Qd7 axb3 27. cxb3 Nxb3

28. Qxe6 fxe6 -1.00 Stockfish } 23.c4 Rfd8 24.Rb1 Rd7 25.e6 f5 26.Qc2 Rdd8

27.Bg3 Qc6 28.Be5 Bxe5 ) 19...Be6 20.Nd4 ( 20.Qd3 Rd8 21.Qc3 Nc4 22.b3 axb3

23.cxb3 Nd6 24.Nxd6 cxd6 25.Qb4 Rd7 { -1.65 Stockfish } ) 20...Bc4 (

20...Bxe5 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.c3 Ra5

{ -2.12 according to Stockfish, but the doubled e-pawns are likely to

require some defending. } ) 21.Qd2 Qd7

{ Stockfish still wants to take the pawn, 21.Bxe5 22. Nc5 Bxd4 23. Qxd4 g5

24. Bg3 Rd8 25. Qe4 Qb5 26. Nxa4 Nxa4 27. b3 Bd5 28. Qxa4 Qxa4 29. bxa4

-1.22 Stockfish } ( 21...Bxe5 22.Nc5 Bxd4 23.Qxd4 g5 24.Bg3 Rd8 25.Qe4 Qb5

{ Stockfish still takes the pawn -1.23 } ) 22.Rad1 Rfe8 $6 { 0.00/22 } (

22...Rfd8 { -0.64/22 } 23.f4

{ 23. Qc1 Bd5 24. e6 Qe8 25. Nc5 f5 26. Bg3 Bc6 27. Nd7 Nxd7 28. exd7 Rxd7

29. Be5 Bxe5 30. Rxe5 -0.52 Stockfish } 23...a3 24.bxa3 Rxa3 25.Kh2 Rda8

26.Nc5 Qe8 27.Nxb7 ) ( 22...Bd5 23.Nf6+ exf6 24.exf6 Rfe8

{ 24...Bh8 25. Re7 Qd6 26. Nf5 gxf5 27. Qxh6 Rfe8 28. gxf5 Rxe7 29. Qg5+

Kh7 30. Qh5+ Kg8 31. Qg4+ Kh7 = } 25.fxg7 Kxg7 26.Nf3 Rxe1+ 27.Rxe1 Re8

{ -0.75 Stockfish } ) 23.f4 $6 { -0.77/23 } ( 23.b3 { 0.00/22 } 23...axb3

{ 23...c5 24. Nxc5 Qc7 25. Qb4 Rec8 26. Ne4 Bd5 27. e6 Bxe6 28. c4 axb3 29.

Nxe6 fxe6 +0.06 Stockfish } 24.cxb3 Bd5 25.Nc5 Qd8 26.e6 Qd6 27.Qc1 Be5

28.Nf3 Bg7 29.Nd4 ) 23...Bd5 ( 23...a3 24.b3 c5 25.Nxc5 Qc7 26.Ne4 Bd5 27.Nb5

Qc8 28.c4 Bxe4 29.Rxe4 Nd7 30.Qxd7 Qxd7 31.Rxd7 a2 32.Re1 a1=Q 33.Rxa1 Rxa1+

34.Kf2 { -0.43 Stockfish } ) 24.Nc5 Qc8 25.Qc3 ( 25.e6 Nc4 26.Qe2 Ra5 27.b4

Rxc5 28.bxc5 fxe6 29.f5 e5 30.Nb5 c6 31.Nc3 gxf5 32.gxf5 Qxf5 33.Nxd5 cxd5

34.Rxd5 Qf4 { = Stockfish } ) 25...e6 ( 25...a3 26.bxa3 c6 27.Qd3 Na4 28.Nxa4

Rxa4 29.f5 Bc4 30.Qe4 g5 31.Bf2 Rxa3 { -1.77 Stockfish } ) 26.Kh2 ( 26.Nb5

Nc4 27.Ne4 a3 28.Nxa3 Nxa3 29.bxa3 Ra4 30.Rd4 Qa8 31.Rxa4 Qxa4

{ -1.21 Stockfish } ) 26...Nd7 ( 26...c6 27.Bf2 Qc7 28.Ra1 Red8 29.Nd3 Nd7

30.Nb4 Rdc8 31.Re2 Nb6 32.Nxd5 Nxd5 { -.2.60 Stockfish } ) 27.Nd3 $6

{ -1.49/25 } ( 27.Nb5 { -0.90/24 } 27...Nxc5 28.Qxc5 Ra5 29.c4 Bc6 30.Qb4 b6

31.Nd4 Qb7

{ Stockfish spots a much stronger line -2.62 here. 31...Qa8 32. Qa3 Bf8 33.

Qd3 a3 34. b3 Be7 35. Bxe7 Rxe7 36. Nxc6 Qxc6 } 32.Rd2 Bf8 33.Qc3 a3 34.b3

Rea8 35.Ra2 Be8 ) ( 27.Nxd7 Qxd7 28.Qd3 Ra5 29.Bf6 Bxf6 30.exf6 Qd6 31.Qe3 b5

32.h4 a3 33.bxa3 Rxa3 34.Qe5 Rc3 35.Qxd6 cxd6 { -1.91 Stockfish } ) 27...c5

28.Nb5 Qc6 29.Nd6 $6 Qxd6 30.exd6 Bxc3 31.bxc3 f6 32.g5 ( 32.Ra1 g5 33.Bf2 b6

34.h4 gxh4 35.Ra3 Kf7 36.Bxh4 Rg8 { -4.82 Stockfish } ) ( 32.Bf2 b6 33.g5

hxg5 34.fxg5 Kf7 35.gxf6 e5 36.Bg3 Bf3 37.Ra1 e4 { -4.82 Stockfish } )

32...hxg5 $6 { -1.91/28 } ( 32...c4 { -2.28/27 } 33.Nb4 hxg5 34.fxg5 f5

35.Nxd5 exd5 36.Rxe8+ Rxe8 37.Rxd5 Ra8

{ 37...Re2 38.Kg1 Rc2 39.Ra5 Rc3 40.Ra4 Kf7 41.Be1 Bc1 -6.64 Stockfish }

38.Bf2 a3 39.Rd1 Kf7 40.h4 a2 41.Ra1 Ke6 42.Kg3 Kxd6 43.h5 ) ( 32...Bf3

33.Ra1 c4 34.Nb2 b5 35.gxf6 Kf7 36.Bf2 Red8 37.Nd1 Nxf6 38.Be3 Rxd6

{ -5.66 Stockfish } ) 33.fxg5 f5 ( 33...c4 34.Nf4 Bf3 35.Ra1 Kf7 36.gxf6 Bc6

37.Ne2 e5 38.Ng3 Rh8 39.Bg5 Ke6 40.Ne2 Kxd6 41.Rad1+ Kc7 { -4.68 Stockfish }

) 34.Bg3 Kf7 ( 34...a3 35.Ne5 Nxe5 36.Bxe5 Red8 37.Rd3 a2 38.c4 Bxc4 39.Rf3

b5 40.Rf4 Ra3 41.Ba1 Kf7 { -4.94 Stockfish } ) 35.Ne5+ Nxe5 36.Bxe5 b5 (

36...Red8 37.c4

{ The point of this move is to make the passed d-pawn more powerful with

the rook behind it. } 37...Bxc4 38.h4 a3 39.h5 gxh5 40.g6+ Kxg6 41.Rg1+ Kh6

42.Rg7 Be2 43.Re1 Bg4 44.Re7 f4 45.Bxf4+ Kg6 46.Be5 a2 47.Rg7+ Kh6 48.d7 Ra4

49.Bf6 Rda8 50.Be5 Rd4 51.Bxd4 cxd4 52.Re7 Rd8 53.Ra1 Kg6 54.Rxa2 Kf6 55.Re8

Rxd7 56.Rf8+ Ke5 57.Ra1 Bf5 58.Re8 Kd5 { -4.00 Stockfish } ) 37.Rf1 ( 37.c4

Bxc4 38.d7 Red8 39.Bf6 a3 40.Rd6 b4 41.Kg3 a2 42.h4 Bb5 43.Rb6 Bxd7 44.Bxd8

a1=Q 45.Rxa1 Rxa1 46.Bf6 Rd1 { -0.12 Stockfish } ) 37...Rh8 $6 { -0.89/29 }

( 37...Red8 { -1.22/28 } 38.Rb1 Bc4 39.Rf4 Ke8 40.Rh4 Kd7 41.Rh7+ ) (

37...a3 38.Ra1 Rg8 39.Rf4 Ke8 40.Rh4 Kd7 41.Rh7+ Kc6 42.Rc7+ Kb6 43.h4 a2

44.Rh7 f4 45.Bxf4 Rgf8 46.Bg3 Be4 47.d7 Kc6 48.Re7 Bxc2 { -4.74 Stockfish } )

38.Bf6 $6 { -1.17/28 } ( 38.Bxh8 { -0.89/29 } 38...Rxh8 39.Rfe1 Rd8 40.Rb1

Rb8 41.Kg3 a3 42.Rbd1 Ra8 43.Kf4 a2 44.h4 Rh8 45.Kg3 Bc4 46.Re5 Rd8 47.Ree1

Bd5 48.Rd2 Re8 49.Rg1 Rh8 50.Re1 Rd8 51.Ra1 Ra8 52.Rdd1

{ If Spassky goes into this variation, the likely result is a draw, which

is bad for his match situation; probably why he doesn't play this line,

opting to try and make something of his d-pawn. } ) 38...a3 39.Rf4 $6

{ -1.54/29 } ( 39.Ra1 { -1.13/27 } 39...a2 40.Rfd1 Rhb8

{ 40...Rhd8 41. Bxd8 Rxd8 42. Rxd5 exd5 43. Rxa2 Rxd6 44. Kg3 Re6 45. Kf2

Rb6 46. Kf3 Ke6 -0.35 Stockfish } 41.d7 Rd8 42.Bxd8 Rxd8 43.Rxd5 exd5 44.Rxa2

{ 44. Kg3 Rxd7 45. Rxa2 Re7 46. Kf2 f4 47. Kf3 Re3+ 48. Kxf4 Re4+ 49. Kf3

Rc4 -0.08 Stockfish } 44...Rxd7 45.Ra5 Rb7 46.Kg3 Re7 47.Kf3 Re4 48.Rxb5 Rc4

49.Rb3 Ke6 50.Ke2 f4 51.Kd3 Kf5 52.Rb6 Re4 53.Rd6 Re5 54.Rc6 c4+ 55.Kd4 Re6

56.Rc8 Kxg5 57.Kxd5 Re3 58.Rc5 Rxh3 59.Kxc4+ Kg4 ) 39...a2 40.c4 Bxc4 41.d7

Bd5 ( 41...e5 42.Bxe5 Rhd8 43.Bf6 Be2 44.Re1 Rxd7 45.Rxe2 a1=Q 46.Bxa1 Rxa1

47.Rh4 Kg7 48.Rf4 Rad1 49.Rff2 Kf7 50.Kg3 R7d5 51.Re3 Rg1+ 52.Kh2 Rxg5

{ -6.66 Stockfish } ) 42.Kg3 Ra3+ 43.c3 Rha8 44.Rh4 e5 45.Rh7+ Ke6 46.Re7+

Kd6 47.Rxe5 Rxc3+ 48.Kf2 Rc2+ 49.Ke1 Kxd7 50.Rexd5+ Kc6 51.Rd6+ Kb7 52.Rd7+

Ka6 53.R7d2 Rxd2 54.Kxd2 $6 b4 55.h4 Kb5 56.h5 c4 ( 56...gxh5 57.g6 c4 58.Ra1

h4 59.g7 h3 60.Kc1 h2 61.Kb2 f4 62.Be5 Kc5 63.Bxf4 Re8 64.Rh1 Re2+ 65.Ka1 Rg2

66.Rxh2 Rxg7 67.Kxa2 Ra7+ 68.Kb1 Kd4 { -0.15 Stockfish } ) 57.Ra1 gxh5 58.g6

h4 59.g7 h3 60.Be7 $6 { -4.14/31 } ( 60.Kc1

{ -2.50/30 The Hiarcs software comes to the wrong conclusion. Stockfish

looks deeper and says that 60.Kc1 was Spassky's first chance to hold the

position. } 60...h2 61.Kb2 b3

{ 61...f4 62. Be5 Kc5 63. Bxf4 Re8 64. Rh1 Re2+ 65. Ka1 Rg2 66. Rxh2 Rxg7

67. Kxa2 Ra7+ 68. Kb2 c3+ 69. Kb1 Rd7 70. Be5 Kc4 71. Bxc3 bxc3 = Stockfish

} 62.Be5 Rd8 63.Ka3 Rg8 64.Kb2 f4 65.Rh1 Rd8 66.Bxf4

{ 66. Bd6 f3 67. Bxh2 Rd2+ 68. Ka3 Rg2 69. Be5 f2 70. Rf1 Rg1 71. Ba1 b2

72. Kxb2 Rxf1 73. g8=Q Rb1+ 74. Kc2 Rc1+ 75. Kb2 c3+ 76. Kb3 Rb1+ 77. Kxa2

Rxa1+ 78. Kb3 Rb1+ 79. Kxc3 Rc1+ 80. Kb2 f1=Q 81. Qb8+ Kc6 = Stockfish }

66...Kb4 67.Be5 Rd2+ 68.Ka1 Rg2 69.Bd4 Rg4 70.Kb2 Ka4 71.Rxh2 Rxd4 72.g8=Q

c3+ 73.Kxc3 a1=Q+ 74.Rb2 Qc1+ 75.Kxd4 Qxb2+ 76.Kc4 Qc2+ 77.Kd4 Qd2+ 78.Kc4

Qc1+ 79.Kd4 b2 ) 60...Rg8 61.Bf8

{ It looks like five pawns for a rook but the bishop still controls some

important squares that could allow White to hold. If it really was the five

pawns versus the rook, Black on the move, would win by 61...c3 62.Kd3 h2 63.Kd4 c2 64.Kd3 Ka4 65.Ra2 Kb3 66.Ra1 Kb2 67.Rh1 c1Q 68.Rh2 Kb3 69.Rg2 Qe1

If, in this hypothetical ending, it were White's move instead, the position could be held 62.Ra2 f4 63.Kc1 Kc5 64.Rf2 h2 65.Rxh2 Kd4 66.Rh3 c3 67.Kd1 b3 68.Rf3 b2 69.Kc2 Ke4 70.Rf1(also drawing is71.Rc3 f3 72.Kb2 f2 73.Rc1 Kf3) Ke3 71.Kxc3 Ke2 72.Rb1 f3 73.Rxb2+ Ke3 74.Rc2 f2 75.Rc1 Ke2 76.Kc4

f1=Q } 61...h2 ( 61...c3+ 62.Kd3 h2 63.Rf1 f4 64.Rh1 f3 65.Rf1 f2 66.Rd1 c2

67.Rf1

{ 67.Kc2 loses to 67... Kc4 68. Kb2 b3 69. Rc1+ Kd3 70. Rh1 Ke4 71. Rf1 Kf3

72. Bc5 Kg3 73. Bxf2+ Kg2 74. Ra1 Rxg7 75. Kxb3 Rb7+ 76. Kc4 h1=Q 77. Rxh1

Kxh1 } 67...b3 68.Kc3 Kc6 69.Kxb3 Kd5 70.Kxc2 Ke4 71.Kb2 Ke3 72.Bc5+ Kd3

73.Kxa2 Rxg7

{ -0.10 Stockfish This is a theoretical draw after the two pawns come off.

} ) 62.Kc2 Kc6 $4 { -0.01/30 } ( 62...f4 63.Kb2 b3 64.Rf1 Kc6 65.Rd1 f3

66.Rd6+

{ It is this use of the bishop to protect the rook that allows the position

to be held. } 66...Kc7 67.Rd1 f2 68.Kc3 Kc8 69.Kb2 Kb7 70.Kc3 Ka6 71.Rd6+ Ka7

72.Rd7+ { = Stockfish } ) 63.Rd1 $4

{ -4.14/39 A bad evaluation by Hiarcs. As the note to the next move shows,

White can still draw. } ( 63.Kb2 { -0.01/30 } 63...b3 64.Rh1 Kd5

{ 64...f4 65. Rxh2 Kd5 66. Rh3 Ke5 67. Ka1 Ke4 68. Rc3 f3 69. Rxc4+ Kd3 70.

Rf4 Ke2 71. Re4+ Kd2 72. Rf4 = Stockfish } 65.Rxh2 c3+ 66.Ka1 Ke4 67.Rh8 Kd3

68.Rh4 Kd2 69.Rh2+ Ke3 70.Rh8 c2 71.Rh1 Kd2 72.Kb2 ) 63...b3+ ( 63...f4

64.Kb2 b3 65.Rd6+ { The bishop helps again! } 65...Kb7 66.Rd1 f3 67.Rd7+ Kb8

68.Rd8+ Kc7 69.Rd1 f2 70.Kc3 Kb7 71.Rd7+ Kc8 72.Rd1 Kc7 73.Kb2 Kc6 74.Rd6+

Kb5 75.Rd1 Ka5 76.Rf1 Kb6 { = Stockfish } ) 64.Kc3 h1=Q $4 ( 64...Kb6 65.Rh1

Kc6 66.Kb2 Kd5 67.Rxh2 c3+ 68.Ka1 Ke4 69.Rh8 Kd3 70.Rh4 Kc2 71.Rh2+ Kd1

72.Rh1+ Ke2 73.Rh3 c2 74.Rh2+ Kf1 75.Rh1+ Kg2 76.Rc1 f4 77.Kb2 f3 78.Kxb3 f2

79.Kxa2 f1=Q 80.Rxf1 Kxf1 81.Kb2 c1=Q+ 82.Kxc1 { = Stockfish } ) ( 64...f4

65.Kb2 f3 66.Rd6+ Kc7 67.Rd1 f2 68.Kc3 Kc6 69.Rd6+ Kb5 70.Rd5+ Kb6 71.Rd6+

Ka7 72.Rd1 { = Stockfish } ) 65.Rxh1 Kd5 66.Kb2 ( 66.Rd1+ Ke4 67.Re1+ Kf3

68.Kb2 Kg2 69.Rc1 f4 70.Rxc4 f3 71.Rg4+ Kh3 72.Rf4 Kg2

{ = Stockfish Also a draw is 72...Kg3 73. Rf7 Kg2 74. Bc5 Kh1 75. Ra7 Kg2

76. Kxb3 f2 77. Rxa2 Rxg7 78. Rxf2+ } ) 66...f4 67.Rd1+ ( 67.Rh3 Kd4 68.Rf3

c3+ 69.Ka1 c2 70.Rxf4+ Kc3 71.Rf3+ Kd2 72.Ba3 Rxg7 73.Rxb3 c1=Q+ 74.Bxc1+

Kxc1 75.Rb2 { = Stockfish } ) 67...Ke4 68.Rc1 Kd3 69.Rd1+ $4

{ -15.99/31 This is the blunder that decided the game and, some might say,

the match. } ( 69.Rc3+ { 0.00/39 } 69...Kd4 70.Rf3 c3+ 71.Ka1 c2 72.Rxf4+ Kc3

73.Rf3+ Kd2 74.Ba3 Rxg7 75.Rxb3 Rc7 76.Rh3 c1=Q+ 77.Bxc1+ Kxc1 78.Kxa2 Rb7

79.Rh2 Rb5 80.Ka3 Rb6 81.Ra2 Rb7 82.Rh2 Rb5 83.Ra2 Rb7 ) 69...Ke2 70.Rc1 f3

71.Bc5 ( 71.Rxc4 f2 72.Re4+ Kf3 73.Rb4 a1=Q+ 74.Kxa1 f1=Q+ 75.Kb2 Ke3 76.Kxb3

Qd3+ 77.Ka4 Qa6+ 78.Kb3 Kd3 79.Kb2 Qf6+

{ Black can now give up the rook next 80...Rg7 81.Bg7 Qg7 and win this well

known ending. } ) 71...Rxg7 72.Rxc4 Rd7 73.Re4+ Kf1 74.Bd4 f2

{ Unfortunately for Spassky, 75.Rf4 is no defense, Black finally plays RXB

to force a queen. 75...Rd4 76.Rd4 Kg2 77.Rg4 Kf3 78.Rg8 f1Q 79.Rf8 Ke2

80.Rf1 Kf1 81.Ka1 Ke2 82.Kb2 Kd3 83.Ka1 Kd4 84.Kb2 a1=Q+ 85.Kxa1 Kc3 86.Kb1 b2 87.Ka2 Kc2 88.Ka3 b1=Q 89.Ka4 Qb6 90.Ka3 Qa5# }

0-1

NEW BRITAIN CHESS CLUB

noreply@blogger.com (Connecticut Chess Magazine by Rob Roy) — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 19:26:00 +0000

This Week’s News Items:

Summer Open 2022 - Register Here
Upcoming Events: Mentor matches & Summer Show-up
July Knockout and Anniversary Tournament Recap
MVL in CT!
Chess at Firefly - 8/8 at 6pm
Upcoming Lectures on “Phases of the Game” - Derek Meredith for 8/9
Saturday Study Group - 5pm Saturday

==================================================================

Summer Open - Sunday August 28th at Wickham Pavilion

It’s time for our annual outdoor tournament - the Summer Open. We will be returning to the beautiful Wickham Park on the last Sunday in August.

==================================================================

Upcoming Events - Mentor Matches & Summer Show-up

Mentor Match - 8/9

We will be trying something new next week - an unrated mentor match. One thing I cherished while growing up was the ability to discuss my game with my opponent after the end of the game. I never encountered anyone saying no to post-game analysis. Even after a tough loss, and maybe even knowing my mistake, I’d still want a discussion with my opponent. Oftentimes, they would point out things I never even considered!

In addition to being educational, it was an opportunity to make new friends and get to know our chess community. At NBCC, there isn’t a tradition of post-game analysis. I see some of the stronger players doing it, but a lot of newer players have never had this opportunity. With this event, we hope to encourage players to take this up!

We will pair a strong player with a weaker player and have the two of them play two games of G/20;d5. After each game, we want the players to spend 10-20 mins talking about the game played in the skittles area, with the stronger player giving insights into the games, and the weaker player asking questions about their moves.

Tuesday, August 9, 2022
Quick time controls: 2 games of G/25;d5
Match Opponent - Pair top and bottom half
Entry Fee: Free for members; $5 for non-members
Prizes: Post-game analysis
Unrated
Regular Ratings used for pairing determination
Registration 7:00-7:15 P.M
Pairings and matches will start at 7:15

Summer Show-up

Summer is a time when many of us can’t commit to multi-week tournaments. The Summer Show-up tournament allows you to get in a classical time control game any of the three weeks you show up.

Tuesday, August 16, 23, 30, 2022
Time controls: G/75;+30; G/60;d5 for Scholastic
Single game each week, pairings will be close in rating
Entry Fee: $5 for all three weeks; $5 per week for non-members
Prizes: Medals
USCF Rated
Regular Ratings used for pairing determination
Registration 7:00-7:15 P.M
Pairings and matches will start at 7:15

==================================================================

July Knockout and Anniversary Tournament Recap

Knockout Tournament

Congrats to Niloy Ray Chauduri for winning the July Knockout. It was an epic final game with FM Nelson Castaneda, which went the distance, where Niloy won the blitz tiebreaker. Congrats also to Joe Bihlmeyer for winning the Swiss portion of the tournament. Results are available on US Chess.

Games played during the Knockout are analyzed on Lichess. If you want to add your games and have them analyzed, join the Saturday Study Group.

Bob’s 35th Anniversary Tournament

Last Tuesday, we celebrated Bob’s 35th anniversary. Congrats to FM Rick Bauer for winning the open section of the tournament. Full results for the open section can be viewed here. Congrats to Yonatan Axelrad for winning the U1600 section of the tournament. In the final round of the tournament, Yonatan bested Bob in a match of youth vs experience to clutch the tournament victory.

==================================================================

MVL in CT!

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave is the current world blitz champion and a top 10 chess player in the world. DIG partnered with Bridgeport to bring MVL to Connecticut on August 19-21th. It will be a festival, with tournaments, simul and lessons from the man with three names! Check out DIG for more information on how you can meet, learn, play in a simul, and maybe even a 1 on 1 blitz match with MVL! Sign up early, as only the first 20 in each section can play in the simul.

There are lots of prizes and the advanced entry list can be viewed here. If you are looking to stay overnight in Bridgeport, DIG negotiated hotel rates of $159 plux tax with Homewood Suites by Hilton Stratford. Reserve before 8/8 for this guaranteed rate. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to interact with the chess elite, here in our backyard! Don’t miss it.

==================================================================

Chess at Firefly

Mark Bourque will be hosting a chess night at Firefly in Bristol. Grab a beer and play some chess. It will start at 6pm on Monday 8/8.

==================================================================

Phases of the Game - NM Derek Meredith

We will chart a different series of lectures for the next few weeks on the phases of the game. Derek, next Tuesday, will continue to cover opening to middlegame phases of the game. We hope to see you by 6:15 PM for the start of the lectures!

==================================================================

Saturday Study Group at 5pm

The Saturday Study group will meet on Saturdays. It will start at 5pm and run for two hours.

Cheers,

Suhas Kodali

President

New Britain Chess Club

newbritainchessclub.com

newbritainchessclub@gmail.com

CHESS by SM Rick Bauer, ConnMan

noreply@blogger.com (Connecticut Chess Magazine by Rob Roy) — Sat, 30 Jul 2022 18:07:00 +0000

The dramatic last-round upset by Niloy Ray Chaudbury over Nelson Castaneda is made even better by Nelson's comments. Two other last-round games, Justin - Jithu, battle of the J's, and Lisa - George Himes.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89546934763...

Knockout/Swiss Games: https://lichess.org/study/3em7x2O3

The Olympiad has started, with the US fielding a powerhouse team. They struggled in their second round. I am not sure of the best way to view this early morning (here) games, so I will wait for advice before providing a link.

I hope to see you at 5,

Rick Bauer "ConnMan" on lichess

GAME OF THE WEEK by Alan Lasser

noreply@blogger.com (Connecticut Chess Magazine by Rob Roy) — Sat, 30 Jul 2022 13:19:00 +0000

They advertise that MVL is going to be playing in a Bridgeport tournament next month. His recent battle of the two knights against the two bishops was played at the “rapid" time limit, game/25 with ten second increments, we can’t expect players to find the best endgame moves under those circumstances. I don’t have the latest endgame table base, but the critical positions look like a draws. Let’s start after 30.Bd1, the White king is on g2, the bishops are on b2 and d1 and pawns are on a2, a3, f2, g3, and h2. Black, on the move, has the king on g7, horses on e7 and c6 and pawns on a7, b7, f6, g6, and h7.

GM Maxime Vachier-LaGarde(2760)-GM Jorden Van Foreest(2678)

7/23/22

GCT Zagreb 2022

1.c4 e6

2.g3 d5

3.Bg2 dxc4

4.Qa4+ Nc6

5.Nf3 Bd6

6.Na3 Bxa3

7.bxa3 Ne7

8.Qxc4 O-O

9.Bb2 Qd6

10.O-O e5

11.d4 Be6

12.dxe5 Bxc4

13.exd6 cxd6

14.Rfe1 Rac8

15.Nd2 Bd5?! +0.38/26

15...Be6 +0.07/23 16.Ne4 d5 17.Nc5 Na5 18.Rac1 Nc4

16.Ne4 Rfd8

17.Red1 Bxe4

18.Bxe4 d5

19.Bf3 f6

20.Bg4 Rc7

21.Rac1 Kf7

22.e4 g6

23.exd5?! +0.27/26

23.a4 +0.72/24 23...f5 24.exf5 gxf5 25.Bh5+ Kg8 26.Be2 Rcd7 27.Re1

23.Rc5 f5 24.exf5 gxf5 25.Bh5+ Kf8 26.Bc1 Kg7 27.a4 Rcd7 28.a5 a6 29.h4 +2.02 Stockfish

23…Rxd5

24.Re1 Rd6

25.Bd1 Nf5

26.Kg2 Re7

27.Bb3+ Kg7

28.Rxe7+ Nfxe7

29.Rd1 Rxd1

30.Bxd1 Ne5

31.Be2

31.a4 The computer thinks the best strategy is to get that double-pawn dead weight moving, which also allows the bishop to go to a3 in some variations. Instead, MVL plays to keep the Black knight from d3. 31...N7c6 The computer thinks that 31...Nd3 is nothing to worry about after 32. Bc3 Nc6 33. a5 Kf7 34. g4 Nc5 35. f3 b5 36. axb6 axb6 37. h4 Ne7 38. Kg3 Nd5 39. Bd2 +1.14 Stockfish 32.Bc3 Kf7 33.a5 Ke7 34.Bb3 Nd7 +0.82 Stockfish

31...g5

31...Nd5 32.Bd4 b6 33.f4 Nc6 34.Bb2 Kf7 35.Bf3 Nce7 36.Kf2 Ke6 37.Ke2 Nf5 +.54 according to Stockfish is the objective evaluation but the position is much harder to play than that. With time running low the prancing knights are all over the center squares just waiting for White to miss some tactic.

32.f4 White should still be trying to push the front a-pawn into action. 32. a4 Kg6 33. Bd1 N7c6 34. Bc3 g4 35. h3 f5 36. hxg4 Nxg4 37. Bb3 Nf6 38. f3 b6 39. Bc4 +1.30 Stockfish

32…gxf4

33.gxf4 N5c6

33...Nd7 34.Kf3 Nc5 35.Bd1 Kf7 36.a4 f5 37.Ba3 b6 38.a5 Ke6 39.axb6 axb6 40.Ke3 Kd5 41.Bc2 b5 42.h3 Stockfish thinks White is ahead by 0.85 but the long analysis doesn't really show a winning plan. The technical difficulty is that White can be left with the wrong bishop for either rook pawn!

34.Kf3

34.Bd3 Kf7 35.Kf3 f5 36.Bc4+ Kg6 37.Be6 Nd8 38.Bb3 Nc8 39.Ke3 Nc6 40.a4 Kh5 41.Be6 N8e7 42.Kf3 Kh4 43.Kg2 Kg4 44.Bc1 Nb4 Stockfish thinks White is winning by 1.27 but the anaysis goes on for another twenty moves and the knights always seem to dance out of trouble. Can a human find those moves? I don't know. Maybe the best human strategy was to exchange a bishop for a knight way back with 31.Be5. That would reduce the opponent's dangerous knight tactics at the cost of possible bishop pressure. Time pressure tends to favor a pair of knights.

34…Kg6

35.Bd3+

35.a4 f5 36.Bc4 Nc8 37.Ke3 Nb6 38.Bb3 Kh5 39.Kf3 Kg6 40.Bc3 Nd7 41.a5 Nf6 42.Ke3 Ng4+ 43.Kd3 Nf2+ If 43...Nh2 White makes progress by 44. Kc4 Ng4 45. Kb5 h5 46. Bd5 Nf6 47. Bxf6 Kxf6 48. a6 Nb8 49. axb7 Ke7 50. Kc5 Kd7 51. Bg2 Kc7 52. Kd5 Kxb7 53. Ke5+ Kc7 54. Kxf5 +1.00 Stockfish 44.Kc4 Ne4 45.Be1 Kf6 46.Ba4 Ke6 47.a6 Nd6+ 48.Kd3 b5 49.Bb3+ Kd7 50.Bd5 Nb8 51.Kd4 Nxa6 52.Bg8 h6 53.Kd5 Nc7+ 54.Ke5 Nc8 55.h4 Ne7 56.Bf7 a5 57.h5 b4 58.Bf2 a4 59.Bc5 Na6 60.Be6+ Kd8 61.Bb6+ Ke8 62.Kf6 b3 63.axb3 a3 64.Bd4 Nc7 65.Bc4 Kd7 66.Be5 Nc6 67.Ba1 Ne7 68.Kg7 Ned5 69.Kxh6 Nxf4 70.Kg5 Nxh5 71.Kxh5 Kd6 At last White has developed a winning position, no more blasted rook pawns, +1.46 according to Stockfish.

35…f5

36.Bc4 Nc8

37.a4

37.Ke3 Nd6 38.Bd5 Ne7 39.Bb3 Nc6 40.Bc3 Ne4 41.Be1 Nc5 +.99 Stockfish but again a winning path is not obvious

37...Nd6

37...Nb6 38.Bb3 Na5 39.Bc2 Nd5 40.Bd3 Nb6 41.Bd4 Nc6 42.Bxb6 axb6 43.Ke3 Kf6 44.Bc4 Ke7 45.Bg8 h6 46.Kd3 Kd6 47.Kc4 Ne7 48.Bf7 Kc6 +.49 Stockfish The pawn on f4 is weak. 49.Bh5 Kd6 50.Kb5 Kc7 51.Be2 Nd5 52.Bd3 Ne7 53.Bb1 Nc6 54.Kc4 Ne7 55.Kd4 Kd6 56.Bc2 Nc6+ 57.Kc4 Ne7 58.Kb5 Kc7

38.Bd5

38.Bb3 Ne4 39.Ke3 Nc5 40.Bd1 Ne4 41.h3 Ne7 42.Be5 Nc6 43.a3 Ng5 44.Bc3 Ne4 +.51 according to Stockfish but really looking very difficult to win.

38…Nb4

39.Bb3

39.Be6 Ne4 40.h4 Nd3 41.Be5 Nec5 42.Bc4 Ne1+ 43.Kf2 Nc2 44.Bb8 a6 45.Ba7 Ne4+ 46.Kg2 Nb4 47.Be6 Kf6 +.11 Stockfish Black is holding.

39...Nc6

39...Ne4 40.Ke3 Nc5 41.Bd1 b6 42.Kd4 Nbd3 43.Bc3 Nf2 44.Bf3 Nxa4 45.Be1 Ne4 46.Bd1 Nac5 = Stockfish

40.Ke3

40.Kf2 Ne4+ 41.Ke3 Nc5 42.Bd1 Ne4 43.h3 Ne7 44.Be5 Nc6 45.Bc2 Nb4 46.Bb3 Nc6 47.a3 Ng5 48.Bb2 Ne4 +0.79 Stockfish

40…Ne4

41.Bd5

41.h3 Nc5 42.Bd1 b6 43.Ba3 Kf7 44.Bf3 Ne7 45.a5 Ke6 46.axb6 axb6 47.Kd4 Kd6 48.Kc4 Ng6 49.Kb5 Kc7 50.Bc1 Ne6 51.Be3 Nexf4 52.Bxb6+ Kb8 53.Bd1 Nxh3 54.Bc2 Ng5 55.Bxf5 Ne7 56.Bg4 Nd5 57.Bd4 Kb7 58.a4 Ne6 59.Be5 Ndc7+ 60.Kc4 Kb6 61.Bg3 Ka6 62.Be2 Kb7 63.Bd3 h6 64.Bf1 Ka6 65.Be2 Kb7 66.Bf3+ Ka6 67.Kb4 Nd4 68.Be4 Nde6 69.Bg2 Kb6 70.a5+ Ka6 71.Bf2 h5 72.Bf1+ Kb7 73.Kc4 Ka6 74.Be1 Ka7 75.Bg3 Ka6 Stockfish has it as +.62 but it looks like a critical position to be analyzed. White to move; king on c4, bishops on f1 and g3, pawn on a5. Black king on a6, horses on c7 and e6, and a pawn on h5. The black pawn prevents a stalemate defense, but if the dark square bishop should be exchanged sometime then it is a wrong rook pawn for the bishop draw. I let Stockfish loose on this. 76.Kb4+ Kb7 77.Bg2+ Ka7 78.Bf2+ Ka6 79.Be3 h4 80.Ka4 Nf8 81.Bf1+ Kb7 82.Bh3 Nfe6 83.Bg2+ Kc8 84.Kb3 Nd8 85.Kb4 Nb7 86.Bh3+ Kb8 87.Bg1 Nd5+ 88.Kb5 Nc7+ 89.Ka4 Nd6 90.Bf2 Kb7 91.Bg2+ Kb8 92.Bxh4 A pawn has finally been captured to reach the next important position. If this can't be won, then the game has probably been a draw most of the time since move 31. The White king is on a4, the bishops are on g2 and h4, and the last pawn on the board is on a5. Black to move has the king on b8 and the horses on c7 and d6. 92...Kc8 93.Bh3+ Kb7 94.Bf1 Kc8 95.Kb4 Kd7 96.Bh3+ Kc6 97.Bg2+ Kd7 98.Bf2 Na6+ 99.Kb3 Nb5 100.Bf1 Kc6 101.Bg1 Nac7 102.Ka4 Kd7 103.Bg2 Nd6 104.Kb3 Kc8 105.Bh3+ Kb7 106.Bh2 Kc6 107.Bg2+ Kd7 108.Kc3 Ndb5+ 109.Kc4 Nd6+ 110.Kd4 Ne6+ 111.Kc3 Nc7 112.Bh3+ Kc6 113.Kb3 Nd5 114.Bg2 Nb5 115.Bg1 Stockfish still evaluates this apparent draw as +0.65

41...Nc5?! +0.31/34

41...Nf6 0.00/32 42.Bxf6 Stockfish prefers 42. Be6 Ng4+ 43. Kd3 Nxh2 44. Bd7 h5 45. Be8+ Kh6 46. Bf6 Ng4 47. Bg5+ Kg7 48. Bxh5 Nf6 49. Bf3 Nd7 50. Bd1 Nc5+ 51. Kc4 Ne4 52. Bh4 Kf7 = 42...Kxf6 43.Kf3 Ke7 44.Kg3 a5 45.Kh4 Kf6 46.Kg3 Nb4 47.Bg8

42.Bb3?! -0.13/31

42.Bxc6 +0.31/34 42...bxc6 43.Bd4 Nxa4 44.Bxa7 Kh5 45.Kd3 Kh4 46.Kc4 Kh3 47.Kd4 Kxh2 47...c5+ 48. Ke5 Kg4 49. h3+ Kf3 50. Kxf5 c4 51. Bd4 c3 52. Bxc3 Nxc3 53. a3 Ne2 54. Kg5 Nxf4 55. Kh6 Nxh3 56. Kxh7 Ke4 = Stockfish 48.Ke5 Nc3 49.Kxf5 Nxa2

42…Nxb3

43.axb3 Kh5

43...a6 44.Bc3 Kh5 45.Kf3 Kh4 46.Kg2 Kg4 47.Be5 Nb4 48.h3+ Kh5 49.Bd4 Kg6 50.Kg3 Nd3 51.Be3 b5 52.axb5 axb5 53.Kh4 Nb4 54.Kg3 Nd5 Stockfish thinks Black is winning now with the good knight to the tune of +0.32

44.Bf6? -2.21/28

44.Kf3 -0.13/34 44...Kh4 46...a6 45. Bc3 Kh4 46. Kg2 Kg4 47. Be5 Nb4 48. h3+ Kh5 49. Bd4 Kg6 50. Kg3 Nd3 51. Be3 b5 52. axb5 axb5 53. Kh4 Nb4 -0.32 Stockfish 45.Kg2 Nb4 46.Bd4 a6 47.h3 b5 48.Be3 Nd3 49.axb5 axb5 50.Kh2 Kh5 51.Kg3 Kg6 52.Kf3 Kf7 53.Ke2 Nb4 54.Bd2 Nc6 55.Bc3 Ke6 56.Kd3 Kd5 57.Bf6 h5 58.Bc3 Nd8 59.Bd2 Ne6

44…Kg4

45.h4?! -3.59/30

45.Bc3 -2.17/30 45...Ne7 45... Kh3 46. Bg7 Kxh2 47. Bh6 a6 48. Kd3 b5 49. Kd2 Kh3 50. Kc2 Kh4 51. Kd3 Kh5 52. axb5 axb5 53. Bg5 Kg4 -10.82 Stockfish 46.Bd2 Nd5+ 47.Kf2 Nxf4 48.b4 Nd3+ 49.Ke2 Ne5 50.Be1 a6 51.Ke3 Ng6 52.Kf2 Nf4 53.Bc3 b5 54.axb5 axb5 55.Bd2 Nh3+ 56.Ke2 f4 57.Bc1 f3+ 58.Ke3 Ng5 59.Kf2 Ne4+ 60.Kf1

45.Kd3 Kxf4 46.Bc3 a6 47.Bd2+ Kf3 48.Be3 f4 49.Bc5 h5 -10.01 Stockfish

45…Nb4

46.Kd4 Yes, this position is winning for Black. I can only guess that the agreed draw had something to do with a time scramble. ½-½

Alan Lasser

blacklightmazes@icloud.com

website: blacklightmazes.com

Bob Cyr 35th Anniversary Aug 2

noreply@blogger.com (Connecticut Chess Magazine by Rob Roy) — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 18:30:00 +0000

BOB CYR'S 35TH NBCC ANNIVERSARY PARTY AND CHESS TOURNAMENT - TUESDAY AUGUST 2, 2022 - ARMENIAN CHURCH OF THE HOLY RESURRECTION

FREE OF CHARGE TO THE NBCC - ALL CHESS PLAYERS ARE WELCOME

1) PIZZA FROM TONY'S PIZZA IN NEW BRITAIN (NEAR THE CCSU CAMPUS) -

PLAIN, MEAT, AND VEGGIE PIZZAS (AT LEAST FIVE LARGE PIZZAS)

LITERS OF SODA (COKE, DIET COKE, GINGER ALE) AND BOTTLED WATER

PARTY WILL START AT 7:00 P.M. AFTER THE LECTURE

2) UNRATED CHESS TOURNAMENT - DIRECTED BY BURTNESS

- TWO SECTIONS (OPEN AND UNDER 1600)

- 4 ROUND SWISS SYSTEM

- G/15; D/5

TOURNAMENT WILL START AT 7:15

NILOY CHAUDHURI WINS 2022 JULY KNOCKOUT - HIS FIRST MAJOR WIN

noreply@blogger.com (Connecticut Chess Magazine by Rob Roy) — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 14:53:00 +0000

To view the 2022 NBCC newsletter as of today, please click on the link below.

NBCCNEWSLETTER2022zzz.pdf (chessct.org)

JULY KNOCKOUT AND SWISS TOURNAMENT OF 2022

The club commenced the month of July with its annual knockout and Swiss tournament. FM Nelson Castaneda, who drafted the format for this event, reprised his role as tournament director. According to the rules for this unique tournament, all players were initially assigned numbers based on rating and were grouped into one section for pairing purposes. The first and all subsequent winners in each round of the knockout event would advance until there was one champion. The losers in each round of the knockout event would be placed into an open Swiss system section. In case of a draw, a two-game blitz match would have to be played to determine the winner of the match. If the draw persisted after the blitz match, then the person who played with black in the classical game would advance. After three rounds, new member Niloy Chaudhuri and Nelson, prior knockout champion, were vying for the title of NBCC Knockout Champion 2022. The battle on the sixty-four squares between the #7 seed and the #1 seed was one for the history books. However, with the game ending up a draw, we went into overtime to break the tie. Because Niloy played as Black against Nelson, he had the advantage in the blitz chess playoff. All Niloy had to do was win one of two games in the playoff to clinch first place. And he did! Niloy is now the NBCC Knockout Champion of 2022! Of historical note, this is his first major tournament win in the club. In the Swiss section, Joseph Bihlmeyer took home the gold. He has won (or tied for first place) in the Swiss section for two consecutive tournaments.

The Championship Round Between Niloy Chaudhuri and Nelson Castaneda

https://connecticutchess.blogspot.com/2022/07/chess-by-sm-rick-bauer-connman.html

CHESS by SM Rick Bauer, "ConnMan"

noreply@blogger.com (Connecticut Chess Magazine by Rob Roy) — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 14:40:00 +0000

A stunning last-round upset resulted in the fourth of four possible champions so far this year at the New Britain Chess Club. Niloy Ray Chaudbury employed a Sveshnikov Sicilian to great effect, both in the tournament game and the following playoff game. Here are both games:

https://lichess.org/study/taIJzUtz

Nelson Castaneda (FM RealAndante on LiChess), with his customary class, has added his comments to the game.

The rating differential would give Niloy only a 10% chance of winning, but his rating is quite suspect. Before joining the club, he had not played tournament chess for over a decade. He grew up in India at a time when the "Anand Boom" must have rivaled our "Fischer Boom" of 30 years prior (1972).

These two games and his previous result in the rapid play show a dramatic improvement.

I hope that you enjoy the games as much as I did.

Rick

ReplyReply allForward

GAME OF THE WEEK by Alan Lasser

noreply@blogger.com (Connecticut Chess Magazine by Rob Roy) — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 14:34:00 +0000

The fiftieth anniversary of the last time an American won the World Chess Championship is a good reason to put some Fischer stuff in this letter. The creation of Fischer-Random may carry the board and pieces well into the future, and his defense against the King's Gambit is still used by grandmasters. This game was recently played in some politically incorrect country, which gives me the chance to nominate Vladimir Putin for the Nobel Prize in Economics. That’s right, Economics, because Putin has provided the answer to the most famous question in that field. Yes, it is better to be a renter.

GM Boris Savchenko(2547)-GM Vladislav Artemiev(2697)

2022 Moscow Open

7/19/22

1.e4 e5

2.f4 exf4

3.Nf3 d6

4.Nc3?! -0.33/22

4.Bc4 -0.02/20 4...Nc6 5.d4 g5 6.d5 Ne5 7.Bb5+ Bd7 8.Bxd7+ Nxd7

4…g5

5.Bc4 Bg7

6.g3?! -0.78/23

6.O-O -0.33/21 6...Nc6 7.Bb5 Nh6 8.d4 O-O 9.Qd3 Bg4 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.h4 f6 12.Qc4+ Nf7 13.Qxc6 Bd7 14.Qc4 Rb8 15.b3 g4 16.Nh2 f3

6…g4

7.Nh4 f3?! -0.44/22

7...Nc6 -0.74/21 8.d3 f3 9.Be3 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Ne5 11.Bb3 Nf6 12.O-O

8.d4 Nc6

9.Be3 Nf6

10.Qd2 Be6

11.Bd3 d5

12.e5 Nd7? +0.80/22

12...Nh5 -0.24/22 13.Nf5 Qd7 14.Nxg7+ Nxg7 15.O-O-O Nf5 16.Bb5 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 a6 18.Bxc6 Qxc6 19.h3 gxh3 20.Rdf1 O-O-O 21.Rxf3 Kb8 22.Kb1 Qc4 23.g4 Bxg4 24.Rxf7 Rde8 25.Rhf1 Be6 26.R7f2 Rhg8

13.Nf5 Bxf5

14.Bxf5 Nb6

15.b3?! +0.66/21

15.Bxg4 +0.98/21 15...Nc4 16.Qf2 Nb4 17.Nd1 O-O 18.O-O c5 19.Bxf3 Qd7 20.dxc5 Rac8 21.Bf4

15…h5

16.Bg5?! +0.31/25

16.h3 +0.77/20 16...Ne7 17.hxg4 Nxf5 18.gxf5

16…f6

17.Bg6+ Kd7

18.Bf5+ Ke8

19.Bg6+ Kd7

20.Bf5+ Ke8

21.Bg6+

½-½

Alan Lasser

blacklightmazes@icloud.com

website: blacklightmazes.com

Re: Saturday Study Group: Knockout R3 and Bradley Open

noreply@blogger.com (Connecticut Chess Magazine by Rob Roy) — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 13:03:00 +0000

I think that the same Zoom link I sent last week will work.

We have the two semifinal games from the knockout, and the full slate of games by Justin Lalor and Norm Burtness to go over. I split the two tournaments apart to avoid confusion:

NBCC Knockout and Swiss: https://lichess.org/study/3em7x2O3

Bradley Open: https://lichess.org/study/Kw7JUaOO

I am also thinking of how to do an informal, "double banter with unlimited" Kibitzing game online. Maybe we can try it out.

Thanks,

Rick

Here is a link to the Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89546934763?pwd=VFk5OUxDU1FrQytHNlNYcTNJS1NRZz09

We have three games from the Knockout and Justin already provided one from his first round at the Bradley Open.

I will put everything in the Knockout Study for now and move things to their proper studies (I promise!) later.

https://lichess.org/study/3em7x2O3

It seems like a very busy Summer weekend but I hope to see some of you later,

Rick

GAME OF THE WEEK by Alan Lasser

noreply@blogger.com (Connecticut Chess Magazine by Rob Roy) — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 16:29:00 +0000

This opening is the specialty of a longtime reader who is known in his chess club as “the Milford Morphy”, so I guess that counts as the last time I saw the Latvian Gambit used by a player with any kind of a title. Then last week an IM tried it against a fourteen year old. White managed to avoid the crazier lines, allowing Black to equalize, so it was another good day for the Gambit. Back at the 1955 US Junior Championships, twelve year old Bobby Fischer lost to the Latvian Gambit of Victor Pupols.

Liran Zhou(2393)-IM Michael Song(2409)

New York Summer A

7/9/22

1.e4 e5

2.Nf3 f5

3.Nxe5 Nf6?! +1.21/25

3...Qf6 +0.92/22 4.d4 d6 5.Nc4 fxe4 6.Nc3 Qg6 7.f3 Be7 8.Ne3 Nc6 9.Nxe4 Nf6 10.Bd3 Qh5 11.O-O O-O 12.Bc4+ Kh8 13.Ng3 Qh4 14.Nef5 Bxf5 15.Nxf5 Qh5 16.Nxe7 Nxe7 17.Re1 Ned5 18.Bd2

4.Bc4 Qe7

5.d4 Nc6

6.Bf7+? +0.17/24

6.Nf7 +1.28/22 6...d5 7.Nxh8 dxc4 8.e5 Nd5 9.Qh5+ g6 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.Qxg6+ Qf7 12.Qxf7+ Kxf7 13.c3 Be7 14.b3 cxb3 15.axb3 b6 16.Ba3 Bg5 17.Nd2 Nxc3 18.Nf3 Bh6 19.Bc1 Bg7 20.Bb2 Nd5 21.O-O Bb7 22.Rfc1 Ke7 23.Ba3+ Kd7

6…Kd8

7.O-O Nxe5

8.dxe5 Qxe5

9.exf5 Bd6

10.g3 Qxf5

11.Nc3 b6

12.Be3 Bb7

13.Bd4 Bf3

14.Qd3 Qxd3

15.cxd3 Rf8

16.Bb3 Bc5

17.Be5 d6

18.d4 dxe5

19.dxc5 Nd7

20.cxb6 axb6

21.Rfe1 c6

22.Re3 Kc7

23.Rc1 g6

24.Nb5+ Kb7?! +1.03/23

24...Kb8 +0.56/24 25.Nc3 g5 26.h3

25.Nd6+?! +0.55/25

25.Rcc3 +1.03/23 25...Bg4 26.f3 Bh3 27.Nd6+ Kc7 28.Nf7 Bf5 29.Nxe5 Nxe5 30.Rxe5 Rad8 31.Rce3 g5 32.g4

25…Kc7

26.Nf7 e4

27.Ng5 Nc5

28.Bc2 Rf5?! +0.52/27

28...h6 +0.10/26 29.Bxe4 Bxe4 30.Nxe4 Nxe4 31.Rxe4 Rxa2 32.Re6 c5 33.Rc2 Rg8 34.f4 Rg7 35.Rce2 Ra1+ 36.Kf2 Ra4 37.Re7+ Rxe7 38.Rxe7+ Kd8

29.h4 h6?! +1.10/26

29...Rxa2 +0.72/24 30.b4 Nd7 31.Nxh7 Nf6 32.Ng5 Nd5 33.Bb3 Rb2 34.Bxd5 Rxd5 35.Nxe4 Rd1+ 36.Rxd1 Bxd1 37.Nc3 Bg4 38.f3 Bd7 39.b5 cxb5 40.Nd5+ Kd8 41.Rd3

30.Nxe4?! +0.17/27

30.Nxf3 +1.10/26 30...Rxf3 31.Rxf3 exf3 32.b4 Ne6 33.Be4 Rxa2 34.Rxc6+ Kd7 35.Rxb6 Ra1+ 36.Kh2 Rf1 37.Bxf3 Rxf2+ 38.Bg2 Ke7 39.Kg1

30…Bxe4

31.Bxe4 Nxe4

32.Rxe4 Rxa2

33.Rc2 Kd6

34.Rce2 Kd5

35.Re8 Ra1+

36.Kg2 Rf6

37.R8e5+ Kd6

38.f4 Rd1

39.h5 gxh5

40.Rxh5 b5

41.Rhe5 c5

42.Re8 Rb1?! +1.02/26

42...Rd5 +0.20/23 43.b3 Kc6 44.Rc8+ Kb7 45.Ree8 Kb6 46.Ra8 Rd2+ 47.Kh3 Rd3 48.Reb8+ Kc7 49.Rxb5

43.Ra8?! +0.11/26

43.Rc8 +1.02/26 43...Rc1 44.Rd2+ Ke7 45.Rd5 Rd6 46.Rcxc5 Rxc5 47.Rxc5 Rd2+ 48.Kf3 Rxb2 49.Rh5 Ke6 50.g4 Rb3+ 51.Kg2 Rb2+ 52.Kh3 Rb3+ 53.Kh4 Rf3 54.Rxh6+ Kd5 55.f5 b4 56.Rb6 Kc4 57.Kh5 b3 58.f6 Kc3

43…Kd5

44.Rc8 Kd4

45.Rd2+ Ke3

46.Rc2 c4

47.Rc5 Rb6

48.Re5+ Kd3

49.Rce2 b4

50.R5e3+ Kd4

51.Re4+ Kd3

52.R4e3+ Kd4

53.Re4+

½-½

Robert James Fischer-Victor Pupols

US Junior Championships

6/11/55

1.e4 e5

2.Nf3 f5

3.Nxe5 Qf6

4.d4 d6

5.Nc4 fxe4

6.Nc3 Qg6

7.Ne3 Nf6

8.Bc4 c6

9.d5 Be7

10.a4?! -0.10/25

10.dxc6 +0.85/21 10...bxc6 11.Nb5 Kd7 12.Nd4 d5 13.Bb3 Kd8 14.O-O Bd7 15.Ba4 Rf8 16.f4 Qh5 17.Bd2

10…Nbd7

11.a5 Ne5

12.Be2 O-O

13.O-O Bd7

14.Kh1 Kh8

15.Nc4?! -1.21/22

15.a6 -0.30/22 15...b6 16.dxc6 Bxc6 17.Ned5 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Bh4 19.Be3 Rab8 20.Qd4 Rbd8 21.c4 Rf7 22.Qd1 Rff8 23.Qd4

15...Nfg4?! -0.35/21

15...Nxc4 -1.21/22 16.Bxc4 Ng4 17.Qe2 Bh4 18.Nxe4 Rae8 19.f3 Nf2+ 20.Rxf2 Bxf2 21.Qxf2 Qxe4 22.fxe4 Rxf2 23.Kg1 Rff8 24.Bd2 Rxe4 25.Bd3 Re5 26.a6 b6 27.dxc6 Bxc6 28.Bb4 Re6 29.c4 Ref6 30.Bf1 R8f7 31.Rd1

16.Qe1?? -5.63/23

16.Nxe5 -0.35/21 16...dxe5 17.Bxg4 Bxg4 18.Qe1 Bf5 19.Qe2 Bb4 20.dxc6 Qxc6 21.Be3 a6 22.Rfd1 Bxc3 23.bxc3 Be6 24.Qh5 Qxc3 25.Rab1 Rab8 26.Qg5 Rf6 27.Ba7 Rg8 28.Qg3 Qc7 29.Bb6 Qxc2 30.Be3 Rf7

16...Rf7?? -0.35/21

16...Nf3 -5.63/23 17.gxf3 exf3 18.Rg1 fxe2 19.Qxe2 Nxf2+ 20.Qxf2 Rxf2 21.Rxg6 hxg6 22.Rb1 Rxc2 23.Na3 Rf2 24.Be3 Rf3 25.Nc2 Bf5 26.Kg2 Rxe3 27.Nxe3 Bxb1 28.Nxb1 Bg5 29.Nc4 cxd5 30.Nxd6 Rf8 31.b3 d4

17.h3? -2.62/21

17.Nxe5 -0.35/21 17...Nxe5 18.Qd1 Bg4 19.Ra4

17...Nf6? -0.21/23

17...Nf3 -2.62/21 18.Qd1 Raf8 19.dxc6 bxc6

18.Nxe5 dxe5

19.Bc4 Rff8

20.Be3?? -3.31/22

20.dxc6 -0.14/21 20...Bxc6 21.Be3 Bd7 22.Ne2

20...Nh5?? -0.24/22

20...cxd5 -3.31/22 21.a6 dxc4

21.Kh2 Bd6?! +0.07/22

21...Nf4 -0.23/21 22.Bxf4 Rxf4 23.dxc6 Bxc6 24.Qe3 Raf8 25.Nd5 Bxd5 26.Bxd5 Bh4 27.g3 Rf3 28.Bxe4 Bxg3+ 29.Kg2 Rxf2+ 30.Rxf2 Bxf2+ 31.Bxg6 Bxe3 32.Be4 Rf2+ 33.Kg3 h5 34.Bg6 Rf6 35.Bxh5 e4 36.c3

22.Bb3?! -0.52/22

22.dxc6 +0.07/22 22...Bxc6 23.Qe2 Bb4 24.Rfd1 Bxc3 25.bxc3 Nf4 26.Qg4 Qf6 27.Rd2 Rfc8 28.Rb1 Be8 29.Rb4 Bc6 30.Rd1 Rf8 31.Kh1 Be8 32.Rdb1 h5

22…Nf4

23.Bxf4? -2.17/23

23.Rg1 -0.53/23 23...Bb4 24.dxc6 Bxc6 25.Qf1 Bxc3 26.bxc3 a6 27.Rd1 Rf5 28.Bc5 Rh5 29.Re1 Bb5 30.c4 Bd7 31.Bb4 Qg4 32.Re3 Rd8 33.Rh1

23…exf4

24.Qxe4? -11.58/24

24.f3 -2.32/21 24...Rae8 25.Qd2 e3 26.Qe2 Be5 27.dxc6 Bxc6 28.Rfd1 Bxc3 29.bxc3 Rf5 30.Ba4 Rc5 31.Bxc6 Qxc6 32.a6 b6 33.Ra3 Rc8 34.Rd4 Rc4 35.Ra2 b5 36.Ra1 Qg6 37.Rxc4 Qg3+

24...f3+

25.g3 Bf5?? -1.14/23

25...Qh6 -11.58/24 26.h4 Rae8 27.Kg1 Rxe4 28.Nxe4 Qh5 29.Rfe1 Qg4 30.Bc4 cxd5 31.Nxd6 dxc4 32.Nxc4 Qxc4 33.Ra3 Qxc2

26.Qh4 Rae8?! -0.73/23

26...Be5 -1.16/22 27.Rh1 Bxc2 28.Ba4 Bxa4 29.Qxa4 cxd5 30.Nxd5 Rae8 31.Rhe1 Bxb2 32.Nf4

27.Rae1?! -1.14/23

27.Rfe1 -0.73/23 27...Be5 28.dxc6 bxc6 29.Re3 Bf6 30.Rxe8 Qxe8 31.Qb4 Be7 32.Qd4 Bxh3 33.Re1 Bg2 34.Qg4 Rf6 35.Re6 Qd7 36.Qh5 g6 37.Qg4 Rf5 38.Rxg6 hxg6

27…Be5

28.Qb4?? #-8/34

28.dxc6 -1.08/21 28...bxc6 29.Nd1 Bd7 30.Rg1 Bc8 31.Ne3 Bc7 32.Nd1

28…Qh6

29.h4 g5?? -1.81/21

29...Bxg3+ #-7/36 30.Kh1 Bf4 31.Qxf4 Qxf4 32.Re4 Bxe4 33.Nd1 Qxh4+ 34.Kg1 Qg4+ 35.Kh2 Qg2#

30.Rh1?? -25.03/21

30.Rxe5 -1.81/21 30...Rxe5 31.dxc6 bxc6 32.Qd4 Re8 33.Bf7 c5 34.Qd2 Rf8 35.Bc4 Qh5 36.Qxg5 Qxg5 37.hxg5 Bxc2 38.Rc1 Bg6 39.Nb5 Rxg5 40.a6 Bf7 41.Bf1 Rd8

30…gxh4

31.Kg1 h3?? -2.73/23

31...Bxg3 -24.79/22 32.Ne4 Qg7 33.Kf1 Be5 34.Re3 Qg2+ 35.Ke1 Qxh1+

32.dxc6?? #-196/20

32.Ne4 -2.73/23 32...Qg6 33.Ng5 c5 34.Qd2 Bd4 35.Kh2 Re2 36.Rxe2 fxe2 37.f4 h6

32...bxc6?? -3.60/22

32...Bxg3 #-196/20

33.Qc5?? -60.92/19

33.Ne4 -3.60/22 33...c5 34.Qd2 h2+ 35.Rxh2 Qxd2 36.Nxd2 Bxg3 37.Rxe8 Bxh2+ 38.Kxh2 Rxe8 39.Nxf3 Re2 40.Kg3 Bxc2 41.Bc4 Re4 42.b3 h5 43.Kh3 Rf4 44.Kg3 Rg4+ 45.Kh2 Be4 46.Ne1 Bh7 47.Ng2 Rd4 48.Ne3 Bd3 49.Kg2 Bxc4 50.bxc4 h4 51.f3 Rf4

33...Qg7?? -3.85/26

33...Bxg3 -60.92/19 34.Re3 h2+ 35.Kf1 Bh3+ 36.Ke1 Bxf2+

34.Kh2 Qf6? -0.73/22

34...Bd4 -3.76/25 35.Qd6 Rd8 36.Qe7 Qxe7 37.Rxe7 Bxf2 38.Be6 Bc5 39.Bxf5 Bxe7 40.Bd3 Bb4 41.Ne4 Bxa5 42.Kxh3 Rd5 43.Kg4 Bd8 44.b3 Re5 45.Rf1 Bb6 46.Nd2

35.Qxa7?! -1.16/22

35.Qb4 -0.73/22 35...h5 36.Ne4 Qg6 37.Ng5 Bxg3+ 38.fxg3 Qxg5 39.Rxe8 Rxe8 40.Re1 Rxe1 41.Qxe1 Kh7 42.Qf2 c5 43.Qxf3 Qd2+ 44.Kh1 Kg7 45.a6 Kg6

35...Bd4?! -0.50/25

35...h5 -1.16/22 36.Rxe5 Rxe5 37.Nd1 h4 38.Rg1 Qd6 39.Ne3 Re7 40.Qb6 Rg7 41.Nf1 Bd3 42.cxd3 Rb8 43.Qe3 Rxb3 44.Qe8+ Kh7 45.Qe4+ Kg8 46.Qe8+ Qf8 47.Qe6+ Qf7 48.Qc8+ Kh7 49.Qxh3 Rxb2 50.Qxh4+ Kg8 51.Qd8+ Qf8 52.Qxf8+ Kxf8

36.Qc7 Bxf2

37.Rxe8 Rxe8

38.Rf1 Bd4

39.Rxf3?? -8.68/27

39.Qf4 -0.41/23 39...f2 40.a6 Qe5 41.Qf3

39...Bxc3?? 0.00/27

39...Bg1+ -8.68/27 40.Kh1 Be4 41.Qf4 Bxf3+ 42.Kxg1 Re1+ 43.Kf2 Qxf4 44.gxf4 h2 45.Kxe1 h1=Q+ 46.Kd2 Qa1 47.Bc4 Qxa5 48.Bd3 Qb4 49.Ke3 Bg4 50.Be2

40.bxc3 Re2+

41.Kh1 Be4

42.Qc8+ Kg7

43.Qg4+?! -0.72/26

43.Qd7+ 0.00/29 43...Kg6 44.Qg4+ Qg5 45.Qe6+ Kg7 46.Qg8+ Kh6 47.Qf8+ Kh5 48.Bf7+ Kg4 49.Be6+ Kh5 50.Qf7+ Kh6 51.Qf8+ Qg7 52.Qf4+ Qg5 53.Qf8+

43…Qg6

44.Qd7+?? -8.34/29

44.Qf4 -0.72/25 44...Bxf3+ 45.Qxf3 Qe8 46.Qg4+ Kh8 47.Qf3 Qe7 48.Qg4 Qe4+ 49.Qxe4 Rxe4 50.Kh2 Re5 51.a6 Ra5 52.Bc4 Rc5 53.Bb3 Rh5 54.Bc4 Rc5

44…Kh6

0-1

Alan Lasser

blacklightmazes@icloud.com

website: blacklightmazes.com

Hi Alan,

I'm glad to see you're still pushing wood and that you've forgiven me for hitting on your apple cider when we lived together at 33 Summer Hill Apartments in Middletown CT and I worked with the mental patients from '74 to '78 and finally realized that I didn't know which side of the keys I belonged on and my ADHD was even worse than it is now. I guess I stood up a good buddy there (and I don't mean Buddy Guy or Buddy Rich, or Bud Wiser I guess I didn't treat Mark Denihan right. Well, I'm trying to do better and lately, I've been inspired to do better by Playing for Change and especially by my main man, Buddy Guy performing on PFC. (Skin Deep)

He'll be performing live in Paso Robles on September 25, 2022, down the road a piece from SB (130 miles away from here)

God willin' and the creek don't rise I'll be there too.

Tony (Anthony Allen) Miller AKA Tony no Baloney

Namaste, Alan

ps. Is Mark Weeks living in the States now?

Is Alan Morril still alive and kicking? I see Timbersnake is still alive.

Is Bob Milardo still pissing off CT chess folks?

Fred Townsend?

Rick Bauer starting to write for CCM again

noreply@blogger.com (Connecticut Chess Magazine by Rob Roy) — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 15:48:00 +0000

Hi Rob, I have been doing a lot of chess analysis on LiChess. Most of the games come from the NBCC, but I also "cover" World Championship cycle games and general chess theory. They are all posted under my LiChess handle, Connman.

I have also been hosting a "Saturday Study Group" from 5-7 pm each Saturday, where we combine Zoom and LiChess. I just added your name to the invite list. "Many are called, but few appear."

The latest game, Jithya Sajeevan - Nelson Castaneda was an extraordinary effort by the young sister of DIG's Jithu. I have posted it along with the other games from Tuesday night in the following LiChess study: https://lichess.org/study/3em7x2O3

I am thinking about doing a "game of the Week" ala Alan Lasser. What do you think? Rick

Dear Rick, You have made many contributions to CCM, Welcome back. Rob

GAME OF THE WEEK by Alan Lasser

noreply@blogger.com (Connecticut Chess Magazine by Rob Roy) — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 14:20:00 +0000

Some club players have developed a bad habit from their internet play, they don’t play out bad endgames. They don’t like endgames, they don’t study endgames; why should they suffer some pawn-down drudgery when they can just click a button and start a new game? However, especially at the faster time limits, fierce resistance is still worthwhile.

In the starting position for this game I am about to go two pawns down, but I have the bishop against the knight, a path for a king invasion, and I even find a way to make a passed pawn. The final winning idea for my opponent was counter-intuitive, unlikely to be found with the clock winding down.

Mike Smith(1944)-Alan Lasser(1939)

6/9/22

Westerly Chess Club

game/15

1.Rxf6 Ref8?! +3.53/22

1...h5 +3.07/23 2.Rf7 Kc8 3.Ref1 Rhf8 4.g3

2.Rxf8?! +2.64/25

2.Rh6 +3.53/22 2...Rf7 3.Ra1 Rc8 4.b4

2…Rxf8

3.Rf1 Ra8

4.g3 4.Rf7 Ra2 5.Nc5 Ke8 6.Rf2 Ra1 7.Rf1 Ra5 8.Nd3 +5.24 Stockfish

4…Ra2