SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

Breast cancer and love...but not necessarily in that order

2013-05-22T06:14:00.003+01:00

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

A PHOTO ESSAY ...

... OF A BATTLE NOBODY CHOOSES...

...BREAST CANCER...

THE VICTIM

THERAPY AND HOPE

WILL I BE ONE OF THE FORTUNATE ONES?

DISAPPOINTMENT , TORMENT AND...PAIN

HEROICS...

LOSING GROUND...

AND FINALLY ...DEATH

AND THEN ONLY MEMORIES

VISIT:

www.mywifesfightwithbreastcancer.com

FACEBOOK

Today's INSIGHT into the MEANING of LIFE!

2013-05-22T06:00:00.000+01:00

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

Every once in a while somebody gets it right.

This is not yet found in the Oxford dictionary, so it was "Googled" and discovered to be a recently "coined" new word found on T-shirts on eBay: Read this one over slowly and absorb the facts that are within this definition!

I love this word and believe that it will become a recognized English word.

Finally, a word to describe our Future!

Today's winning Lady in Red!

2013-05-22T02:05:00.001+01:00

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

“All I ask of life is a bunch of books, a bunch of dreams, and a bunch of cunt.”

― Henry Miller, Tropic of Cancer

Lothar Schmid: May 10,1928-May 18, 2013

2013-05-21T12:12:00.001+01:00

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

A gentleman's gentleman, Lothar Schmid passed away this weekend in Bamberg at the age of 85. Perhaps best known as the arbiter of the historic 1972 Fischer vs Spassky match (as well as the revenge match in 1992) Schmid was also a world class player in his own right, having won both the GM-title and the ICCF GM-title way back in 1959 when most of my readers were not yet even born!

Born in Dresden, Schmid played on the West German national team not less than 11 times between 1950 and 1974, winning 4 silver medals as well as 2 bronze medals. In correspondence chess he came in second (by a mere half-point) in the 1956-1959 World Correspondence Championship, behind the Russian grandmaster Ragozin.

Schmid congratulating Fischer on becoming World Champion in 1972!

Lothar Schmid also was chief arbiter at the 1971 Fischer vs Petrosian match, the 1977 Korchnoi vs Polugaevsky match, the 1978 Karpov vs Korchnoi match and the 1986 Karpov vs Kasparov match.

Margaret Thatcher, Kasparov, Karpov and Schmid (background) 1986

Lothar was actively involved in running his family's successful book-pubishing business. Perhaps not unsurprisingly, Schmid is reputed to possess the world's largest private library of chess books and magazines. He also collected chess boards, pieces , art work and other rare chess-related paraphernália.

''It’s housed in 7 rooms on the top 2 floors of his house in Bamberg, Germany. On the ground floor you can find his publishing business (Karl May-Verlag) and his living quarters are on the 1st floor.

He started collecting in the 1950s, when he was offered the personal library of Rogmann. Since then, he has spent his time buying up other people’s libraries, with over 50 other collections including that of Tarrasch!

It’s often said that the collection looks chaotic, but Lothar, and only Lothar, knows where to find everything!'' LINK

He owned, for example, one of only 10 surviving copies of the first printed book about chess, Luis Lucena’s Repetition of Love and the Art of Playing Chess (Repetición de Amores y Arte de Ajedrez), published in Salamanca in 1497.

Lucena's book

He also possessed all eight editions of Questo libro e da imparare giocare a scachi, published in Rome in 1512 by the Portuguese apothecary Pedro Damiano (1470-1544). ( LINK )

Damiano's book

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Lothar Schmid: chess games and tactics

PART I

LINK Schmid, Petrosian and Estrin 1968

Grandmaster Lothar Schmid was a gifted positional player with a fine feel for tactics. Though his professional obligations did not allow him to travel and play as much as some of the other grandmasters of his time, Lothar crossed swords with virtually all the world champions of the latter part of the 20-th century, including Euwe, Botvinnik, Smyslov, Tal, Petrosian, and Spassky.

He has played many famous games that have been published around the world, and I have found his classical style of playing to be very useful for training and teaching purposes. As White he had a fondness for 1.e4, while as Black he specialized in counterattacking systems such as the Benoni (Schmid Benoni!) and the Alekhine Defence and French Defence. His games did much to enrich the theory of these openings. Below is just a small sample of his efforts. ENJOY!

WELZ

LOTHAR SCHMID

Radebeul, 1945. Black had just played 18...Bd4. The uncastled position of the Black monarch gives rise to a clever tactic that the young Schmid quickly pounces upon...

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
----------------------------------------

RICHTER,Erik

LOTHAR SCHMID

Germany, 1951. Position after 13 moves. The Black King has not yet castled and this proves to be his undoing...as usual, Schmid is quick with the execution!

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!

--------------------------------------

LOTHAR SCHMID

O'HANLON,John

SouthSea (england) 1951. Black had just given check to the White King. Which side should the monarch hide?

Correct is now to play 19.Kf1, with a complex and evenly balanced game in progress. INSTEAD, White played what seemed at first to be a safer course:

19.Kh1?

That this move loses is , in itself, instructive. BUT the manner in which Schmid presses home his opportunity is nothing short of brilliant!

19...Ne4!

Threatening mate on f2! White's next move is forced as 20.PxN?? Bxe2 is a forced mate.

20. RxN PxR

The White back rank is weak. If now 21.Ra5 then simply 21...b5 wins (22.Rxb5? Bxf3+!), or even more stylish would be 21...Pxf3! 22.RxQ? PxB and there is no defence.

21.Ra1 Pxf3 22.Rg1 (everything else is equally hopeless)

22...PxB!

0-1

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gm WESTERINEN

gm LOTHAR SCHMID

Bamberg, 1968, perhaps Schmid's best tournament result (2nd place behind Keres; tied with world champion Petrosian). Position after 15 moves. The opening has been sloppily played by the Finnish grandmaster, but still--you would not expect the game to end so quickly!

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!

-------------------------------------------

ZIRNGIBL

LOTHAR SCHMID

Dusseldorf, 1951. Something has gone wrong in the opening for the Black pieces, with his King floating around. He had just played 23...h6, with the clear intention of hiding on h7.

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!

------------------------------------

gm FILIP,Miro

LOTHAR SCHMID

Oberhausen, 1961. A sharp variation of the Sicilian where Black had just a move before pushed ...d5 and then ...Qb6, fighting for the initiative. Schmid was very adept in handling such complicated games and here he proves, beyond a doubt, to Black's misfortune that White is infact the master of the position! One of Schmid's best efforts!

WHAT IS WHITE'S BEST COURSE OF ACTION?

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gm PETROSIAN,T

LOTHAR SCHMID

Stockholm, 1952. I have not been able to confirm that this was from an actual tournament game --perhaps it was just an off-hand game-- as the official tournament record shows that Schmid was not a participant. PERHAPS one of my readers will be able to shed some light on this...

HOWEVER, the finish to this game is so remarkable that I can not resist but to include it! Schmid has sacrificed a piece to expose and attack the Black monarch. Petrosian's King has fled all the way to the Queenside where it finally appears to have found a safe-haven...ALMOST!

WHITE TO PLAY AND FORCE MATE!

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Today's winning LIPS!

2013-05-20T15:48:00.001+01:00

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

“Friendship is far more tragic than love. It lasts longer.”

― Oscar Wilde

May Issue of BCN!

2013-05-20T15:03:00.001+01:00

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

BCN

BUDAPEST'S POPULAR ENGLISH-LANGUAGE CHESS MAGAZINE!

May Issue Download

Author, teacher and chess master, Michael Yip has resided in Budapest since 2009. Intimately knowledgeable of Budapest's chess community, for the last couple of years Michael has brought to the reader the latest chess news and developments from one of Europe's most active cultural centres. Tournament results, opening ideas, annotated games, endings and much more!

PLUS, a new addition to Michael's magazine there has been a large section on Canadian chess news and developments!This has enabled my Canadian readers to follow what has been happening all across Canada.

Michael Yip has become the world's number one ONLINE source for Canadian chess information !

You can download the MAY issue of BCN right HERE or just go to the sidebar on the right for all of the previous issues! This month's download includes more than 120 fully annotated games in CBV format. Lots of international news, especially since the Hungarian players have been very active: Bangkok, Germany, Austrália and more! PLUS more on the very strong Budapest Team Championship as well as other Hungarian tournaments.

YIP'S TOP CHESS BLOGS:

LINK

Canada's NUMBER ONE source for Canadian Chess news, games and other information! Started several months ago as an off-shoot of the popular BCN, Yip has revolutionized the way the average Canadian amateur finds out what is happening in Canada! Updated daily!

As a short aside, since Yip has started to cover Canadian Chess tournaments and players, the CFC has been scrambling to try to catch up! The CFC website has just created a dedicated newsfeed, but so far the editor behind this initiative has stumbled, messed-up and , at times, failed miserably to deliver the right content for the CFC's members! WHY? Because they can not match Yip's passion for chess and writing!

LINK

For opening theory buffs! Updated daily, Yip presents the latest theoretical developments starting with 1.e4 from the world's top tournaments. Plus plenty of opening secrets explained just for you!

LINK

The same genre as above, but devoted exclusively to 1.d4. Want to know the latest ideas in the Grunfeld? The Slav? The Benko? Plus much, much more! Then this blog is for you! Updated daily.

LINK

This daily blog includes not just the latest theoretical developments in the English Opening and the Reti Opening, but also brings together the latest in Scholastic Chess, Junior Chess, Computer Chess, Correspondence Chess and Women's Chess!

ENJOY!

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Today's winning SURRENDER!

2013-05-20T03:18:00.001+01:00

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

“He called to her primal side; the ancient aspect of her animal self that wanted to submit. It wanted to submit to him; to sacrifice all of who she was at the altar of his maleness and lay herself bare for his taking.”

― Dianna Hardy, Releasing The Wolf

How good are your tactics?

2013-05-19T08:46:00.000+01:00

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

The game Reinaldo Castineira vs Laznicka, from Pamplona 2010, arrived at the position below after White's 37th move (Kh2). White threatens the Black Bishop, and if this Bishop moves then White has Rb8ch winning the Black Queen. And let us not forget about the Black Rook enprise on g3!

What move did Black play ,and not only solve his problems, but force a win? GOOD LUCK!

Today's naughty laugh

2013-05-19T08:44:00.000+01:00

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

The Frozen Crabs and the Blonde Stewardess

A lawyer boarded an airplane in New Orleans with a box of frozen crabs and asked a blonde stewardess to take care of them for him.

She took the box and promised to put it in the crew's refrigerator.

He advised her that he was holding her personally responsible for them staying frozen, mentioning in a very haughty manner that he was a lawyer, and proceeded to rant at her about what would happen if she let them thaw out.

Needless to say, she was annoyed by his behaviour.

Shortly before landing in New York, she used the intercom to announce to the entire cabin, "Would the gentleman who gave me the crabs in New Orleans, please raise your hand?"

Not one hand went up ... so she took them home and ate them.

Two lessons here:

1. Lawyers aren't as smart as they think they are.

2. Blondes aren't as dumb as most folks think.

Thx SLP!

Today's winning beach BUM!

2013-05-18T01:21:00.001+01:00

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

Magnifique!

“If there were no Frenchwomen, life wouldn't be worth living.”

― Friedrich Engels, Collected Works 38 1844-51

ENGELS 1820-1895

Today's 5-second tactics!

2013-05-18T01:18:00.004+01:00

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

gm MIHALCISIN,A

im TAULBUT,S

México, 1978. Black is tied up in knots and pins....but seems to have everything covered. His last move, 20...Rb5, intends to force some exchanges and reduce the pressure.

The principal problem with Black in the position above is not his own weaknesses, but instead it is the very active placement of the White pieces. This gives rise to a motif that is not just surprising, but very pretty. See if you can discover it!

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
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gm KULJASEVIC

gm FEDORCHUK,S

From the European Individual Championships in Poland this past week. Black was much better several moves ago, but underestimated White's counter play....

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
---------------------------------

gm DRAGUN,K

gm SVETUSHKIN,D

Black's last move was 34...Qe2, looking for some cheap shots. Did little good, as Black completely overlooked White's threat!

WHITE TO PLAY AND FORCE MATE!
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FIDE'S NEW DRESS CODE?!

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Today's winning BOOTS!

2013-05-17T19:33:00.001+01:00

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

''No one loses their innocence. It is either taken or given away willingly.”

― Tiffany Madison

Black and White

Friday coffee

2013-05-17T14:58:00.000+01:00

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

IS THERE A FUTURE FOR PRISON CHESS? MAYBE!

You might want to read more here and here . I think this is a good initiative, though hardly a reason to go to prison in the first case. I once gave a series of lectures/simuls at a local prison in the Guarda área...I was amazed to see how many good , strong players there were! You could have easily fielded a team of 5 or 6 players rated over 2100! Ofcourse, most of the strong players were from eastern europe, caught for drug-related offences.

Back when I was in Canada, I was once even invited to give a simul at a maximum security prison near Montreal, if I remember correctly. It was an eye opener...I could see the holes in the concrete walls made from fights between convicts who had used sharpened spoons as weapons...

MISSED OPPORTUNITY AT GRAND PRIX!

Many thanks to Natalia Pogonina's excellent website for pointing out that in the last round a missed chance by Ushenina could have resulted in a tie for first place!

wgm KHOTENASHVILI

wgm USHENINA

Position after 16 moves. Black had just played a dubious move (16...Nh5?!) in an effort to reduce the White pressure. Ushenina here played 17.Bxe7, which let the opportunity go unpunished. The game was eventually drawn.

HOW CAN WHITE GET A BIG ADVANTAGE IN THE ABOVE POSITON?

Tournament winner Bela Khotenashvili

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10 players tie for first place in European Championship!

MOISEENKO TAKES TROPHY

LINK

Always a super-strong tournament, this year's edition (the 14th edition infact) attracted 286 players, including 143 gms, 63 ims and also 5 wgms and 3 wims. Ten players tied for first with a strong performance of 8pts out of 11 games.

The scant participation of female players can possibly be explained by a Grand Prix which was taking place simultaneously. Or maybe it can not be explained so simply...FIDE's policy of promoting women's chess is turning out to be seen--in practice-- as a type of unspoken segregation. Something which I don't understand at all, because if I were a women player then I would jump at the opportunity to play in strong tournaments such as this championship. (Apparently the organizers thought otherwise and I recommend you read this bit of nonsense.)

It is only fitting that the tie-break would be won by Alexander Moiseenko, who today celebrates his 33rd birthday! Congratulations!

gm VOLKOV,S

gm MOISEENKO

As usual, Moiseenko played everygame to win, regardless of colour. And he played many interesting games. I especially like the finish in his game with Sergei Volkov.

Ofcourse, Black is under tremendous pressure, but his position is remarkably resilient, almost as if it is held together with crazy-glue! HOWEVER, Moiseenko found the weak spot without trouble...

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!

Today's winning ADULTERESS

2013-05-16T16:55:00.005+01:00

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

“Infidelity is the opium of the unfaithfull.”

― Toba Beta, Master of Stupidity

Thursday 5-second tactic!

2013-05-16T14:24:00.003+01:00

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

im KANAREK,M

gm GRIGORYAN,Av

From yesterday's round at the European Individual Championship in Poland. Position after 41 moves of play. White has a positional advantage and Black is very passive. For the moment everything is defended...Black intends to meet 42.Nxd5 with a check on e2.

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!

Today's INSIGHT into the meaning of LIFE

2013-05-16T10:56:00.003+01:00

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

Wednesday's 5-second tactics!

2013-05-15T14:50:00.000+01:00

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

BLITZ ATTACK!

AGUILAR,Andres

PRASCA SOSA,Raf

From the Continental in Bolívia this week. Black had just played 27...Qb8, attacking the White Rook. This is a serious error! White now has the opportunity to score the full point...

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!

-----------------------------------

POISON PAWN!

im PEREZ,Rodney

gm MEKHITARIAN,Kri

Also from Bolivia! Position after White's 25th move (25.g3--luft!). The position is about even, but with a lot of fight still left, especially because of the asymmetry (B vs N and unbalance pawn structure). Here Black should probably also create luft...

INSTEAD, Black played 25...Bxd4??

HOW DOES WHITE REFUTE BLACK'S GREEDINESS?
-----------------------------------------------------

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

..in the US alone, last year there were 73 million cases of food poisoning, requiring 325,000 hospitalizations! A total of 10,000 deaths were reported...surprisingly, none of these were well-known chess players! LINK

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THE OLDEST TRICK IN THE BOOK...

SALAZAR,Carlos

MOLINA,Jessica

Bolívia. Black has an obvious advantage with his active pieces and strong passed d-pawn. Hidden in the position is a tactic that I exploited often when I was first playing chess in highschool!

BLACK TO PLAY AND WIN!
---------------------------------------

WEAK BACK-RANK!

gm ZAMBRANA,Osw

gm VASQUEZ,Rod

Bolívia once more! Black, struggling down an exchange, must also watch out for a Kingside attack. For this reason he just played 29...Qf4, covering h6. If now 30.g3, then 30...Qf5 and Black is holding on, atleast for a while.

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN BY FORCE!

--------------------------------------------

BREAK-THRU!

gm TRATAR,Mar

gm CHEPARINOV,Ivan

From yesterday's round of the European Individual Championships in Poland. Position after 27 moves. Who would have thought that the game would end in just a few moves?

Black is solid enough, but White has a strong concentration of pieces in the centre, each with easy entry into the Black Kingside. Especially, note the White Rook on the 3rd rank...always a useful attacking avenue. BUT most important is the weakness on f6.

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
----------------------------------------

MATE IN 3-MOVES!

gm GALLAGHER,Joe

gm KISLINSKY,A

Poland, the day before yesterday. It is rare that a mate in 3 surprises a grandmaster, but here White is about to be both surprised and mated!

BLACK TO PLAY AND MATE IN 3!
--------------------------------------------

SOLUTIONS:

Prasca Sosa, R--Aguilar, A : 28.Nxf5! Now taking the Knight allows 29.Bd5+ and a mate 28…Rd7 There is no good move. 29.Nh6+ 1-0

Mekhitarian, K--Perez Garcia, R : 25… Bxd4?? 26.Nxd4 Rxd4 27.Qe3! 1-0 It is a piece or mate on the first rank!

Molina, J--Salazar, C : 21… Bh3! Ouch 22.e5 Taking the Bishop either gets mate dor lose the Queen. 22…Qh6! 23.Ne1 Bxg2! And White can resign with a clear conscience. The game ended 24.Qxf4 Qxf4 25.Nxg2 Qxe5 26.Re1 Qa5 27.Re7 Kf8 28.Rxb7 Qd2 29.Bh5 Qc1+30.Ne1 Qxe1+ 0-1

Vasquez Schroeder, R--Zambrana, O : 30.Re4!! Taking the Rook allows 31.Qh6+ and 32.Nf6+! leading to mate 30…Qf5 31.Re5! Qf4 32.Rg5! And Black can not save himself. 32… e5 33.Qh6+ Kg8 34.Nxe5 1-0

Cheparinov, I--Tratar, M : 28.Nh5! Taking the Knight allows 29.Qxh5 Kf8 30.Rg3! with an unstoppable attack 28… Qxb4 29.Bc3 Qc5 30.Nf6+ 1-0

Kislinsky,A--Gallagher,J : 26… Qa1+ 0-1 Mate with 27…Nd3+ and 28…Qc3++

Today's winning ARCHAEOLOGIST!

2013-05-14T19:28:00.002+01:00

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

“What was invented with civilization was the ability of some to deny sensuality to others.”

― Richard Manning, Against the Grain: How Agriculture Has Hijacked Civilization

Tuesday coffee

2013-05-14T13:09:00.001+01:00

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

CHESS UN-PLUGGED!

Inspiration! What sets chess apart from all other games, and most sporting activities, is the ability to inspire both players and spectactors alike. Sometimes it is the brilliance of an individual move that captures our imagination. Other times we are inspired less by the moves themselves, but instead by the consistency with which a player wins tournament after tournament.

When Morphy went over to Europe and beat everyone insight, he inspired a totally new generation of chess players that would eventually change how the game was played. Steinitz based much of his theories of position-chess on how Morphy could win so often and so effortlessly.

Later Alekhine's victory over Capablanca in Buenos Aires 1927 would give a new dimension to the strategic importance of chess in the modern world. A new class of chess professionals arose as a direct consequence. This was further advanced by Bobby Fischer's historic victory over Spassky in the summer of 1972.

Millions of new chess fans were attracted to the game back then. Today the same can be said of Anand's influence in Asia and , more recently, Carlsen's meteoric appearance onto the world stage.

Almost all of us are inspired by the game, its moves or the super-hero achievements of its stars. Chess stirs our imagination. The very nature of the learning process thru which we advance in the chess ranks nurtures our own creative side and, in turn, inspires others.

The advent of inexpensive, commercially available chess engines and databases has had a negative influence on chess in recent years. Computer-chess does not inspire us. A computer does not distinguish between a brilliant move and an ordinary move. How can it? Makers of such chess programs don't even take the creative process into consideration. Artificial intelligence (AI) went out the window a long time before...

So it is no wonder chess is becoming increasingly marginalized in the media, chess columns are dropping like flies and sponsors are becoming fewer and harder to find. We are in danger of using technology to hurt the very integrity of the game and to play the game less like the humans we are.

It is the responsibility of each and every one of us, as chessplayers, to not let whither and die what has inspired us to take up this great game in the first place. Chess is , by nature, a passionate and fertile activity, and we should be willing to fight for it to remain as such...

NEXT TIME, THINK ABOUT IT!

------------------------------------------------

CHESS TACTIC!

im RZAYEV,B

gm GRIGORIANTS,S

From the European Individual Championship in Poland. A Tarrasch Defence has gone wrong for the Black pieces...White has built considerable pressure in the centre and the Black King has found itself employed in trying to hold things together....

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!

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US Presidents who played chess!

2013-05-13T17:23:00.001+01:00

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

Many thanks to Natalia Pogonina's excellent website for drawing this to my attention!

Monday coffee

2013-05-13T15:29:00.003+01:00

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

Should be a good week for chess fans as the elite tournaments in Norway and Poland approach the final week. As well, the women's Grand Prix in Geneva must not be forgotten.

The Grand Prix in Geneva has , so far, been a serious setback for the Chinese star Hou Yifan, who is at present the best female player in the world (except for, arguably of course, Judit Polgar)

Yifan stands at 50% with 3 rounds to go. It is unlikely she will finish in the top 4 places, but who really knows? Some have talked of a crisis of form. I think that might be part of the problem, but I would consider lack of motivation to be a more serious factor. She probably feels that she has nothing to prove in women's chess anymore...people expect her to win all the time.

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THE BASEBALL CONNECTION!

Just imagine what things would have been like had Capablanca and Bobby Fischer taken up baseball instead of chess...

LINK

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NAKAMURA DEFEATS ANAND IN SPOTTY GAME!

Congrats to Nakamura for beating Anand with the Black pieces yesterday! I will give this very interesting game a bit later today with some commentary. Both sides played without great precision --up to the point that Nakamura had a big edge, and then the American switched gears and never let the World Champion out of his grip. The last ten moves of the game will not be forgotten by Anand for quite a while...

gm NAKAMURA

gm ANAND

This is the position after 37 moves of play. The White King and Queen make a curious picture...Anand threw in the towel a couple of moves later, but would resign with a clear conscience here!

LINK

Today's winning SMILE!

2013-05-12T12:54:00.001+01:00

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

''Licence my roving hands, and let them go
Before, behind, between, above, below.”

― John Donne

1572-1631

Sunday chess tactics!

2013-05-12T04:48:00.004+01:00

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

gm USHENINA,A

gm HOU, YIFAN

From today's round of the women's GRAND PRIX in Switzerland. The world champion has been struggling the whole game and must feel the same as when Berlin was being sacked in April, 1945. Total retreat, but nowhere to retreat to...

WHAT IS BLACK'S DECISIVE PLAY?

-----------------------------------------

gm GRANDA,Z

im SARKAR,J

From the Continental taking place right now in Bolívia. White's opening has not gone well and his position has no harmony, not to talk about development.

BLACK TO PLAY AND WIN!
------------------------------------

SOLUTIONS:

Hou, Yifan--Ushenina, Anna: 32…Rxf1+ wins immediately

Sarkar, Justin--Granda ,J: 21.Nxe3 Rxf2 22.Qc3 ( 22.Kxf2 Qh4+ ) Qh4 23.Kd1 Rcf8 24.Ng4 Rxf1+ 25.Kc2 Rxh1 26.Rxh1 Bg7 0-1

Today's winning SHADES!

2013-05-11T18:52:00.003+01:00

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

“The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself, with desire for what its monstrous laws have made monstrous and unlawful. It has been said that the great events of the world take place in the brain. It is in the brain, and the brain only, that the great sins of the world take place also.”

― Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray

Carlos Jauregui (1932--2013)

2013-05-11T02:41:00.002+01:00

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

September 14, 1932---March 8, 2013

I just heard the sad news today that Chilean-born (Santiago) master Carlos Jauregui passed away on March 8 in Milan, Italy. Carlos was 80 years old. He is survived by three daughters and not less than 7 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. My most sincere condolences. Obituary HERE

I knew Carlos reasonably well, especially since he spent a number of months in Montreal (1974) after fleeing Chile when Pinochet took power in a bloody coup (1973). He was a real gentleman, soft spoken and friendly to everyone. Carlos came with his wife, Nelly, and their four children, and would eventually make Canada their home.

Like many left-leaning intellectuals sympathetic to Salvador Allende, (Carlos was a physics professor), staying in Chile was not an option: thousands disappeared and were killed simply for their politics. Even more were tortured and repressed.

What was Chile's loss soon became Canadian chess' gain as Carlos was quite active, playing in numerous Canadian Opens ('74, '77, '83 and '86) and Canadian Zonals ('78, '81 and '87).

Carlos was a strong master-level player who had participated in a number of strong international events in the 1950's and 1960's and had taken part in numerous national championships. He also represented Chile at the Olympics in 1956 and 1964.

While Carlos results were not outstanding and were more often than not middle-of-the table finishes, he was very passionate about chess and even has the distinction of having crushed Bobby Fischer in 1959 in Santiago ! (Game at end of blog, with a little story with it)

I had the pleasure to play Carlos not less than 4 times in over the board play. The first time was in the final round of the Québec Open (1974) and we both needed to win. Though I don't have the scoresheet, I remember that I was White and it was a Saemisch Kings Indian. Super complicated and everything was decided in a wild Blitz finish, which I had the good fortune to survive.

The other 3 games are available in the databases. While my score is a perfect 4-0, this does not accurately reflect what happened in the games. Carlos was always a difficult opponent for me.

Possessing a very high level of strategic understanding in his play, Carlos has played some very nice games. He was also an excelent tactician. Because he was an amateur and had limited time to dedicate to the game, however, Carlos was never able to solve his chronic time-trouble problems. As a result, Carlos' tournament performances were never consistent enough to get the IM title. Even though he certainly deserved it, in my opinion.

Below is a short selection of games and positions from Carlos praxis. ENJOY!

DE SOUZA MENDES

JAUREGUI

From Santiago, 1959 (tournament mentioned above). Black has played a very risky opening, capturing a pawn at cost to his development. Carlos plays with great energy:

12.Nf5!

Threatening, amongst other things, to capture the g-pawn with check.

12...0-0?!

Natural, but loses immediately. Black had to try 12...Kf8

13.Nxg7! KxN 14.Bh6+!!

Winning by force!

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TACTICAL FINISH!

SZAPIRO,G

JAUREGUI

From Moscow, 1956. Position after 25 moves. The White Bishop on d5 is under attack. If now 26.Bb3 then 26...Be6! with a reasonable game for Black.

26. Rxg6!!

A beautiful move, nicely calculated, after which Black can not save himself!

26...PxB 27.Qxd5 Be6 (what else?)

28.Rxg7+!

Winning in style!

There followed 28...Kxg7 29.Qg5+ Kh7 30.Qh6+ (30.Qh5+! is even faster) 30... Kg8 31.Bd4 f6 32.Qg6+ Kh8 33.Kd2 etc.

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REALLY NICE WIPE OUT!

SVEDENBORG,P

JAUREGUI

Tel Aviv Olympics, 1964. Carlos played some excelente chess there! Here is a typical Jauregui game, strong strategic under-current, full control at all times and a painful finish for Black, who is almost squashed to death.

Hard to believe that this game was played almost 50 years ago, it is so modern! A wonderful exemple of how to demolish the Benoni...

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TACTIC!

BONNER

JAUREGUI

Also from the '64 Olympiad, this time against the Scottish player Gerald Bonner. Black had just made a serious mistake (30...Rd8?)

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!

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NICE TACTICAL FINISH!

JAUREGUI

POULIN,MAURICE

From the Canadian Open in Fredericton, 1977. Position after White's 34th move (34.Rh2) Carlos had earlier correctly sacrificed a piece on positional grounds, enabling him to get some attacking chances. The White King is now trying to slip away to hide in the centre...

34...Bxh3+!

Here White must take this piece; 35.RxB! Qg2+ 36.Ke1 QxR 37.Bf1 Qh5! (threatening ...Bh4 in some lines) though White should hold the game, providing he plays accurately. INSTEAD, White thought he saw a better line...

35.Ke1?

Looks logical, but infact should lose!

35...Qg1+!!

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TACTIC!

JAUREGUI

BURGALAT,F

Mar del Plata, 1953. Carlos and I shared the same bad habit: we liked to play the Dutch Defence more than we should! But here things have gone excellently for Black and he has created attacking chances on the Kingside. The position is ripe for a break-thru, but where?

BLACK TO PLAY AND WIN!

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TACTIC!

gm PACHMAN

JAUREGUI

Santiago, 1959. Position after White's 32nd move. Pachman has built up a powerful attack but Carlos seems to be holding, atleast for the time being.

BLACK TO PLAY AND WIN!

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ANOTHER NICE JAUREGUI WIN!

JAUREGUI

SABORIDO,R

Tel Aviv, 1964. Carlos played some great chess at this Olympiad. Here the White Kingside is a bit open, but White soon intends to put a Rook on the g-file and then start piling up the pressure. It looks as though nothing can stop this, especially since the Black Queen seems so isolated and useless....but Carlos has a trick up his sleave!

25...Bxd4!!

A surprising twist that is very precisely calculated! The Bishop must be taken as 26.Qe2 allows 26...Bxb2! 27.QxB? Qf3+ and ...h3 mating.

26.PxB Rxd4!!

The Rook can not be taken as Black mates with ...Qf3+ and ...h3

27.Bd2! best defence

Now there are several ways to win. Carlos would have liked to have continued with the thematic 27...Rxd2 28.QxR Qf3+ 29.Kg1 Re4! 30.h3! Rg4! 31.PxR h3, which seems to win immediately:

But then Carlos noticed that White can put up stiff resistance with 32.Qd8+! Kg7 forced, as 32...Kh7 loses to 33.Qh4+ and 34.Qg3. 33.Qd4+ Kh7 34.Qe4! QxQ 35.f3!, even though Black should eventually win by improving the position of his KIng.

So Carlos chose a more convincing way :

27...Red8! 28.Rc3! Qd7!

Black recovers the Bishop with an extra 2 pawns and a huge positonal advantage. Black won on the 39th move.

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SOLUTIONS TO ABOVE QUIZZES:

Jauregui, C--Bonner ,G : 31.Rd7!! g6 What else? 32.fxg6 h6 33.Qh3! Rxd7 34.Qxd7 1-0

Burgalat, F--Jauregui ,C: 36…Be4! Winning. The game ended quickly: 37.R1xg3 fxg3 38.Nxg3 Rxg4 0-1

Jauregui, C—Pachman,L : 33… Bxg3+! 34.Kxg3 Qe5+ 35.Kg2 Bf3+ 36.Kg1 Rg6+ 0-1

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CARLOS' WIN OVER BOBBY FISCHER!

Santiago was one of Fischer's least successful tournaments, even though he did play one or two really nice games. But against the young Jauregui he was simply wiped off the board!

Grandmaster Pachman (co-winner of the tournament along with Ivkov) recounted in his memoirs a little story before this game was played:

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''Two days later I walked the streets of Santiago with Jauregui, a young player from Chile. We talked just about anything under the sun -- about Kordileras, beauty of chillean women, quality of chillean wine -- when suddenly, on the street in front of the tournament hall, we ran into Bobby.

"Aah, Mr. Pachman," he greated us already from distance: "so, today you prepared my oponent agains me!" Only there and then I realized that Bobby actually plays Jauregui axactly that night.

"But of course, Bobby; and I must warn you that he is prepared exquisitely!" I said promptly and Bobby's face grew a frawn. He sat down to the game and begun a thorough think about each of the first moves. Coincidentally, Jauregui played a system which I also often employ. That deepened Bobby's suspicion. He spent an hour and twenty minutes on the first 11 moves. He wanted to play out of theory and avoid possible surprises. And he managed that beyond all expectations: His move 25 cost him his queen and he could have safely resigned by the move 29.

One could speculate that it was his guilty conscience that cost him the point, and, with that, his chance for the first place in the tournament. ...''

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