How To Draw Your Won Game

Just push that pawn at the wrong time as Black did here at move 84.  There's a reason to study endgames, eh?

[Event "Qatar Masters Open 2015"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2015.12.28"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Abhishek, Kelkar"]
[Black "Krush, Irina"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B32"]
[WhiteElo "2393"]
[BlackElo "2468"]
[PlyCount "170"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]

1. e4 {0} c5 {13} 2. Nf3 {0} Nc6 {35} 3. d4 {47} cxd4 {15} 4. Nxd4 {4} e5 {36}
5. Nb5 {83} d6 {10} 6. c4 {84} a6 {29} 7. N5c3 {94} Be7 {25} 8. Bd3 {61} Bg5 {
36} 9. Nd2 {162} Nge7 {79} 10. O-O {194} O-O {51} 11. Nb3 {38} Bxc1 {41} 12.
Rxc1 {6} Be6 {353} 13. Qd2 {119} Na5 {307} 14. Nd5 {563} Nec6 {645} 15. Bb1 {
316} Nxb3 {72} 16. axb3 {4} Nd4 {135} 17. Rc3 {9} Bxd5 {494} 18. exd5 {16} Qb6
{235} 19. g4 {324} f5 {368} 20. gxf5 {128} Nxf5 {10} 21. Qg5 {671} Qd8 {498}
22. Qg4 {65} Qf6 {429} 23. Kh1 {181} g6 {204} 24. Rh3 {655} Rae8 {431} 25. b4 {
165} Nd4 {373} 26. c5 {182} Re7 {310} 27. Be4 {319} Ref7 {75} 28. Rg1 {142} Rg7
{90} 29. c6 {451} Qe7 {648} 30. Rc3 {157} Qc7 {6} 31. Rf1 {563} Rgf7 {34} 32.
f3 {51} Ne2 {96} 33. Rc2 {93} Nd4 {76} 34. Rc3 {138} Ne2 {64} 35. Rc2 {11} Nd4
{68} 36. Rc4 {15} Rf4 {35} 37. Qg2 {35} R8f7 {31} 38. Rc3 {44} Kg7 {20} 39. Rg1
{56} R4f6 {32} 40. f4 {0} exf4 {0} 41. Qf2 {207} Nb5 {253} 42. Rh3 {116} Qe7 {
340} 43. Bf3 {47} Qf8 {257} 44. Bg4 {461} bxc6 {203} 45. dxc6 {148} d5 {28} 46.
Bf3 {177} Qd6 {98} 47. Rc1 {282} Rc7 {101} 48. Qh4 {93} Kh8 {254} 49. Rc5 {275}
Rf5 {473} 50. Bg4 {76} Rff7 {1} 51. Bd7 {300} Qe5 {35} 52. Qf2 {135} Qe4+ {83}
53. Kg1 {120} f3 {37} 54. Rc1 {101} Nd4 {34} 55. Re1 {19} Ne2+ {35} 56. Kh1 {41
} d4 {43} 57. Rxf3 {13} Rxf3 {41} 58. Rxe2 {9} Qd5 {40} 59. Re5 {32} Rxf2+ {69}
60. Rxd5 {9} Rd2 {24} 61. Kg1 {37} d3 {33} 62. b3 {5} Kg7 {16} 63. h3 {6} Kf6 {
14} 64. Kf1 {8} g5 {60} 65. Ke1 {16} Re2+ {21} 66. Kd1 {45} Re4 {31} 67. b5 {13
} axb5 {10} 68. Rxb5 {6} Rxd7 {48} 69. cxd7 {69} Rd4 {8} 70. Kd2 {91} Rxd7 {16}
71. Rc5 {4} h5 {32} 72. Rc3 {108} h4 {44} 73. Rxd3 {19} Rxd3+ {46} 74. Kxd3 {5}
g4 {5} 75. Ke2 {12} g3 {12} 76. Kf3 {25} Ke5 {31} 77. b4 {6} Kd5 {33} 78. b5 {
10} Kc5 {4} 79. b6 {2} Kxb6 {6} 80. Kg2 {5} Kc5 {5} 81. Kg1 {14} Kd4 {28} 82.
Kg2 {8} Ke3 {41} 83. Kg1 {18} Kf3 {53} 84. Kf1 {6} g2+ {45} 85. Kg1 {4} Kg3 {5}
1/2-1/2

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas. Here's a little Christmas chess gift. A very interesting game played yesterday in Qatar. Note that White starts with what looks like a Kings Indian Attack but changes course with d4 and then doesn't move his e pawn until move 36!

[Event "Qatar Masters Open 2015"]
[Site "Doha QAT"]
[Date "2015.12.23"]
[Round "4.9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Naroditsky, Daniel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator ""]
[BlackElo "2628"]
[Classes "0"]
[ECO "D77"]
[GameID "0"]
[Remark ""]
[Source ""]
[WhiteElo "2796"]

{Game analysis^13 ^10 Processor: AMD A10-5757M APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics
(@2.50GHz)^13 ^10 Engine(s): stockfish^13 ^10 Analysis time: 0:10:55} 1. Nf3
d5 {[%t Val] 7} 2. g3 {[%t Val] 4} 2... g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6.
c4 dxc4 7. Na3 c3 8. bxc3 c5 9. Ne5 Nc6 10. Nac4 {[%t Shrt] N} (10. Nxc6 bxc6
11. Qd3 (11. Bxc6 Bh3 12. Re1 Rc8 13. Bb7 Rb8 14. Bf3 Nd5 {...0-1, Nikolic
Predrag 2638 - Polgar Judit 2700 , Moscow 2002 It "Grand Prix" (active)}
)11... Nd5 12. Rd1 Qa5 13. Bb2 Rb8 14. Qc2 Rxb2 {...0-1, Granda Zuniga Julio E
2475 - Kasparov Garry 2740 , Amsterdam 1986 It}) 10... Nd5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12.
Bd2 Ba6 {[%t Val] 8}{[%t Shrt] N} 13. Ne5 Qd6 14. Re1 cxd4 15. cxd4 Bxe5 16.
dxe5 Qxe5 17. Rc1 {[%t Val] 4} 17... Rfd8 18. Qc2 Rac8 19. Qc5 Qd6 20. Qa5 c5
21. Bh3 {[%t Val] -} (21. Bh6 Qb6 22. Qa3 {+0.00}) 21... e6 22. Bg5 Re8 {[%t
Val] 0} (22... Rd7 23. Rcd1 Qc6 24. Bg2 Bb5 {-0.38}) 23. Rcd1 Qe5 24. Bd2 Qh5
25. Bf1 {[%t Val] -} (25. Qxa6 Qxh3 26. e4 Nb4 27. Bxb4 cxb4 28. Qa4 Qh5 29.
Qxb4 Red8 30. Rxd8+ Rxd8 {+0.00}) 25... Bb7 {?!}{[%t Val] 7} (25... Rc6 {!?}
26. f3 Qe5 27. e4 Qd4+ 28. Be3 Qb4 29. Qxb4 Nxb4 30. Bxa6 Nxa6 31. Rd7 {-0.18}
) 26. Qxa7 {[%t Val] 1} (26. e4 Nb4 27. Bxb4 cxb4 28. Qxb4 {+0.17}) 26... Rc7
27. Qa4 Ra8 28. Qc4 Nb6 {?!}{[%t Val] F} (28... Rcc8 {!?} 29. e4 Nf6 30. Bg2
Bc6 31. f3 Nd7 32. Bf4 Ra4 33. Qc3 Rxa2 {-0.02}) 29. Qc1 {?!}{[%t Val] 2} (29.
Qb3 {!?} 29... Nd7 30. e4 Ba6 31. Bxa6 Rxa6 32. Bf4 e5 33. Rd5 Ra8 34. Red1 c4
{+0.74}) 29... c4 30. Bg5 Qg4 {??}{[%t Val] V} (30... Nd7 {!} 31. e4 c3 {+0.00}
) 31. Bd8 {?}{[%t Val] J} (31. e4 {!} 31... e5 32. Rd6 Rc6 33. h3 Qc8 34. Rd8+
Qxd8 35. Bxd8 Rxd8 36. Qc3 Re6 {+1.72}) 31... Rc6 32. h3 Qh5 {[%t Val] M} 33.
Bg5 Rc5 34. Bf6 {[%t Val] J} 34... Qf5 35. Bd4 Rb5 {?}{[%t Val] W} (35... Qe4
{!} 36. f3 Qc6 37. e4 Rb5 38. a4 Rxa4 39. Bf6 Qc5+ 40. Kg2 Ra8 41. Re2 {+0.95}
) 36. e4 Qf3 {[%t Val] [} 37. Bg2 {[%t Val] W} 37... Qa3 {[%t Val] [} 38. Qxa3
Rxa3 39. Rb1 Rxb1 40. Rxb1 c3 41. Bxb6 1-0

Lyndonville Chess Club Non-Rated Tournament Winners

From left to right, Mike Chadburn (3rd), Bill Storz (1st), Brian Lafferty (2nd) Not pictured, Brett Hoffman (3rd) Photo take at the home of the LCC, The Grindstone Cafe, Depot Street, Lyndonville, VT

And So Another Generation Starts Playing

From the Ukrainian Chess Championships

Lyndonville Chess Club End of Year Update

Happy Holidays to All!!

In view of the holidays and everyone's busy schedules, I'm planning a hiatus to our Tuesday evening meetings for the coming two weeks. We'll begin anew on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at The Grindstone. If anyone wants a game, feel free to contact me or anyone on the list. I'm usually at the Grindstone on Sundays at 11:30 if anyone wants a game or three. I can also play during the week in the morning. 

2016 Club Ladder

I'm going to implement a club ladder tournament to run throughout the year. This will be set up using the SwissSys tournament program and will give everyone who plays a nominal, but totally unofficial, chess rating. You can use this to challenge another member higher on the ladder to move up. At the end of 2016, we'll have a ladder champion to fete. I'll find a suitable prize. Perhaps some arcane chess tome from the 18th Century. Don't get too excited.......it likely won't be a first edition. 

Outreach Across the Border

Last year on Bastille Day, July 14th, we had a little celebration by playing at least one game using the Philidor Defense while we drank some French wine. With very little notice, I contacted some of the clubs in Quebec and the the Quebec Chess Association. The response was very positive. I'd like to do more to promote that, so if anyone is interested in cross-cultural activity, or finding a Canadian spouse for possible emigration purposes, please let me know. 

A joyous and happy holiday season to all!

Long Time Boston Globe Chess Columnist Passes Away

Harold Dondis, Boston Globe chess columnist for 50 years, passed away at the age of 93 while playing chess at the Boyleston Chess Club in the Boston area. R.I.P.
http://www.uschesstrust.org/harold-dondis-chairman-emeritus-and-trustee/

Kasparov On The FIDE-Kirsan Scandal

......Of course, no one who cares at all for the game of chess could support Ilyumzhinov even without this long-coming comeuppance. It says everything that his punishment came from outside of the chess world, not inside FIDE or from the federations, who have sold their souls and sold out the game of chess for a chance to sit closer to Kirsan’s knee and beg for scraps. Will the dogs now turn on their master and demand his ouster or will they defend him still? Where is the media demanding accountability from the federations who supported Kirsan? Where is the voice of the allegedly reform-minded European federations, or are they waiting for EU sanctions to follow? Waiting to see if some of the money Kirsan’s bank handled for ISIS made its way into accounts in Paris?......"
http://chess-news.ru/en/node/20595

Chess and Holiday Party Cheer Tonight at The Grindstone

Join us for chess, some wine and snacks to celebrate the holiday season. byob and something like cookies to share.

Santa blitz anyone??

FIDE President Is Out Until US Treasury Sanctions Against Him Are Lifted

Smart move by FIDE. Without it they risk entangling FIDE's financial affairs in the UST sanction process. Still, a lawyer chess friend and I were chatting by phone yesterday (he's also a former USCF member with some familiarity of FIDE issues). He raised an interesting question. Does Kirsan have a financial interest in Agon, ,the company with the exclusive promotional contract with FIDE? If so, there could be further problems with the FIDE WCC being held in the US. 

And of course, those here in the USA who have been close to Kirsan in the past, should be very careful having any contact with him and should certainly consult counsel before engaging in any business dealings with him, chess related or not.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/12035992/Chess-world-plunged-into-crisis-as-FIDE-president-withdraws-to-fight-Syria-allegations.html

http://tass.ru/en/sport/841894

LCC Non-Rated November Tournament Results--Bill Storz Wins

Bill playing White defeated Mike this afternoon at The Grindstone. Thank you to all who participated.

Here is the pgn of their game:

[Event "LCC"]
[Site "<Unknown>"]
[Date "2015.12.06"]
[Round "<Unknown>"]
[White "Storz,,  Bill"]
[Black "Chadburn,,  Mike"]
[Result "1-0"]

1.e4 c5  2.Bc4 Nc6  3.Nf3 e6  4.Nc3 Nf6  5.d3 a6  6.a4 d5  7.exd5 exd5  8.Bb3 Qa5  9.Bd2 Qd8  10.0-0 h6  11.h3 Be7  12.Bf4 0-0  13.Qd2 b6  14.Ne2 Re8  15.Ng3 g5  16.Bxg5 hxg5  17.Qxg5 Kf8  18.Qh6 Kg8  19.Ng5 Ne5  20.Nh5

Important Lyndonville Chess Club Tournament Game Sunday

Perhaps the most important game of our tournament will be played tomorrow, Sunday, at The Grindstone between Mike Chadburn and Bill Storz at Noon. From the cross-table below, if Mike can win, he'll have the same overall score as Bill, but with a win by Mike, that should put Mike in 1st Place. Join us tomorrow if you can. I'll be there as well with a few sets if anyone is looking for a game.

Soviet Chess Book/Publication Information Sought

Unpacking a post-divorce box of books last night I came across this one given to me by IM Josef Vatnikov in 2006. Vatnikov, I'm told, ran the Moscow University CC for years, was a lawyer and apparently helped to rewrite the Soviet constitution after Stalin's death. I met him when he did a simul in Longmeadow, MA. I don't read Russian. Can one of you good folks tell me what I've got? Thanks!
This is the link to Vatnikov's FIDE Card
https://ratings.fide.com/card.phtml?event=4101499

Final Round of November Non-Rated Tournament is Tomorrow Evening at The Grindstone

Lost a good game to Bill Storz this morning. See you all tomorrow evening.

FIDE President, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, Designated and Has Assets Frozen For Dealings With Syria

https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl0287.aspx


From the US Treasury Dept. press release,.

OFAC designated Mudalal Khuri today for materially assisting and acting for or on behalf of previously designated entities and individuals including the Government of Syria, Central Bank of Syria, Central Bank of Syria Governor Adib Mayaleh, and Central Bank of Syria official Batoul Rida.  OFAC designated Adib Mayaleh in July 2012 and Batoul Rida in March 2015.

 

Khuri has had a long association with the Assad regime and represents regime business and financial interests in Russia.  Khuri is linked to financial transactions in which the Government of Syria had an interest as early as 1994.  He also served as an intermediary between Batoul Rida and a Russian firm on an attempted procurement of ammonium nitrate in late 2013.  Khuri also owns or controls five of the entities designated today.

 

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov was designated today for materially assisting and acting for or on behalf of the Government of Syria, Central Bank of Syria, Adib Mayaleh, and Batoul Rida.  Ilyumzhinov is a wealthy Russian businessman, former president of the Russian Republic of Kalmykia, and long-time World Chess Federation president.  He is linked to financial transactions involving Khuri-associated companies as early as 1997 and owns or controls the Russian Financial Alliance Bank, along with Khuri.  An advisor to Ilyumzhinov, then-President of Kalmykia, was convicted in Russia in 1999 for the murder of an opposition journalist who reportedly was investigating an offshore business registration mechanism in Kalmykia tied to Ilyumzhinov.  Russian authorities subsequently closed the offshore business registration mechanism after concluding that it was being used for illegal purposes.

 

OFAC designated Russian Financial Alliance Bank (RFA Bank) today for being owned or controlled by Khuri and Ilyumzhinov.  Khuri is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of RFA Bank, and Ilyumzhinov is a major shareholder of RFA Bank and former Chairman of the Board of Directors of RFA Bank.  At the time of his Chairmanship, Ilyumzhinov reportedly brought in his own representatives to the bank.

 

Three of NYC's Finest

The standing officer is not only keeping the venue safe, he's part of a new pilot USChess anti-cheating program.

Round 2 Standings and Round 3 Pairings LCC November Non-Rated Tournament

LCC Tournament Round Two and Adjourned Game Continue Tonight

Round two begins at 6:30. After my Round 2 game with Mike Chadburn, Mike will unseal Brian Kelly's adjourned move from last week and they will finish out their game. I'm looking for a Botvinnik vs. Petrosian game with similar qualities.............stay tuned.

LCC Tournament Rount 1 Cross-Table and Round Two Pairings

Thank you to all who are participating! See you all Tuesday evening.

Lyndonville Chess Club Tournament Update

The final game of Round 1 will be played today at the Grindstone at High Noon between Brett Hofman (White) and Bill Storz (Black). I'll be at the Grindstone with an extra board if anyone is looking for a game.

Round 1 results will be posted here later today along with the pairings for Round 2.

Lyndonville November Non-Rated Swiss Tournament Has Begun

We had three new folks show up last night, two of whom, Wayne and Davin, entered the tournament, their first. Seven people are in the tournament. After the tournament games, we had fun playing blitz with lots of good kibitzing and laughter.

The third newcomer, Brian Kelly, is a strong player who had a interesting game as White with Mike Chadburn. The game had to be adjourned at 9pm closing with Brian dealing his move. The game will be resumed next week. Do drop by to see the end and play some informal games. Photos from last night and a pic of the position at adjournment of the Kelly-Chadburn game with white having sealed his move.

Brian Kelly and Peter Chadburn

Wayne, Melissa and Davin

White has sealed his move. 

Lyndonville Chess Club Non-Rated Tournament Begins Tomorrow Evening

We presently have five people signed up to do our non-rated, G-60 tournament. We need six or more people to do a four round Swiss tournament. If we don't make that number, we'll switch to a single Round Robin format that will take five weeks to complete as everyone plays each other once.
Either way, I propose that on the evening of 12/8 we celebrate the holiday season. I'll bring some Malbec and Christmas cookies. Anything folks want to bring for a holiday celebration is most welcome.
If there is a final tournament game on 12/8, you may of course play with or without wine or spirits, a la Alekhine (his milk or alcohol years--your choice)

Happy Birthday to Mikhal Tal

Sadly, he died young at age 55. If he hadn't smoked like a chimney, we might still have him with us.

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Bled/Zagreb/Belgrade"]
[Date "1959.10.03"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Smyslov, Vassily"]
[Black "Tal, Mihail"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B42"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1959.09.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "28"]
[EventCountry "CRO"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. O-O d5 8. Nd2 Nf6 9. Qe2 Be7 10. Re1 O-O 11. b3 a5 12. Bb2 a4 13. a3 axb3 14. cxb3 Qb6 15. exd5 cxd5 16. b4 Nd7 17. Nb3 e5 18. Bf5 e4 19. Rec1 Qd6 20. Nd4 Bf6 21. Rc6 Qe7 22. Rac1 h6 23. Rc7 Be5 24. Nc6 Qg5 25. h4 Qxh4 26. Nxe5 Nxe5 27. Rxc8 Nf3+ 28. gxf3 Qg5+ 29. Kf1 Qxf5 30. Rxf8+ Rxf8 31. fxe4 dxe4 32. Qe3 Rd8 33. Qg3 g5 34. Rc5 Rd1+ 35. Kg2 Qe6 36. b5 Kh7 37. Rc6 Qd5 38. Qe5 $2 {[#]} (38. Qh2 { wins outright.}) 38... Rg1+ $1 39. Kh2 (39. Kxg1 Qd1+ 40. Kh2 Qh5+ $11) 39... Rh1+ $1 40. Kg2 (40. Kxh1 Qd1+ 41. Kh2 Qh5+ 42. Kg2 Qf3+ $11) 40... Rg1+ 1/2-1/2

LCC Non-Rated Tournament Begins Tonight

Join us for a fun, four week non-rated G-60 tournament at The Grindstone. Round One will start at 6:30 P.M.

A Calculation Challenge

A chess challenge of sorts. Here are the opening moves of a game between two grandmasters taken from a book on chess calculation. Black is to move. Try to find the move black made.......it leads to an amazing game. Suggest your move to me here and if it's correct, I'll email the rest of the game before posting it here next week.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. f4 g6 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8.

e5 Ng8 9. Qf3 d5 10. Be3 h5 11. h3 Bf5 12. O-O-O e6 13. Ba6 

Lyndonville Chess Club's Banner Is Up On Tuesday Evenings

At The Grindstone Cafe. Depot Street, Lyndonville VT

Lyndonville Chess Club November Tournament (Non-Rated)

Non-rated, 4 round Swiss, G-60 with no delay. Feel free to use a digital or analogue clock. Choice is up to the player with the Black pieces. If you have a board, pieces and clock, please bring them in the event we need them.
One game per week. You will know next week's opponent on Wednesday and can trash talk-harass your opponent all week. Or be nice.

Place: The Grindstone Café, Depot Street, Lyndonville, VT
Start Time: 6:30ish P.M. All games must be finished by 9pm
Round 1 11/3
Round 2 11/10
Round 3 11/17
Round 4 11/24
Entry fee will be $10 (a mere $2.50 per game) with 10% going to The Grindstone as a thank you for allowing us to use their space. All of the remaining entry fees will be given out to participants as follows
1st Place 50%
2nd Place 30%
3rd Place 20%
The more people who play, the larger the winnings pot will be. If there are enough people playing down the road, I'd like to run the prizes to 5th place.
Please let me know if you plan to play a soon as you can so that we can get a feel for what we will need to prepare for.
Thanks!

Memory Foam Cushions

Do they make these for chess??

Kids Playing Chess In Turkey

May they always be so happy.

Lyndonville Chess Club Tournament #1 (NON-RATED)

The tournament (4 Round Swiss, G-45) is tentatively scheduled to begin Tuesday, 11/3 and continue on 11/10, 11/17 and finish on 11/24. It will be non-rated, so ya don't have to worry about losing those precious rating points or having to join the USCF. The entry fee will likely be $5 with all the proceeds, less 10% for the Grindstone, going to the top three finishers in the tournament. 
So.........spread the word, please, and come to join in the fun.

The Love For Wood

A 1979 Dutch documentary featuring Ma Euwe, Hein Donner, Jan Timman, Hans Ree and others from the era when cigarettes and coffee were the chess player's constant companions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E48r-JTSAVM

Street Chess In Washington Square Park, NYC

An interesting short film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-3r3UAMz48

Lyndonville Chess Club Banner

We'll have a new banner in a week or so to hang in The Grindstone Cafe. Perhaps we should become the Lyndonville Chess and Film Society..........

Queen vs. Two Rook Endgame? Who Should Win?

That's what occurred last night in a game between David Paulson and me. Due to a mistake in recording the game, I stopped at the point in the pgn below. After perhaps another 20 or so moves, we agreed to a draw in a situation where White was up a pawn, but Black's Queen could essentially check the White King, not in perpetual check, but pretty much into infinity or until the 50 move rule or a three position repeat occurred. A good, very draining game--I slept until 10am this morning.

Robert and Bill Storz had a good long game that they adjourned---shades of years past, although there was no sealed move.

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "David Paulson"]
[Black "Brian Lafferty"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[BlackElo "0"]
[Classes "?"]
[ECO "D07"]
[TimeControl "?"]
[WhiteElo "0"]

{Game analysis^13 ^10 Processor: AMD A10-5757M APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics
(@2.50GHz)^13 ^10 Engine(s): stockfish^13 ^10 Analysis time: 0:10:16} 1. d4 d5
{[%t Val] 7} 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c4 Nf6 {[%t Val] =}{[%t Shrt] N} (3... e6 4. Nc3
Nf6 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O 7. Rc1 b6 8. cxd5 {...1-0, Karpov Anatoly 2700 -
Prata Jose 2068 , Torino 5/22/1982 Simultan})(3... Bg4 4. cxd5 Bxf3 5. gxf3
Qxd5 6. e3 e5 7. Nc3 Bb4 8. Bd2 {...1-0, Ivanchuk Vassily 2705 - Brynell
Stellan 2473 , Sweden 3/14/2004 Ch Sweden (team) 2003/04}) 4. Nc3 {[%t Val] :}
4... Bf5 {[%t Val] B} 5. e3 {[%t Val] 7} 5... e6 6. Bd3 {[%t Val] 4} 6...
Bxd3 7. Qxd3 Bb4 8. a3 {[%t Shrt] N} 8... Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 h6 {[%t Val] 9} (9...
O-O 10. cxd5 exd5 11. O-O Na5 12. Nd2 Re8 13. f3 c5 14. e4 {-0.08}) 10. O-O
Ne7 {[%t Val] D} (10... dxc4 11. Qxc4 Qd5 12. Qe2 O-O 13. Rb1 Rab8 14. Nd2
{+0.27}) 11. cxd5 Qxd5 12. c4 Qe4 13. Qb3 O-O 14. Bb2 Qc6 15. d5 {?!}{[%t Val]
6} (15. Ne5 {!?} 15... Qb6 16. Qc2 Qd6 17. Rfb1 c5 18. dxc5 Qxc5 19. Bc3 b6
20. a4 {+0.63}) 15... exd5 16. Bxf6 {?!}{[%t Val] ^31 } (16. Qb4 {!?} 16...
Rfe8 17. Bxf6 a5 18. Qb1 Qxf6 19. cxd5 Nxd5 {+0.13}) 16... dxc4 17. Bxe7 {??}
{[%t Val] ^07 } (17. Qb2 {!} 17... gxf6 18. Rfc1 {-0.72}) 17... cxb3 18. Bxf8
Kxf8 19. Nd4 Qa4 20. Rfb1 Rd8 21. Nxb3 Rd3 {??}{[%t Val] K} (21... b6 {!} 22.
Nd4 c5 23. Ne2 Rd3 24. Re1 Rxa3 25. Rad1 b5 26. Rc1 c4 {-4.13}) 22. Nc5 Qc2
23. Nxd3 Qxd3 24. Rxb7 Qc3 25. Rbb1 a5 {[%t Val] N} 26. Rc1 Qe5 27. a4 {?!}
{[%t Val] F} (27. Rab1 {!?} 27... Qd6 28. a4 g6 29. g3 Qa3 30. Rc4 Qa2 31.
Rbc1 c5 32. Kg2 Qb3 {+1.24}) 27... c5 {[%t Val] K} (27... g6 28. Ra3 Qe4 29.
Raa1 Qe5 30. Rab1 Qe4 31. g3 c6 32. Rb8+ Kg7 33. Ra8 {+0.74}) 28. Rab1 g6 {?}
{[%t Val] X} (28... Qe4 {!} 29. Rb8+ Ke7 30. Rxc5 Qxa4 31. Rb7+ Kd6 32. Rc1
Ke5 33. Rxf7 Qa3 34. Rfc7 {+0.97}) 29. Rb5 Qe4 30. Rxa5 c4 {[%t Val] \} 31.
Rc5 c3 32. R1xc3 {?!}{[%t Val] X} (32. a5 {!?} 32... f6 33. R5xc3 Qa4 34. Rc8+
Ke7 {+3.54}) 32... Qxa4 1/2-1/2

What To Do With Chess Winnings?? Buy A Goat, Of Course!

 "I think I will buy a goat. It will see tactics better than me".--Fabio Caruna at the post-tournament press conference in St. Louis.

http://chess-news.ru/en/node/19927

Nakamura Comments on So's Preparation

Interesting comments relating to computer analysis that Nakamura considers misleading.

http://chess-news.ru/en/node/19892

Never Give Up!!

Nakamura seems to have worn down Magnus to a draw. Some chess players might call this a swindle.............

[Event "3rd Sinquefield Cup 2015"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2015.08.31"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2853"]
[BlackElo "2814"]
[Annotator "Deep Fritz 14 x64 (10m)"]
[PlyCount "190"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[EventCountry "USA"]

{D37: Queen's Gambit Declined: 5 Bf4} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Bf4 Nf6
5. e3 O-O 6. a3 {Controls b4} c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Nf3 Nc6 9. Qc2 Qa5 10. Rd1 Be7
11. Be2 Ne4 12. cxd5 Nxc3 13. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 14. bxc3 exd5 15. Rxd5 Bxa3 16. Nd4
Nxd4 17. exd4 b6 18. Kd2 {White loses the right to castle} Be6 19. Rb5 Bd7 {
Black threatens to win material: Bd7xb5} 20. Rb3 Be7 21. Bf3 {White threatens
to win material: Bf3xa8} Ba4 {Black threatens to win material: Ba4xb3} (21...
Rad8 22. Ra1 Be6 23. Rxa7 Bxb3 24. Rxe7 $11) 22. Rb2 $14 Rad8 23. Ra1 {White
threatens to win material: Ra1xa4} b5 {White has a new backward pawn: c3} 24.
Bc6 a6 25. Bb7 {White threatens to win material: Bb7xa6} Bd6 {Black threatens
to win material: Bd6xf4} (25... g5 26. Bg3 f5 27. Be5 $14 (27. Bxa6 $143 f4 28.
Bh4 gxh4 29. Bxb5 Bxb5 30. Rxb5 Rd7 $15)) 26. Be3 $16 a5 (26... Bxh2 $2 {would
be great except for} 27. Bxa6 Bd6 28. Bxb5 Bxb5 29. Rxb5 $18) 27. Bc6 {White
threatens to win material: Bc6xb5} Rb8 (27... f5 28. Bg5 (28. Bxb5 $143 Bxb5
29. Rxb5 f4 $15) 28... Rb8 29. c4 $16 (29. Rxa4 $2 {doesn't work because of}
bxa4 30. Bd5+ Kh8 $19)) 28. d5 Rfd8 (28... Bxh2 $4 {the pawn contains a lethal
dose of poison} 29. g3 f5 30. Bf4 $18) 29. Kd3 Bf8 (29... Bxh2 $2 {fails to}
30. g3 $18) 30. Bd4 (30. Ke4 g6 $16) 30... f6 31. Ke4 Bd6 $2 (31... Rdc8 $142
$5 $16) 32. c4 $1 $18 {Deflection: a4} Bb4 (32... bxc4 33. Bxa4 {Pinning} (33.
Rxa4 {Deflection})) 33. Ba7 f5+ 34. Kf3 Rbc8 35. cxb5 Bxb5 36. Bxb5 Bc3 37.
Rab1 (37. Rbb1 $5 Bxa1 38. Rxa1 Rxd5 39. Rxa5 Kf8 $18) 37... Bxb2 $16 38. Rxb2
Rxd5 39. Be3 (39. Ba4 Re5 40. Be3 g6 $18) 39... Rb8 40. Bc4 Rxb2 41. Bxd5+ Kh8
42. Bd4 Rb1 43. Ke2 a4 44. g3 a3 {He broke from his leash} 45. Kd2 h5 46. h4
Kh7 47. Bc4 g6 48. Kc2 Re1 (48... Rb8 $5 $16) 49. Be3 f4 50. Bxf4 (50. gxf4 $6
Rh1 $14) 50... a2 51. Bxa2 Re2+ 52. Kb3 Rxf2 53. Bb1 Re2 54. Kc4 Kg7 55. Kd5
Re1 56. Bc2 Re2 57. Bd3 Re1 58. Be4 Rd1+ 59. Ke5 Re1 60. Bd2 Re2 61. Bc3 Kh6
62. Bb4 Rf2 63. Bc5 Rf1 64. Bb4 Rf2 65. Be7 Rf1 66. Bf6 Rg1 (66... Ra1 67. Kd6
Rd1+ 68. Bd5 $16) 67. Bg5+ Kg7 68. Bf4 (68. Kf4 $5 Rf1+ 69. Bf3 Rc1 $18) 68...
Re1 $16 69. Kd5 {Twofold repetition} Rd1+ 70. Ke6 Re1 71. Ke5 Re2 72. Kd5 Re1
73. Bd3 Kh7 74. Kd4 Kg7 75. Be3 Ra1 76. Ke4 Ra4+ 77. Kf3 Ra3 78. Bb5 Rb3 79.
Be8 Rb1 80. Bc6 Rb4 81. Bd2 Rb6 82. Bc3+ Kh6 83. Bd5 Rb1 84. Kf4 Rf1+ 85. Ke5
Rg1 86. Bd2+ Kg7 (86... Kh7 87. Bf4 $16) 87. Bf4 (87. Kf4 $5 Rd1 88. Ke3 Kh7
$16) 87... Re1+ $16 88. Kd6 Kf6 89. Bf3 Kf5 90. Kd5 Rf1 {Black threatens to
win material: Rf1xf3} 91. Be4+ Kg4 92. Bxg6 (92. Ke5 $5 Re1 93. Kd4 $14) 92...
Rxf4 $11 93. gxf4 Kxf4 {White wins a piece.} 94. Bxh5 {Sacrifices material} Kg3
{Black threatens to win material: Kg3xh4} 95. Bd1 Kxh4 1/2-1/2

What A Difference A Day Makes For Nakamura

A Round 7 loss playing White against Aronian.

[Event "3rd Sinquefield Cup 2015"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2015.08.30"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2814"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Robot 1"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:3600+30"]

1. e4 {13} e5 {15} 2. Nf3 {34} Nc6 {6} 3. Bb5 {4} a6 {9} 4. Ba4 {4} Nf6 {5} 5.
O-O {7} Be7 {4} 6. Re1 {4} b5 {5} 7. Bb3 {3} O-O {6} 8. a4 {3} b4 {7} 9. d4 {3}
d6 {5} 10. dxe5 {17} dxe5 {5} 11. Qxd8 {23} Rxd8 {8} 12. Nbd2 {4} h6 {140} 13.
Bc4 {71} Bd6 {136} 14. a5 {126} Re8 {141} 15. Bd3 {642} Nd7 {769} 16. b3 {769}
Nc5 {76} 17. Bc4 {64} Be6 {74} 18. Bb2 {89} f6 {98} 19. Bxe6+ {1321} Rxe6 {330}
20. Nc4 {651} Rb8 {12} 21. Nfd2 {354} Rb5 {105} 22. Ra2 {136} Nb7 {310} 23.
Rea1 {59} Bc5 {144} 24. Kf1 {5} Re7 {198} 25. Ke2 {517} Rd7 {90} 26. Nf1 {734}
Bd4 {359} 27. Nfe3 {427} Bxe3 {144} 28. Nxe3 {15} Kf7 {279} 29. f3 {44} Ke6 {
249} 30. g4 {109} Nc5 {246} 31. Nc4 {197} Ke7 {551} 32. Bc1 {38} Ne6 {69} 33.
Be3 {26} Ncd4+ {108} 34. Kf2 {7} Ng5 {95} 35. Bxg5 {221} fxg5 {521} 36. Rd1 {6}
Ke6 {81} 37. Rd3 {186} Rf7 {50} 38. Ra1 {92} Rb8 {189} 39. Rad1 {15} Rbf8 {51}
40. Nxe5 {0} Kxe5 {0} 41. Rxd4 {22} Rxf3+ {0} 42. Ke2 {259} Rf2+ {0} 43. Ke1 {7
} Rf1+ {110} 44. Ke2 {1} R8f2+ {50} 45. Ke3 {4} Rf3+ {6} 46. Ke2 {1} R1f2+ {7}
47. Ke1 {3} Rxh2 {57} 48. Rd5+ {1029} Kf4 {19} 49. R1d4 {40} Kxg4 {132} 50. Rc5
{217} Rg3 {144} 51. Kf1 {35} Rc3 {19} 0-1

Excellent Win By Nakamura against So

Analysis by Deep Fritz 14

[Event "3rd Sinquefield Cup 2015"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2015.08.29"]
[Round "6"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E99"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2814"]
[Annotator "Deep Fritz 14 x64 (10m)"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[EventCountry "USA"]

{E99: King's Indian: Classical Main Line: 9 Ne1 Nd7 10 f3 f5} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4
g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O {Black has a cramped
position} Nc6 (7... exd4 8. Nxd4 Nc6 9. Be3 $11) 8. d5 $14 {White threatens to
win material: d5xc6} Ne7 9. Ne1 {Black has a cramped position} Nd7 10. f3 f5 {
Attacks the pawn chain} 11. Be3 f4 {Black gets more space} 12. Bf2 g5 13. Nd3 {
White plans c5} Ng6 14. c5 Nf6 15. Rc1 Rf7 16. Kh1 h5 {Black prepares the
advance g4} 17. cxd6 cxd6 18. Nb5 a6 19. Na3 b5 20. Rc6 {The white rook on an
outpost} (20. Nb1 h4 $14) 20... g4 {Playing against the pawn chain} 21. Qc2 Qf8
22. Rc1 Bd7 {Black threatens to win material: Bd7xc6} (22... Bb7 23. Rc7 $14)
23. Rc7 (23. Rb6 Rc8 24. Qd1 Bh6 25. Rxa6 b4 26. Nxb4 Nxe4 $14) 23... Bh6 24.
Be1 h4 25. fxg4 f3 (25... h3 $5 {looks like a viable alternative} 26. Bf3 Bxg4
27. Bxg4 Rxc7 28. Be6+ Rf7 $11) 26. gxf3 $16 Nxe4 {White has a new protected
passed pawn: g4} 27. Rd1 $4 {with this move White loses his initiative} (27.
Rxd7 Rxf3 28. Bxf3 Qxf3+ 29. Qg2 Qxd3 30. Rd1 $19) 27... Rxf3 $17 28. Rxd7 $4 {
leads to further unpleasantness} (28. Ba5 Bxg4 29. Bb6 $19) 28... Rf1+ $19 29.
Kg2 Be3 30. Bg3 (30. Bf2 Rxf2+ 31. Nxf2 Qxf2+ 32. Kh1 $19) 30... hxg3 31. Rxf1
(31. Bxf1 {is one last hope} Nh4+ 32. Kh3 $19) 31... Nh4+ 32. Kh3 Qh6 33. g5
Nxg5+ 34. Kg4 Nhf3 $3 {Clearance: h4} 35. Nf2 (35. Bxf3 Qh3# {Mate attack
Clearance}) (35. Rxf3 Qh3# {Mate attack Clearance}) (35. -- $140 Qh3# {Mate
threat}) 35... Qh4+ 36. Kf5 Rf8+ 37. Kg6 (37. Rf7 {doesn't change anything
anymore} Rxf7+ 38. Kg6 Qh7#) 37... Rf6+ $3 {Clearance: g5} 38. Kxf6 (38. Kxf6
Ne4+ {Mate attack Clearance Pinning}) 38... Ne4+ 39. Kg6 (39. Kf5 {cannot
change what is in store for White} Qf4+ 40. Ke6 Qf6#) 39... Qg5# 0-1

Excellent Sacrifice and Win By Aronian As Black Against So

Enjoy!!

[Event "3rd Sinquefield Cup 2015"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2015.08.26"]
[Round "4"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[EventCountry "USA"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 c5 5. d5 O-O 6. e4 d6 7. Nge2 a6 8. a4 Ba5
9. Bd2 exd5 10. cxd5 Nh5 11. g3 Nd7 12. Bg2 b5 13. g4 b4 14. Nb1 Qh4+ 15. Kf1
Ne5 16. Be1 Qf6 17. gxh5 Nxf3 18. Bf2 Bg4 19. Qc1 Nd4 20. Nxd4 cxd4 21. e5 dxe5
22. Nd2 Rac8 23. Qb1 b3 24. Nxb3 Bb6 25. a5 Ba7 26. Kg1 Bf5 27. Be4 Qg5+ 28.
Kf1 Qf4 0-1

Topo Defeats Magnus Yet Again!

[Event "3rd Sinquefield Cup 2015"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2015.08.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2853"]
[BlackElo "2816"]
[Annotator "Robot 1"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:3600+30"]

1. e4 {3} c5 {10} 2. Nf3 {6} d6 {5} 3. Bb5+ {12} Nd7 {33} 4. O-O {12} Ngf6 {106
} 5. Re1 {26} a6 {37} 6. Bd3 {34} b5 {330} 7. c4 {29} g5 {15} 8. Nxg5 {1756}
Ne5 {72} 9. Be2 {196} bxc4 {799} 10. Na3 {1002} Rg8 {401} 11. Nxc4 {1201} Nxc4
{295} 12. d4 {6} Nb6 {896} 13. Bh5 {440} Nxh5 {435} 14. Qxh5 {43} Rg7 {606} 15.
Nxh7 {300} Qd7 {301} 16. dxc5 {174} dxc5 {141} 17. e5 {377} Qc6 {1117} 18. f3 {
662} Qg6 {144} 19. Nf6+ {92} Kd8 {9} 20. Qxg6 {117} Rxg6 {14} 21. Ne4 {8} Bb7 {
388} 22. h4 {26} Rc8 {174} 23. h5 {33} Rg8 {20} 24. Bd2 {65} Nc4 {100} 25. Bc3
{28} Bh6 {128} 26. Rad1+ {78} Ke8 {175} 27. Rd3 {120} Bf4 {37} 28. Nf2 {84} Bc6
{125} 29. Nh3 {199} Bg3 {44} 30. Re2 {1} Bb5 {19} 31. Rd1 {1} Bc6 {82} 32. Nf2
{36} Bxe5 {50} 33. Ng4 {16} Bxc3 {9} 34. bxc3 {1} Kf8 {8} 35. Kf2 {1} Rh8 {9}
36. Ne5 {3} Nxe5 {23} 37. Rxe5 {1} Be8 {13} 38. g4 {1} f6 {7} 39. Re6 {3} Bb5 {
8} 40. Rde1 {0} Rc7 {0} 0-1

See also for more decisive games:
http://en.chessbase.com/post/sinquefield-01-five-decisives-games

Pillsbury vs. Lasker------Is The Computer Wrong?

Pillsbury lost the following game to Lasker in St. Petersburg after Lasker effectively sacrificed his two rooks on the same square. Kasparov noted in his Predecessors book, Volume 1, that computer analysis did not see the combination that Lasker did over the board. What follows is a Deep Fritz 14 analysis in pgn with verbose commentary. You be the judge.

[Event "St Petersburg 1895/96"]
[Site "St Petersburg"]
[Date "1896.01.04"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Pillsbury, Harry Nelson"]
[Black "Lasker, Emanuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D50"]
[Annotator "Deep Fritz 14 x64 (10m)"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1896.??.??"]

{D50: Queen's Gambit Declined: Dutch-Peruvian Gambit} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3
Nf6 4. Nf3 c5 5. Bg5 cxd4 6. Qxd4 Nc6 {Black threatens to win material: Nc6xd4}
7. Qh4 (7. Bxf6 gxf6 8. Qh4 dxc4 $11) 7... Be7 8. O-O-O Qa5 9. e3 {Covers d4} (
9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Bxe7 Nxe7 $15) 9... Bd7 10. Kb1 h6 11. cxd5 exd5
12. Nd4 O-O 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Qh5 Nxd4 15. exd4 Be6 16. f4 Rac8 17. f5 Rxc3 (
17... Bd7 $142 $5 18. Qf3 Ba4 $17) 18. fxe6 $11 (18. bxc3 $2 {looks very
tantalising, but} Bd7 19. h4 Qxc3 $19) 18... Ra3 19. exf7+ $4 {hands over the
advantage to the opponent} (19. bxa3 Qb6+ 20. Kc2 Rc8+ 21. Kd2 Qxd4+ 22. Ke1
Qe3+ 23. Be2 fxe6 24. Qh3 Bc3+ 25. Kf1 Rf8+ 26. Bf3 $17) 19... Rxf7 $19 20.
bxa3 Qb6+ 21. Bb5 Qxb5+ 22. Ka1 Rc7 $4 {Black has a mate threat. gives the
opponent new chances} (22... Qc4 $142 {Black has a promising position} 23. Kb1
Bxd4 24. Rxd4 Qxd4 $19) 23. Rd2 $11 Rc4 24. Rhd1 (24. Re1 Qa5 (24... Rxd4 $4 {
that pawn is deadly bait and will cause Black grave problems} 25. Re8+ Kh7 26.
Qf5+ g6 27. Qxf6 Qxe8 28. Qxd4 $18) 25. Re8+ Kh7 26. Qf5+ g6 27. Re7+ Bxe7 28.
Qf7+ Kh8 29. Qe8+ Kg7 30. Qxe7+ Kg8 31. Qe8+ Kh7 32. Qf7+ Kh8 33. Qf6+ Kh7 34.
Qe7+ Kh8 35. Qf8+ Kh7 36. Qf7+ Kh8 37. Qf6+ Kh7 38. Qe7+ Kh8 39. Qf8+ Kh7 40.
Qf7+ $11) 24... Rc3 $4 {Black threatens to win material: Rc3xa3. Black loses
the upper hand} (24... Qc6 $142 25. Kb1 Bg5 $17) 25. Qf5 Qc4 (25... Rxa3 $2 {
fails because of} 26. Qe6+ Kh7 27. Rc1 $16) 26. Kb2 $4 {gives the opponent
counterplay} (26. Kb1 $142 $14 {would bring relief}) 26... Rxa3 $19 27. Qe6+ (
27. Kb1 $142 Bxd4 $1 {Deflection: a2} 28. Re1 Qb4+ 29. Kc1 Qc3+ 30. Qc2 Qa1+
31. Qb1 Rc3+ 32. Rc2 Be3+ 33. Rxe3 Qxb1+ 34. Kxb1 Rxe3 35. Rd2 $19) 27... Kh7
$4 {Black has a mate threat. allows the opponent back into the game} (27... Kh8
$142 28. Qe8+ Kh7 $19) 28. Kxa3 $4 {stumbles just before the finish line} (28.
Qf5+ $142 {the only rescuing move} Kh8 29. Kb1 $11 (29. Kxa3 $4 {is refuted by
the following mate in 4} Qc3+ 30. Ka4 b5+ 31. Kxb5 Qc4+ 32. Ka5 Bd8#)) 28...
Qc3+ 29. Ka4 b5+ $1 {Mate attack} 30. Kxb5 (30. Kxb5 Qc4+ {Mate attack}) 30...
Qc4+ 31. Ka5 Bd8+ 32. Qb6 Bxb6# (32... axb6#) 0-1

LCC Will Meet On Wednesday Evenings Beginning In September

First September meeting will be at The Grindstone Cafe on Wednesday September 2 from 6pm until 9pm. See you all then!!!

Two More Plates From Gizycki's A History of Chess

Two Plates From The Marvelous Gizycki Book A History of Chess

What I really like about the book is that it doesn't take a pure chronological approach. It's approach is thematic with chapters like Chess In Poetry and Prose and Chess and Machines.

A History of Chess by Jerzy Gizycki

I just came across this wonderful book in a used book store (Green Mountain Books) here in Lyndonville, VT where I live. It's in very good condition, no dust jacket, but no wear on the cover--just fading a little where it was exposed to light. The binding is in excellent condition, no marking in the book and all the plates are attached where they should be. This is the 1972 English translation from the Polish edition of 1960. My cost was $8.He was a film critic and television presenter. He was a chess bibliophile. His great passion was apparently chess.The book contains many stills from German, Soviet and Eastern European films involving chess. A Polish poster on Facebook gave me the following link.

http://pzszach.org.pl/index.php?idm=1&idm2=39&idn=524

An Early Scandinavian Defense from 1475??

Came across this when I transferred over my Chessbase11 program to my newer laptop. Why black doesn't castle is a question I have. Was castling done back then? How amazing to be remembered in a database 540 years later!

[Event "Valencia"]
[Site "Valencia"]
[Date "1475.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "De Castellvi, Francisco"]
[Black "Vinoles, Narcisco"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "1475.??.??"]
[EventType "game"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd8 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. h3 Bxf3 7. Qxf3 e6 8.
Qxb7 Nbd7 9. Nb5 Rc8 10. Nxa7 Nb6 11. Nxc8 Nxc8 12. d4 Nd6 13. Bb5+ Nxb5 14.
Qxb5+ Nd7 15. d5 exd5 16. Be3 Bd6 17. Rd1 Qf6 18. Rxd5 Qg6 19. Bf4 Bxf4 20.
Qxd7+ Kf8 21. Qd8# 1-0

Correspondence Chess the Olde Fashioned Way

I just started a correspondence game with an old over the board chess friend in Western MA. If you have one of the Chessbase database programs like Chessbase11, you can easily print correspondence cards. Just mail and...............wait. :-)

Chess Tuesday Night at The Grindstone, Lyndonville

Hope to discuss the September move to either Wednesday or Thursday evening and having a non-rated, just for fun, quick Dog Daze of August Tournament.See you all tomorrow tonight.

G-60 Tournament Keene, NH Saturday August 29, 2015

Keene SuperAmateur

4SS, G/60 d5. Congregation Ahavas Achim, 84 Hastings Ave., Keene, NH 03431. Open to U2300/Unr. Two sections. Under 2300, $$G: 200-120, U2050 100, U1850 110-70. Under 1650, $$G: 120-80, U1450 100, U1250 60-40. Both, Total $$G 1,000. $$ may be increased in one or more categories; total $$ will exceed $32 per entrant. EF: $32 in advance or $37 at door; both $10 less to U1050/Unr. in U1650 section. No unrated player may win more than $50. Reg.: 8:35-9:35 a.m., Rds.: 10-1-3:45-6:30. Half-point bye okay for any one of first 3 rounds. Ent:Vincent Bradley, PO Box 374, Gilsum, NH 03448; bradley.chess@gmail.com 

New Faces at Lyndonville Chess Club Tonight

And some very good games, too. Stay tuned for pgn files with analysis.

From left to right--Mike, John, Georgia and Robert

And a selfie proving that I'm real and do in fact lose chess games.

A Philidor and French Defense From Bastille Day

Two games follow in pgn that Mike Chadburn and I played last night. The Philidor opens like a Pirc before it goes into a Hanham type variation where an early exchange of Queens is prevented. The second is a French Advance that was even until yours truly blundered into a mate in one........oh, well. Good fun and friends!

[Event "Grindstone Fun"]
[Site "<Unknown>"]
[Date "2015.07.14"]
[Round "<Unknown>"]
[White "Mike  Chadburn"]
[Black "Brian  Lafferty"]
[Result "0-1"]

1.e4 d6  2.d4 Nf6  3.Nc3 Nbd7  4.Bc4 e5  5.Nf3 Be7  6.Be3 0-0  7.h3 c6  8.Qd2 Qb6  9.Na4 Qc7  10.Nc3 b5  11.Bb3 a5  12.a4 b4  13.Ne2 Ba6  14.0-0 Nxe4  15.Qc1 exd4  16.Bxd4 Bxe2  17.Re1 Bxf3  18.gxf3 Nxf2  19.Kxf2 Bh4  20.Kf1 Bxe1  21.Bxg7 Kxg7  22.Qg5 Kh8  23.Rxe1 Rg8  24.Qf4 Qb6  25.Qxd6 Qg1  26.Ke2 Rae8  27.Kd3 Rxe1

[Event "Grindstone Fun"]
[Site "<Unknown>"]
[Date "2015.07.14"]
[Round "<Unknown>"]
[White "Brian,  Lafferty"]
[Black "Mike Chadburn"]
[Result "0-1"]

1.e4 e6  2.d4 d5  3.e5 c5  4.c3 Nc6  5.Nf3 Nge7  6.Nbd2 Nf5  7.Bd3 cxd4  8.cxd4 Nfxd4  9.0-0 Bd7  10.a3 Be7  11.b4 Bg5  12.Nxd4 Nxd4  13.Nf3 Nxf3  14.Qxf3 0-0  15.Bxg5 Qxg5  16.Rfe1 Bc6  17.Qh3 g6  18.Qe3 Qxe3  19.Rxe3 a6  20.a4 Rfc8  21.Ree1 b5  22.axb5 Bxb5  23.Bxb5 axb5  24.Ra5 Rab8  25.Rea1 Rc4  26.Rb1 d4  27.h3 d3  28.Rb2 Rc2  29.Rba2 Re2  30.Ra8 Rxa8  31.Rxa8 Kg7  32.Kf1 Rb2  33.Rd8

A Good Bastille Day!!

We had a nice turnout with good games using the French and Philidor Defenses. Good French wine was consumed and we had a lovely woman visitor, a Ukrainian physician visiting with one of our members for the Summer.

Here's a photo of Mike and Robert playing a French Advance won by Black.

Happy Bastille Day!

The Quebec Chess Association has noted our fete this evening at chess club on their Facebook page. See you tonight for wine and french influenced chess.

This Tuesday Celebrate Bastille Day With The Lyndonville Chess Club

In honor of the storming of the Bastille on this day in 1789, I will provide some French wine and urge everyone playing Black to play at least one game using the French or Philidor Defenses.

Drop in and if you know the Marseilles, perhaps you'll lead us a la Casablanca.

Brilliant So--Kramnik Game Won By So In Dortmond

So finishes second overall to Fabio Caruna, recent transferee to the USCF. Game and commentary from Chessbase.com

[Event "43rd GM 2015"]
[Site "Dortmund GER"]
[Date "2015.07.05"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2778"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "2015.06.27"]

{Wesley had been having a topsy turvy tournament in Dortmund. Wins against Caruana and Nepo were compensated by losses against Nisipeanu and Naiditsch. But his final round victory against Kramnik would have been especially sweet because he beat the former World Champion in his favourite Berlin Defence.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 Ne7 10. Nc3 Bd7 {Kramnik uses a line that has only been played ten times in the past and one in which Black players haven't scored a win. But it was never been tried by a 2700+ player.} (10... Ng6 {is the main move.}) (10... h6 {is the second most played move in the position.}) 11. Ng5 $146 {This is a new move in the position. A clear indication that this was not prepared by Wesley is the fact that he used seven and a half minutes for this move.} Ke8 12. e6 $5 {Played after 20 minutes of thought. Wesley definitely was trying to weigh the pros and cons of this sacrifice. On one hand he loses a pawn but on the other he get a very nice initiative and squares like e4 for his knight.} Bxe6 (12... fxe6 13. Re1 Nf5 14. Nxe6 Bxe6 15. Rxe6+ Kf7 16. Re5 $11 {was also a possible line.}) 13. Nxe6 fxe6 14. Re1 Kf7 {The computer already likes Black's position but in a practical game things are not so simple. So would like to place his knight on e4 and create some problems for the king on f7.} 15. Ne4 h6 {Of course, preventing Ng5.} 16. Rd1 {Nine and a half minutes for this move. It would definitely not have been easy for Wesley to play this move. But he realises that the d-file is more important than the e-file.} e5 (16... Nd5 17. c4 Nf6 18. Nxf6 Kxf6 19. Bd2 (19. Rd7 Bd6 $15) 19... Bd6 20. Bc3+ e5 $11 {Black doesn't have too many problems here.}) 17. Rd7 Rc8 18. Bd2 b6 {After the c5 square is controlled, Black now threatens K to e6.} ( 18... Ke6 $2 19. Nc5+ $14) 19. Re1 Ke6 20. Rd3 c5 ({Maybe it's not such a huge inaccuracy to play c5, but it made more sense to play g5 followed by Bg7 to finish the development.} 20... g5 {and with this move Black also prevents the move f4.}) 21. f4 Nc6 22. Rg3 Re8 (22... Nd4 23. c3 Nf5 24. Rg4 $13) 23. fxe5 g5 (23... Nxe5 24. Bc3 Kd5 {The king looks pretty cool in the center of the board. Unlike Bruzon's king against Wei Yi, this one is way safer!} 25. Nd2 c4 $13) 24. h4 Bg7 25. hxg5 Bxe5 26. Rf3 hxg5 27. Bxg5 $6 {The game had reached the pinnacle of excitement with both players making excellent moves. Here Bxg5 is not the most accurate. Better would have been} (27. Nf6 $5 Ref8 28. Bxg5 Nd4 $2 (28... Rf7 $142) 29. Rxe5+ Kxe5 30. Nd7+ Kd6 31. Rxf8 Rh5 $1 32. Nxc5 $1 bxc5 (32... Rxg5 $2 33. Ne4+ $16) 33. Bf6 Nxc2 34. g4 $14) 27... Bd4+ $1 28. Nf2+ Kd5 29. Rd1 Rhg8 (29... Ne5 $5) 30. Bf4 Re2 $5 {Kramnik might have assessed the piece sacrifice in his favour. Objectively White should be better but practically it's easier to play as Black as the pawns on the queenside just have to be pushed whereas So has to find the accurate setup of pieces.} ( 30... Kc4 $1 31. c3 Be5 $11 {Black has absolutely no problems here.}) 31. c3 Rxb2 32. cxd4 Nxd4 33. Be3 (33. Ra3 $5 {would have been definitely preferable to retain the a2 pawn.}) 33... Rxa2 34. Rf4 Ra4 35. Ne4 Kc6 36. Nc3 Ra3 37. Bxd4 cxd4 38. Ne2 d3 39. Rf3 Ra2 (39... dxe2 40. Rc1+ $18) 40. Nf4 d2 41. Kf2 b5 42. Rc3+ Kb7 43. Nd5 Rg7 44. Rb3 a6 45. Nb4 Ra4 46. Rxd2 {White has won an important pawn but now the c-pawn moves ahead with a few tempi.} c5 47. Nd5 Rd7 {The game is still nicely balanced. It is interesting to see how top two players in the world are actually playing this weird material balance to the best of their abilities.} 48. Rf3 Re4 49. Rf6 Ka7 50. Rd3 c4 51. Rh3 Rd4 52. Nb4 R4d6 53. Rhh6 Rxf6+ 54. Rxf6 Rd2+ 55. Kf3 a5 (55... Kb7 56. Nxa6 (56. Rxa6 $2 Rb2 $15) 56... c3 57. Nc5+ Kc7 58. Ke3 Rxg2 $11) 56. Ra6+ Kb7 57. Rxa5 Kb6 58. Ra2 Rd7 (58... Rd8 {maybe it was better to prevent the rook infiltration to a8.}) 59. Ra8 Kc5 60. Nc2 $16 {The knight and the rook have now started to co-ordinate really well. The knight prevents, the black king from entering the position and the White rook will start checking from behind. A deadly combo.} Rc7 61. Rf8 $1 c3 62. Rf5+ Kb6 63. g4 $18 {The queenside pawns have been blockaded and the g-pawn marches ahead!} Ka5 64. g5 Ka4 65. Ke3 Rd7 66. g6 b4 67. Rf4 Kb3 68. Nxb4 Re7+ 69. Re4 Rg7 70. Rg4 Re7+ 71. Kf3 Rg7 72. Nc6 Rg8 73. g7 c2 74. Nd4+ Kc4 75. Nxc2+ Kd5 76. Rg6 {A beautiful game by both sides. Firstly So for finding this brilliant idea with Ng5 and e6 to sacrifice a pawn for initiative in the opening. Then Kramnik who sacrificed a pieces for this mass of queenside pawns. And in the end, So for using his knight and rooks so well to keep things under control. An absolute world class contest.} 1-0

A Simul In Honor of Philidor

Done in period clothing in Versailles. Fun.

And here is a game that the great Paul Morphy lost to Daniel Harrwitz in 1858.

[Event "Match"]
[Site "Paris (France)"]
[Date "1858"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Morphy Paul"]
[Black "Harrwitz Daniel (GER)"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Eco "C62"]
[Annotator ""]
[Source ""]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Bxc6 Bxc6 7.Bg5
Nf6 8.Nc3 Be7 9.O-O-O O-O 10.Rhe1 h6 11.Bh4 Ne8 12.Bxe7 Qxe7
13.e5 {?!} ( 13.Qd2 {'with the idea'  Nd4} ) Bxf3 14.gxf3 Qg5+
15.Kb1 ( 15.f4 {!?} ) dxe5 16.Rxe5 Qg2 17.Nd5 Qxh2 18.Ree1 Qd6
19.Rg1 Kh7 20.Qe3 f5 21.Nf4 Qb6 22.Qe2 Rf7 23.Qc4 Qf6 24.Nh5
Qe7 25.Rde1 Qd7 26.a3 Nd6 27.Qd4 Rg8 28.Rg2 Ne8 29.Qc3 f4 30.Rh1
g6 31.Rhg1 Qd5 32.Qe1 Qxh5 33.Rg5 Qxf3 34.Qe6 Rf6 35.Qe7+ Rg7
36.Qxe8 hxg5 37.Qe1 Qc6 0-1

Remembrance of Mikhail Tal Who Died This Day In 1992

http://en.chessbase.com/post/tal-in-memoriam

Tal as a young man, above, and in middle age with the ever present cigarette, bottom.

Tal won a brilliancy prize for this game.

[Event "Bled-Zagreb-Belgrade Candidates"]
[Site "Bled, Zagreb & Belgrade YUG"]
[Date "1959.09.18"]
[EventDate "1959.09.07"]
[Round "8"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Mikhail Tal"]
[Black "Vasily Smyslov"]
[ECO "B10"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "51"]

1.e4 c6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 e5 4.Ngf3 Nd7 5.d4 dxe4 6.Nxe4 exd4
7.Qxd4 Ngf6 8.Bg5 Be7 9.O-O-O O-O 10.Nd6 Qa5 11.Bc4 b5 12.Bd2
Qa6 13.Nf5 Bd8 14.Qh4 bxc4 15.Qg5 Nh5 16.Nh6+ Kh8 17.Qxh5 Qxa2
18.Bc3 Nf6 19.Qxf7 Qa1+ 20.Kd2 Rxf7 21.Nxf7+ Kg8 22.Rxa1 Kxf7
23.Ne5+ Ke6 24.Nxc6 Ne4+ 25.Ke3 Bb6+ 26.Bd4 1-0

David Carter Simul Update

David and I are discussing a date in late July or early August for his simul at The Grindstone. Stay tuned................

The Lyndonville Street Fair

The Lyndonville Street Fair last evening was fun. I hung out around The Grindstone for a while handing out LCC flyers. I think we'll see a few more new faces in the coming weeks. Good bluegrass music too. Good weekend to all!!!

Carlsen Loses Again-------to Anand!

[Event "Norway Chess 2015"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2876"]
[Annotator "Robot 3"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:3600+30"]

1. e4 {12} e5 {7} 2. Nf3 {5} Nc6 {6} 3. Bb5 {7} a6 {5} 4. Ba4 {5} Nf6 {6} 5.
O-O {9} Be7 {8} 6. d3 {8} d6 {41} 7. c3 {33} O-O {8} 8. Nbd2 {8} Re8 {37} 9.
Re1 {116} b5 {126} 10. Bc2 {62} Bf8 {45} 11. Nf1 {575} g6 {1298} 12. h3 {505}
Bb7 {110} 13. Ng3 {134} Nb8 {279} 14. d4 {33} Nbd7 {6} 15. a4 {26} c5 {117} 16.
d5 {22} c4 {7} 17. Bg5 {40} Bg7 {79} 18. Qd2 {83} Rb8 {740} 19. Nh2 {881} Bc8 {
523} 20. Ng4 {630} Nc5 {76} 21. Nh6+ {353} Bxh6 {34} 22. Bxh6 {21} bxa4 {69}
23. Ra2 {275} a3 {315} 24. bxa3 {20} Nfd7 {21} 25. f4 {634} a5 {718} 26. Rf1 {
382} f6 {459} 27. f5 {98} Nd3 {99} 28. Bxd3 {519} cxd3 {1} 29. Qd1 {45} Re7 {
383} 30. Raf2 {530} Rf7 {57} 31. Qxd3 {145} Nc5 {95} 32. Qf3 {148} Ba6 {141}
33. Qg4 {393} g5 {56} 34. h4 {34} Bxf1 {89} 35. Rxf1 {9} Qd7 {357} 36. hxg5 {54
} fxg5 {10} 37. Qh5 {166} Kh8 {102} 38. f6 {11} Rg8 {28} 39. Bg7+ {17} Rfxg7 {6
} 40. fxg7+ {0} Qxg7 {0} 41. Nf5 {927} Qg6 {9} 42. Qxg6 {39} Rxg6 {261} 43. Ne7
{23} Kg7 {82} 44. Nxg6 {19} Kxg6 {3} 45. Rf8 {149} a4 {10} 46. c4 {184} h5 {19}
47. Kf2 {47} 1-0

Norway Round 3--Nakamura and Topolov Lead

Carlsen languishes in last place with .5 after a Round 3 draw.

The standings are below preceeded by Nakamura vs. Caruana in which, according to one commentator, Caruana committed suicide.


[Event "Norway Chess 2015"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A35"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Robot 3"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:3600+30"]

1. Nf3 {5} Nf6 {7} 2. c4 {5} c5 {5} 3. Nc3 {32} Nc6 {7} 4. g3 {15} d5 {14} 5.
cxd5 {6} Nxd5 {4} 6. Bg2 {6} g6 {33} 7. O-O {143} Bg7 {78} 8. Nxd5 {7} Qxd5 {5}
9. d3 {5} O-O {133} 10. Be3 {78} Bd7 {78} 11. Nd4 {363} Qd6 {13} 12. Nxc6 {14}
Bxc6 {4} 13. Bxc6 {14} Qxc6 {5} 14. Rc1 {6} Qa6 {66} 15. Qb3 {546} b6 {50} 16.
Rc4 {11} Rfd8 {692} 17. Rfc1 {135} Rd7 {1411} 18. a3 {484} Rad8 {592} 19. Rf4 {
1537} Bf6 {739} 20. h4 {364} Qb7 {216} 21. Rc2 {98} Qb8 {549} 22. Rf3 {515} Rd5
{366} 23. Bg5 {48} Qd6 {100} 24. Bxf6 {106} exf6 {39} 25. Qa4 {36} a5 {154} 26.
Qf4 {207} f5 {225} 27. Qxd6 {119} R8xd6 {8} 28. Rf4 {7} Rd4 {543} 29. Rxd4 {142
} Rxd4 {6} 30. Kg2 {4} Kg7 {189} 31. Rc3 {24} Kf6 {91} 32. e3 {54} Rd6 {19} 33.
Kf3 {30} Ke5 {49} 34. a4 {101} Kd5 {86} 35. Ke2 {26} Rd7 {317} 36. Kd2 {47} h6
{62} 37. Rc1 {50} Kc6 {161} 38. Kc3 {16} b5 {27} 39. axb5+ {11} Kxb5 {3} 40. b3
{0} g5 {0} 41. hxg5 {123} hxg5 {27} 42. Rh1 {12} Ra7 {1322} 43. Rh7 {570} f4 {
186} 44. gxf4 {527} gxf4 {6} 45. e4 {5} a4 {870} 46. bxa4+ {29} Rxa4 {5} 47.
Rxf7 {3} Ra3+ {21} 48. Kd2 {6} Ra2+ {21} 49. Ke1 {4} Ra3 {424} 50. Ke2 {175}
Ra2+ {5} 51. Kf3 {27} Rd2 {41} 52. Rd7 {681} Kc6 {8} 53. Rd5 {5} Kb6 {19} 54.
e5 {75} Kc6 {6} 55. Rd8 {69} Kc7 {10} 56. Rd6 {90} 1-0

Norway Chess--Nakamura Tied In First; Carlsen Dead Last 0-2

In round one Carlsen lost a winning position against Topolov............On Time!!!!

The end as reported at Chessbase.com

[Event "3rd Norway Chess 2015"]
[Site "Stavanger NOR"]
[Date "2015.06.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Carlsen, M."]
[Black "Topalov, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2876"]
[BlackElo "2798"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,Alejandro"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1b6/1P4k1/8/7Q/5p2/6PK/4Bq2/8 w - - 0 60"]
[PlyCount "2"]
[EventDate "2015.06.17"]
[SourceDate "2015.02.07"]

60. Qg5+ {After a long defence, Topalov can resist no more. The combined threats of the queen and bishop are decisive.} Kf7 {And White lost! He believed to have an extra 15 minutes given to him on move 60, but they simply did not exist.} (60... Kf7 61. Bc4+ Ke8 62. Bb5+ Kf7 63. Qf5+ Ke7 64. Qd7+ Kf6 65. Qd8+ Kg7 66. Qe7+ Kh6 67. Qf6+ Kh7 68. Bd3+ Kg8 69. Bc4+ Kh7 70. Qf7+ Kh6 71. Qf8+ Kg5 72. Qg7+ Kf5 73. g4+ Ke4 74. Qg6+ Ke5 75. Qe6+ Kd4 76. Qb6+ {And Black loses. It might seem like a long sequence, but White should somehow stumble upon it when he sees that other moves are not winning.}) 0-1

Then in Round 2, Fabio Caruna defeated Carlsen. Here's the Round 2 game in pgn format.

[Event "Norway Chess 2015"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2876"]
[Annotator "Robot 3"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:3600+30"]

1. e4 {3} e5 {5} 2. Nf3 {4} Nc6 {6} 3. Bb5 {5} Nf6 {6} 4. O-O {11} Nxe4 {4} 5.
d4 {4} Nd6 {8} 6. Bxc6 {7} dxc6 {6} 7. dxe5 {5} Nf5 {6} 8. Qxd8+ {4} Kxd8 {6}
9. h3 {15} h6 {7} 10. Rd1+ {15} Ke8 {9} 11. Nc3 {5} Ne7 {5} 12. b3 {23} Bf5 {18
} 13. Nd4 {11} Bh7 {8} 14. Bb2 {17} Rd8 {160} 15. Nce2 {20} Nd5 {486} 16. c4 {
14} Nb4 {50} 17. Nf4 {8} Rg8 {852} 18. g4 {644} Na6 {1392} 19. Nf5 {1445} Nc5 {
49} 20. Rxd8+ {460} Kxd8 {2} 21. Rd1+ {51} Kc8 {81} 22. Ba3 {557} Ne6 {584} 23.
Nxe6 {1030} Bxa3 {9} 24. Nexg7 {34} Bf8 {240} 25. e6 {334} Bxf5 {17} 26. Nxf5 {
9} fxe6 {4} 27. Ng3 {66} Be7 {22} 28. Kg2 {73} Rf8 {96} 29. Rd3 {355} Rf7 {193}
30. Nh5 {269} Bd6 {178} 31. Rf3 {104} Rh7 {12} 32. Re3 {151} Re7 {26} 33. f4 {
242} Ba3 {142} 34. Kf3 {89} Bb2 {12} 35. Re2 {146} Bc3 {13} 36. g5 {186} Kd7 {5
} 37. Kg4 {121} Re8 {31} 38. Ng3 {77} Rh8 {40} 39. h4 {112} b6 {6} 40. h5 {0}
c5 {0} 41. g6 {225} Re8 {164} 42. f5 {132} exf5+ {34} 43. Kf4 {117} Rh8 {63}
44. Nxf5 {56} Bf6 {2} 45. Rg2 {107} 1-0

50th Capablanca Memorial Tournament in Havana Begins Today

The first round is under way. It can be followed live on Chessbase's Playchess site.
http://www.endgame.nl/capamem.htm

Vermont National Master, David Carter, Agrees to Play a Simul at the LCC

Vermont's only ranked National Master has agreed to play a simul for the LCC at The Grindstone Cafe. Remuneration would be a donation to the Vermont Chess Association per board. A very gracious offer on David's part. Stay tuned for more details.

Of Simuls and Round Robins

We at the Lyndonville Chess Club are looking at the possibility of having a local National Master visit to give a simul for club members and as a draw to bring in new adult and scholastic players. Feelers are out.........stay tuned.

Mike suggested Tuesday evening that we run a round robin rapid tournament some evenings at The Grindstone. I think this is a terrific idea and will be looking at my tournament software to see how best to do this. More to follow. Ideas/suggestions as to possible prizes are welcome---maybe a trip to the Netherlands to play in the coffee houses there??????

Chess Tonight at The Grindstone Cafe

See you all there tonight!!

A Wonderful Swindle by Boris Gelfand

As annotated by GM Lubomir Kavalek in The Huffington Post.

[Event "FIDE Grand Prix "]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk "]
[Date "2015.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Jakovenko, Dmitry"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[Annotator "GM Lubomir Kavalek/The Huffington Post"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5q1k/3n4/3PQ3/4nPp1/8/1B5P/PP6/7K b - - 0 45"]
[PlyCount "16"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

{Gelfand could have played the objectively best move 45...Kg7. Instead he went for a desperate, but tricky counterplay, sacrificing a knight.} 45... Nd3 $6 46. Qxd7 Qa8+ 47. Kg1 ({After} 47. Kh2 $6 Nf4 48. Bd5 Qxd5 49. Qd8+ Kh7 50. Qxg5 (50. Qe7+ Kh6 51. Qf6+ $11) 50... Qxd6 {black can hold.}) 47... Nf4 $1 { Amazingly, White has no checks and can't protect the square g2. His king has to move.} (47... Ne1 $2 48. Kf2 {White wins.}) 48. Kf2 g4 $5 {Black seemingly creates a support point on f3, but Gelfand's move is a tricky attempt to get rid of all his pieces.} ({After} 48... Qg2+ 49. Ke3 Qe2+ 50. Kd4 Qxb2+ 51. Kc5 {the white king escapes.}) 49. hxg4 $2 {Jakovenko falls for the trap. The black king is stalemated in the corner and Gelfand easily finds a way to lose all his pieces.} ({To win the game, the white king has to run either to} 49. Kg3 Qf3+ (49... Nxh3 50. Kh4 $18) (49... gxh3 50. Qe7 $18) 50. Kh4 Qf2+ 51. Kg5 $1 Nxh3+ 52. Kg6 Nf4+ 53. Kf7 $18) ({or to} 49. Ke3 Qf3+ 50. Kd4 Qf2+ 51. Kc4 Qe2+ 52. Kc5 $18) 49... Qg2+ 50. Ke3 Nd5+ $1 {For the moment, the black knight blocks the diagonal a2-g8, but Jakovenko will be forced to take the horse in a few moves.} 51. Kd4 (51. Bxd5 Qd2+ 52. Kf3 Qf2+ 53. Ke4 Qe3+ 54. Kxe3 { stalemate.}) 51... Qf2+ {Gelfand selects a more stylish move.} (51... Qxg4+ { also lead to a draw.}) 52. Kxd5 Qd4+ $1 {Forcing the stalemate.} 53. Kxd4 {The diagonal opens up again, but the stolen goods make the thief unhappy.} (53. Kc6 Qb6+ $11) (53. Ke6 Qf6+ $11) 1/2-1/2

LCC In The Caledonian-Record Today!!

Nice of the editors to use the photo sent to them last week. Here it is.

Best Turnout So Far At The Grindstone Cafe

Thank you to all who came out tonight supporting the Lyndonville Chess Club!!