Ponterotto's Psychobiography of Fischer

The paperback arrived today from Amazon.uk, less than a week after ordering it. Total cost with shipping is about $43. Excellent is not superlative enough a word to describe the analysis and readability of this work. The Author's Note, Preface and Acknowledgments really demonstrate the seriousness and thoroughness of his research into Fishcher's mental state and its development. The shocker to me was the actual cooperation afforded to the author by the FBI answering Freedom of Information Act requests and even arranging for him to be given permission to publish an early FBI photo of his mother found in the file. 

For anyone interested in what made/allowed Fischer to rise to chess greatness only to sink in to an abyss of illness, you can't not have this book in your library.

http://www.amazon.com/Psychobiography-Bobby-Fischer-Joseph-G/dp/0398087423/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1430340385&sr=8-1&keywords=ponterotto+fischer

Chess and Math Champ--Mathematical Kangaroo

Allison is a good chess player too. I played White against here in Burlington and had her even according to the computer until a "senior moment" struck and I made a major blunder. Congratulations to her on her maths competition success!! See below for details.

Mathematical Kangaroo is the most participated international scholastic mathematical competition. The goal of this contest is to introduce students from Grade 1 through Grade 12 to the challenges of mathematics and to test their logical reasoning and analytical thinking. Conceived by educators in Australia and France in 1980-s, by now Mathematical Kangaroo encompasses more than 6 million students from more than 50 countries. This contest is presently held in 38 U.S. states and 9 Canadian provinces. In 2015, young Canadians took part in this contest in English and French in the following cities: Calgary, Charlottetown, Chicoutimi, Coquitlam, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Guelph, Halifax, Kelowna, Lethbridge, London, Montréal, Mississauga, North Bay, North York, Orillia, Ottawa, Red Lake, Regina, Rimouski, Saint John, Scarborough, Sherbrooke, St. Catharines, St. John's, Sudbury, Sydney, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Vancouver, Waterloo, and Winnipeg.

The final results and the national / regional honour rolls were published today. I am proud to announce that Allison Tsypin, taking part inMathematical Kangaroo for the first time this year, became the absolute champion in the "Elementary Grade 6" division. Allison has achieved the perfect score and won the title "First in Canada" and the Montréal Gold Medal.

        http://kangaroo.math.ca/index.php?kn_mod=results&year=2015&local=true&grade=0&city=Montreal

Might It Be Cataracts??!!

Such a putz I can be playing chess. How did I manage to not see the hanging Knight on move 14? So it goes. A fun game anyway! Come out and play chess on Tuesday evenings, 6 to 10, at NEK Vapor in Lyndonville, VT. It looks like we will be moving to The Grindstone Cafe in the near future. Stay tuned.........

[Event "Lyndonville Chess Club"]
[Site "NEK Vapor"]
[Date "2015.04.28"]
[Round ""]
[White "Mike Chadburn"]
[Black "Brian, Lafferty"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "4-28-2015"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qc2 Ne7 6. e3 d5 7. Bd2 c6 8. c5
Ng6 9. Bd3 O-O 10. a3 Bxc3 11. Bxc3 Ne4 12. Bxe4 dxe4 13. Qxe4 Qd5 14. Ng5 Qxe4
15. Nxe4 f5 16. Nd6 f4 17. O-O f3 18. g3 Bd7 19. Nxb7 Ne7 20. e4 Rab8 21. Nd6
Nc8 22. Nxc8 Rbxc8 23. Bd2 Rce8 24. Bf4 Bc8 25. Rfe1 Ba6 26. Re3 Be2 27. b4 Rd8
28. Be5 Rd7 29. Rb1 a6 30. a4 Ra7 31. Rb2 Rfa8 32. h4 a5 33. b5 cxb5 34. axb5
a4 35. b6 Ra6 36. b7 Re8 1-0

Evening Chess At The Grindstone Cafe, Lyndonville VT??

It may be happening. The Lyndonville Chess Club that meets at the NEK Vapor shop is in discussion with the Grindstone Cafe owners and Grindstone Denizens for use of the Grindstone's space to meet and play chess in on Tuesday evenings. This has the potential to raise significantly the awareness level of chess in Lyndonville and environs given the cafe's location on Depot Street in the heart of Lyndonville's business district. There are several of us retirees who already play during the day in The Grindstone. Expanding play there is a natural progression.

I've spoken with one of the cafe owners, Kim from Green Mountain Books. She is totally positive about chess at the Grindstone. We will likely need two or three regular volunteers to see to opening and closing for chess activity...........so, please volunteer!! I have.

Wesley So Ties With Caruna for 3rd/4th at Shamkir

A good result, though not what Wesley was looking for. Still, he did gain a few rating points and performed at a 2811 level. Carlsen, who won, performed at a 2981 level! Good to see Anand finishing a clear second.
http://en.chessbase.com/post/shamkir-final-round-undisputed-winner

Kasparov Trounces Short in St. Louis--The St. J. Parallel

Not even close, but Nigel shows his class with grace in defeat.
http://en.chessbase.com/post/battle-of-the-legends-2-2

And I know the feeling. There's a new blitz player coming to prison chess in St. J. who is unbeatable at five minutes for me. Must take him to NYC's Washinton Square Park when he's paroled. :-)

New Series of Well Funded Grandmaster Tournaments Unveiled

Should make for some really good chess. But, will the series become self-supporting and last beyond the funding of Gary and Rex..................? Let's hope so.
Info at
http://en.chessbase.com/post/new-million-dollar-grand-chess-tour-announced

Wesley So Leaning at Shamkir

He's now 1/2 point ahead of Carlsen after four rounds. Good show.

Photo from Chessbase.com

[Event "2nd Shamkir Chess 2015"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2015.04.20"]
[Round "4"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Mamedov, Rauf"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B36"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2658"]
[Annotator "Robot 9"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"]

1. e4 {4} c5 {16} 2. Nf3 {6} Nc6 {3} 3. d4 {6} cxd4 {4} 4. Nxd4 {4} g6 {4} 5.
c4 {14} Nf6 {4} 6. Nc3 {4} d6 {3} 7. f3 {16} Bg7 {11} 8. Be3 {24} O-O {5} 9.
Be2 {18} Nh5 {6} 10. g3 {19} Nxd4 {647} 11. Bxd4 {74} Be6 {6} 12. f4 {421} Nf6
{483} 13. O-O {574} Rc8 {410} 14. b3 {478} Qa5 {925} 15. f5 {971} Bd7 {22} 16.
a3 {40} e6 {2030} 17. b4 {756} Qd8 {26} 18. fxg6 {23} fxg6 {261} 19. e5 {92}
dxe5 {50} 20. Bxe5 {5} Bc6 {456} 21. b5 {661} Ne4 {313} 22. Qxd8 {1538} Rcxd8 {
62} 23. Rxf8+ {68} Rxf8 {34} 24. Bxg7 {133} Kxg7 {5} 25. Rc1 {47} Nxc3 {34} 26.
Rxc3 {2} Bd7 {192} 27. c5 {47} Rc8 {12} 28. a4 {26} Kf6 {58} 29. Kf2 {52} Ke5 {
119} 30. Ke3 {40} Be8 {85} 31. Bf3 {98} Rc7 {13} 32. Kd3 {47} g5 {614} 33. Kc4
{43} h5 {83} 34. a5 {244} g4 {72} 35. b6 {100} axb6 {4} 36. axb6 {3} Rd7 {55}
37. Re3+ {81} Kf6 {4} 38. c6 {18} bxc6 {35} 39. Bxc6 {4} Rd8 {4} 40. Bxe8 {0}
Rxe8 {0} 41. b7 {129} 1-0

Local Press Coverage of Vermont Scholastic Championships

http://www.timesargus.com/article/20150419/NEWS01/704199953

Wesley So and Magnus Carlsen Tied for First After Three Rounds at Shamkir

Go Wesley!!

[Event "2nd Shamkir Chess 2015"]

[Site "Shamkir"]

[Date "2015.04.19"]

[Round "3"]

[White "So, Wesley"]

[Black "Adams, Michael"]

[Result "1-0"]

[ECO "D35"]

[WhiteElo "2788"]

[BlackElo "2746"]

[Annotator "Robot 11"]

[PlyCount "89"]

[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

[EventCountry "AZE"]

[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"]

1. d4 {3} Nf6 {7} 2. c4 {6} e6 {5} 3. Nc3 {4} d5 {5} 4. cxd5 {6} exd5 {5} 5.

Bg5 {7} c6 {21} 6. e3 {6} h6 {20} 7. Bh4 {61} Be7 {12} 8. Bd3 {7} Nbd7 {15} 9.

f3 {390} O-O {533} 10. Qc2 {412} b5 {968} 11. Nge2 {97} Nb6 {372} 12. a3 {1209}

a5 {883} 13. O-O {82} Bd7 {227} 14. Nc1 {1461} Nc4 {729} 15. Re1 {717} Be6 {413

} 16. Nb3 {65} Nd7 {54} 17. Bf2 {252} Rc8 {607} 18. Rad1 {103} Qc7 {252} 19. h3

{368} Rfd8 {102} 20. f4 {260} a4 {679} 21. f5 {473} axb3 {60} 22. Qxb3 {1} Bxf5

{208} 23. Bxf5 {20} Rb8 {102} 24. Qc2 {329} b4 {106} 25. axb4 {3} Bxb4 {29} 26.

Re2 {25} Qa5 {139} 27. Bh4 {45} f6 {66} 28. Na4 {54} Nf8 {69} 29. Bd3 {194} Nb6

{89} 30. Nc3 {56} c5 {57} 31. dxc5 {63} Bxc5 {23} 32. Kh1 {21} Rbc8 {52} 33.

Bf5 {19} Rc6 {14} 34. e4 {43} Bb4 {44} 35. e5 {105} Be7 {14} 36. Qb3 {21} Qc5 {

35} 37. exf6 {18} Bxf6 {53} 38. Ne4 {4} Qc4 {20} 39. Nxf6+ {9} gxf6 {5} 40.

Qg3+ {0} Kf7 {0} 41. Rde1 {85} Qb4 {420} 42. Re7+ {52} Qxe7 {6} 43. Rxe7+ {6}

Kxe7 {3} 44. Qg7+ {5} Ke8 {5} 45. Bg4 {84} 1-0

[Event "2nd Shamkir Chess 2015"]

[Site "Shamkir"]

[Date "2015.04.18"]

[Round "2"]

[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]

[Black "So, Wesley"]

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

[ECO "A06"]

[WhiteElo "2783"]

[BlackElo "2788"]

[Annotator "Robot 11"]

[PlyCount "80"]

[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

[EventCountry "AZE"]

[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"]

1. Nf3 {6} d5 {12} 2. g3 {10} g6 {18} 3. Bg2 {25} Bg7 {7} 4. d4 {4} Nf6 {87} 5.

O-O {7} O-O {29} 6. Nbd2 {6} Ne4 {406} 7. Nxe4 {174} dxe4 {67} 8. Ng5 {1} Qxd4

{418} 9. Qxd4 {28} Bxd4 {5} 10. Rd1 {9} Nc6 {383} 11. Bxe4 {121} Bg7 {919} 12.

c3 {341} Ne5 {248} 13. f4 {598} Nc4 {140} 14. Bd5 {154} Nd6 {198} 15. Be3 {23}

h6 {136} 16. Nf3 {595} e6 {66} 17. Bb3 {208} b6 {8} 18. a4 {462} Bb7 {361} 19.

Ne5 {1059} Rfd8 {1119} 20. a5 {79} h5 {88} 21. Bc2 {770} Bf6 {697} 22. b3 {368}

c5 {183} 23. axb6 {290} axb6 {5} 24. Rxa8 {8} Bxa8 {5} 25. b4 {39} Nb5 {470}

26. Nd7 {512} Bxc3 {5} 27. Nxb6 {13} Bd4 {14} 28. Bxd4 {357} cxd4 {31} 29. Nxa8

{41} Rxa8 {4} 30. Bd3 {11} Nc3 {99} 31. Rd2 {18} Kf8 {550} 32. b5 {92} Ke7 {6}

33. Rb2 {118} Kd7 {53} 34. b6 {233} Rb8 {167} 35. Rb4 {204} Nd5 {13} 36. Rxd4 {

2} Ke7 {47} 37. Be4 {49} Nxb6 {5} 38. Rb4 {7} Nd7 {8} 39. Rxb8 {4} Nxb8 {7} 40.

Kf2 {0} Nd7 {0} 1/2-1/2

Moe information can be found at:

http://en.chessbase.com/post/shamkir-r3-carlsen-so-win

Vermont State Scholastic Championships This Saturday In Berlin, VT

They are being held at the Berlin Elementary School. Complete information can be found here
http://vtchess.info/Events/2015_VT_State_Championships.htm

Burlington Open Class Winner Photos

GM Ivanov, Open section Winner, With Alex Relyea

Louis Bourassa, Under 1750 Section winner, with Alex Relyea

Photos Courtesy of Nita Patel

Interesting Burlington Open Game

Final round game between the 7th and 3rd placed finishers respectively in the Under 1750 section.

[Event "Burlington Open"]
[Site "Burlington, VT"]
[Date "2015.04.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Bielagus, Steven"]
[Black "Tsypin, Allison"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "1492"]
[BlackElo "1438"]
[Annotator "Deep Fritz 14 x64 (10m)"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2015.04.11"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceDate "2006.03.16"]

{C50: Hungarian Defence and Giuoco Pianissimo} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 {White
threatens to win material: Nf3xe5} Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 {Black threatens
to win material: Nf6xe4} 5. Re1 d6 6. h3 {Controls g4} O-O 7. c3 {Secures b4}
Re8 (7... Nxe4 8. d4 (8. Rxe4 $143 d5 9. Re1 dxc4 $17) 8... exd4 9. cxd4 Nxf2
10. Kxf2 Nxd4 11. Kg3 $11 (11. Nxd4 $2 Qh4+ 12. Ke2 Bxd4 $19 (12... Qxd4 $6 13.
Qxd4 Bxd4 14. Kf1 $11))) 8. d3 h6 {Consolidates g5} 9. Be3 (9. b4 Bb6 $11) 9...
Bb6 10. b4 Be6 11. Nbd2 Qd7 12. Bxe6 Qxe6 13. Nf1 Ne7 14. Ng3 Qd7 15. Qd2 c6 (
15... Bxe3 16. Qxe3 a5 17. Nh4 $11) 16. Nh4 (16. Bxh6 Qe6 17. Qg5 g6 $16) 16...
d5 $2 (16... Bxe3 $142 {is a viable option} 17. Qxe3 Ng6 $11) 17. Bxh6 $1 $16 {
taking the lead} gxh6 $2 (17... gxh6 18. Qxh6 {Combination}) (17... -- $140 18.
Bxg7 {Threat} Kxg7 19. Ngf5+ Qxf5 (19... Nxf5 20. Qg5+ {Deflection}) (19... Kf8
20. Qh6+ {Mate attack}) (19... Kg8 20. Qg5+ {Double attack}) (19... Kh7 20.
Qh6+ {Mate attack}) (19... Kh8 20. Qh6+ {Mate attack}) 20. Nxf5+ {Combination})
18. Qxh6 $18 Ng4 $2 (18... Nxe4 19. dxe4 Qe6 20. Qg5+ Kh8 21. Nhf5 $18) 19.
Qg5+ (19. hxg4 $142 {secures the point} Qe6 20. Qg5+ Kf8 21. Nh5 $18) 19... Ng6
20. hxg4 Bd8 21. Qf5 Qxf5 22. Nhxf5 ({Not} 22. Ngxf5 Bxh4 23. c4 dxc4 24. dxc4
Be7 $17) 22... Bg5 23. Rad1 a5 24. Re2 (24. b5 $5 Red8 $18) 24... Nf4 25. Rb2
a4 $2 (25... axb4 $5 26. Rxb4 b5 $16) 26. Nh5 (26. Nd6 Re7 $18) 26... Red8 (
26... dxe4 27. dxe4 Red8 28. Rdb1 $18) 27. g3 (27. Nxf4 Bxf4 28. exd5 cxd5 $18)
27... Ng6 $2 (27... Nxh5 $142 28. gxh5 dxe4 $16) 28. Re2 $18 Rac8 29. Rf1 (29.
d4 {and White can already relax} dxe4 30. Rxe4 exd4 31. Rexd4 Rxd4 32. Rxd4 Rd8
$18) 29... dxe4 30. dxe4 (30. d4 exd4 31. Rxe4 Kf8 $18) 30... Bd2 (30... Rd3
$142 $18) 31. f4 $4 {forfeits the advantage} (31. Nf6+ $142 {seems even better}
Kf8 32. c4 $18) 31... exf4 32. gxf4 Bxc3 33. e5 Bxb4 34. Nh6+ Kh7 $2 (34... Kf8
35. e6 Nh8 36. f5 $16) 35. g5 $4 {there were better ways to keep up the
pressure} (35. Nxf7 $5 {might be the shorter path} Rd4 $18) 35... Rc7 (35...
Nh8 36. Kg2 Kg6 37. Rh1 $18) 36. Nf6+ (36. f5 Nf8 37. Nxf7 Rxf7 38. g6+ Kh6 39.
gxf7 Kxh5 40. Rh2+ Kg5 41. Rg2+ Kh5 $18) 36... Kg7 $16 37. Rh2 (37. f5 Nf8 $16)
37... Bc5+ (37... Kf8 38. Nhg4 Bc3 39. Rh7 $16) 38. Kh1 $16 Rh8 $4 {solves
nothing} (38... Kf8 $142 $16) 39. Nf5+ $18 Kf8 40. Rxh8+ Nxh8 41. Kg2 (41. Rd1
$142 {and White takes home the point} Be7 42. Nd7+ Rxd7 43. Rxd7 $18) 41... Ng6
42. Kg3 b5 $4 {the pressure is too much, Black crumbles} (42... Ne7 43. Kg4 b5
$18) 43. Re1 (43. Rd1 $142 {makes sure everything is clear} Be7 44. Nd7+ Rxd7
45. Rxd7 $18) 43... Ne7 $2 (43... Be7 $5 $16) 44. Kg4 $18 b4 $4 {sad, but how
else could Black save the game?} (44... Nxf5 45. Kxf5 Be7 $18) 45. Rd1 Nd5 46.
Nxd5 (46. Rh1 $142 {and White wins} Nxf6+ 47. gxf6 $18 (47. exf6 $143 Ke8 48.
Ng7+ Kd7 $18)) 46... cxd5 $16 47. Rxd5 Kg8 $4 {causes further problems for
White} (47... Rc8 48. Nd6 Bxd6 49. exd6 $16) 48. Nd4 (48. Rd8+ $142 {secures
victory} Bf8 49. Nh6+ Kg7 50. f5 $18) 48... a3 (48... Bxd4 $5 {might be a
viable alternative} 49. Rxd4 Rb7 $14) 49. f5 $16 Bxd4 (49... Rc8 50. Nb3 Bf8
51. f6 $18) 50. Rxd4 Rc2 $2 (50... b3 51. axb3 a2 52. Ra4 $18) 51. Rxb4 $4 {
throwing away the advantage} (51. Rd8+ Kh7 52. g6+ fxg6 53. f6 Rg2+ 54. Kf3 $18
) 51... Rxa2 $16 52. Rb1 1/2-1/2

Needing vs. Wanting A New Set of Chess Pieces

In the final round Sunday at the Burlington Open,  I played a delightful New Yorker of similar Irish descent, Scott Boyce. After our game Scott remarked on my chess set, House of Staunton Players in boxwood and rosewood. The same set used in the film The Luzhin defense based on the Nabokov novel. Now, please understand, as a native New Yorker, having gone to law school in and then living in NYC (Manhattan which is the real NYC) for nearly twenty years, I NEVER pay full retail unless there is absolutely no other option. I wait until H of S has a set that I covet on clearance and then make my purchase. Just last week I purchased the H of S Margate 1923 set in golden rosewood for a mere $75.

Apparently, Scott's wife is like many long suffering chess wives in that she and they always question why we need yet another set of chessmen. It isn't at all a question of need. It's wanting; the longing of desire. One either slips the set in unnoticed, is open and incurs brief (hopefully) wrath, or one divorces as I did. Life and chess do move forward.

Below as a pgn is my game with Scott. Great fun and I now see from computer analysis where I lost the thread of slight advantage---exactly where I thought the juncture might be during the game with me making not the best move against a nicely strong opponent. Good game!!!

[Event "Burlington Open"]

[Site "Holiday Inn"]

[Date "2015.4.12"]

[Round ""]

[White "Brian Lafferty"]

[Black "Scott Boyce"]

[Result "0-1"]

[Eco "A48"]

[Annotator ""]

[Source ""]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4 Bg7 4.h3 d6 5.e3 O-O 6.Bd3 c5 7.c3 Nc6

8.Nbd2 {?!} $15( 8.O-O {!?} Be6 9.Ng5 Qb6 10.Qd2 Bd7 11.dxc5

dxc5 12.Bc4 Bf5 13.Qe2 Bxb1 14.Raxb1 e6 15.Rbd1 Rfd8 16.e4 Ne8

17.Bh2 $14) Nd7 {?} $14( {'better is'} 8...e5 {'better is'} 9.Bh2

cxd4 10.cxd4 exd4 11.exd4 Re8+ 12.Be2 Qe7 13.Nc4 d5 14.Nd6 Rd8

15.Nb5 Qb4+ 16.Qd2 Qxd2+ 17.Kxd2 Bd7 18.Ke1 $15) 9.O-O e5 10.Bh2

{?!} $10( 10.Bg5 {!?} f6 11.Bh4 d5 12.Bb5 Qb6 13.Qb3 c4 14.Qa4

Qc7 15.e4 Nb6 16.Qa3 Rf7 17.Bxc6 bxc6 18.dxe5 Bf8 19.b4 cxb3 $14)

f5 {?!} $14( 10...exd4 {!?} 11.cxd4 Nb6 12.Ne4 cxd4 13.exd4 Nxd4

14.Nxd6 Nxf3+ 15.Qxf3 Bxb2 16.Rae1 Qf6 17.Be4 Qxf3 18.Bxf3 Be6

19.Nxb7 Bg7 20.Nd6 $10) 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.e4 f4 13.Bb5 Qf6 14.Nc4

Nb6 15.Nxb6 {?!} $14( 15.Bxc6 {!?} Qxc6 16.Nfxe5 Bxe5 17.Nxe5

Qxe4 18.Re1 Qd5 19.Qxd5+ Nxd5 20.Rad1 Nb6 21.b3 g5 22.Nf3 g4

23.Ng5 gxh3 24.Re7 Bf5 $16) axb6 16.Qb3+ Be6 17.Bc4 Bxc4 18.Qxc4+

Qf7 19.Qxf7+ Rxf7 20.Rfd1 Ra4 21.Nd2 {?!} $15( 21.Rd5 {!?} Rc7

22.Nd2 h6 23.f3 Ne7 24.Rd8+ Kh7 25.Kh1 b5 26.Bg1 Nc8 27.Nb3 b6

28.a3 h5 29.Rd5 Ne7 30.Rdd1 Nc8 $14) Rd7 22.b3 {?!} $17

( 22.Kf1 {!?} b5 23.f3 b4 24.cxb4 cxb4 25.Bg1 Rd8 26.Ke2 Rda8

27.a3 bxa3 28.Rxa3 Rxa3 29.bxa3 Rxa3 30.Rb1 Ra2 31.Rxb7 Bf8 $15)

Ra8 23.a4 Rad8 24.Ra2 Na5 25.Rb2 c4 26.Kf1 Nxb3 27.Ke2 Nc5 28.f3

Nxa4 29.Rc2 Bf8 30.Bg1 Bc5 31.Bxc5 Nxc5 32.Rcc1 b5 33.Rb1 Na4

34.Rbc1 Nb2 35.Rc2 Nxd1 36.Kxd1 b4 37.cxb4 c3 38.Ra2 Rxd2+ 39.Rxd2

Rxd2+ $21 0-1

Open Section Results--Burlington Open

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    1 | ALEXANDER IVANOV                |3.5  |W   8|W  10|D   2|W   3|
   MA | 12513936 / R: 2612   ->2611     |     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    2 | JUSTIN SARKAR                   |3.0  |W   9|W   4|D   1|D   6|
   NY | 12561884 / R: 2470   ->2469     |     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    3 | PETER HENNER                    |3.0  |W   7|W   6|W  10|L   1|
   NY | 10611547 / R: 1882   ->1990     |     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    4 | AASHISH WELLING                 |2.5  |W   5|L   2|D   8|W   9|
   NH | 14343251 / R: 2078   ->2084     |     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    5 | BEN EARLE                       |2.5  |L   4|B    |H    |W   8|
   VT | 12737062 / R: 1537   ->1575     |     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    6 | DANIEL R COOPER                 |2.0  |H    |L   3|W   7|D   2|
   CT | 12541718 / R: 1959   ->1980     |     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    7 | HENRY L TERRIE                  |1.5  |L   3|D   9|L   6|W  11|
   NH | 10025265 / R: 2200   ->2200     |     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    8 | MATTHEW A GILBERT               |1.5  |L   1|W  11|D   4|L   5|
   VT | 12520079 / R: 2071   ->2053     |     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    9 | NOWELL RYAN SHEINWALD           |1.5  |L   2|D   7|W  11|L   4|
   NY | 12890962 / R: 1965   ->1969     |     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
   10 | DAVID E CARTER                  |1.0  |W  11|L   1|L   3|U    |
   VT | 10029732 / R: 2173   ->2159     |     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
   11 | GARY RAYMOND BERGERON           |0.0  |L  10|L   8|L   9|L   7|
   VT | 15610888 / R: 1805   ->1784     |     |     |     |     |     |

Under 1750 Results--Burlington Open

----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Pair | Player Name                     |Total|Round|Round|Round|Round|
 Num  | USCF ID / Rtg (Pre->Post)       | Pts |  1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    1 | LOUIS BOURASSA                  |3.5  |W  10|W   5|W   6|D   2|
   QC | 15418654 / R: 1466P7 ->1602P11  |     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    2 | PAUL KOLOJESKI                  |3.0  |D   3|W   8|W   5|D   1|
   NH | 12734090 / R: 1726   ->1728     |     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    3 | ALLISON TSYPIN                  |3.0  |D   2|D   7|W  10|W   6|
   QC | 15211970 / R: 1438   ->1512     |     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    4 | MICHAEL CAFIERO                 |3.0  |L   6|W   9|W   7|W   8|
   VT | 14027126 / R: 1133   ->1313     |     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    5 | SCOTT BOYCE                     |2.0  |W   9|L   1|L   2|W  10|
   NY | 12415480 / R: 1732   ->1698     |     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    6 | ANDY YANG                       |2.0  |W   4|W  11|L   1|L   3|
   VT | 15215340 / R: 1592   ->1560     |     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    7 | STEVEN BIELAGUS                 |2.0  |D   8|D   3|L   4|W   9|
   MA | 15205584 / R: 1520   ->1488     |     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    8 | ALAN GOTTESMAN                  |1.5  |D   7|L   2|W  11|L   4|
   VT | 15548364 / R: 1094P16->1112P20  |     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    9 | STANFORD TALCOTT                |1.0  |L   5|L   4|B    |L   7|
   NH | 12596228 / R: 1448   ->1392     |     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
   10 | BRIAN LAFFERTY                  |1.0  |L   1|B    |L   3|L   5|
   VT | 13592564 / R: 1080   ->1072     |     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
   11 | MICHAEL W CHADBURN              |1.0  |B    |L   6|L   8|U    |
   VT | 12924379 / R:  905P4 -> 865P6   |     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Ivanov vs. Carter -- Burlington Open

Grandmaster Alexander Ivanov(r) was kind enough to sit with me and help to enter this round 2 game with Vermont's own National Master David Carter. Anyone attending tournaments in New England surely knows these excellent chess players for their over the board skills and friendliness.  This is an interesting game. Note the pawn "structure" in the final position. Most unusual. Analysis by Houdini3.

[Event "Burlington VT Open"]
[Site "<Unknown>"]
[Date "2015.4.12"]
[Round ""]
[White "Alexander Ivanov"]
[Black "David E. Carter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Eco "C88"]
[Annotator ""]
[Source ""]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3 b5 6.Bb3 Be7 7.a4 b4
8.O-O d6 9.a5 O-O 10.Re1 Bg4 11.Be3 Nb8 12.Nbd2 c5 13.h3 Bd7
14.Nc4 Nc6 15.Nfd2 Ra7 16.c3 Qc7 17.f4 Kh8 {?!} $14
( 17...Be6 {!?} 18.fxe5 dxe5 19.Qe2 h6 20.Kh1 Rb8 21.Bd1 Rab7
22.Rf1 Rd8 23.Ba4 Na7 24.cxb4 Rxb4 25.b3 Nh7 26.Rac1 Rb7 27.Nb6 $10)
18.Nf3 Be6 19.fxe5 dxe5 20.cxb4 Bxc4 21.Bxc4 Nxb4 22.Bd2 Ne8
23.Bc3 Bf6 24.Qe2 Qe7 25.Qf2 {?!} $14( 25.Bxb4 {!?} cxb4 26.d4
Nd6 27.Bd3 g6 28.Rec1 Bg7 29.dxe5 Bxe5 30.Rc6 Rfa8 31.Qd2 b3
32.Ra3 Nb7 33.Nxe5 Qxe5 34.Qc3 Qxc3 $14) Nc6 26.Rf1 Nc7 27.Nh2
Ne6 {?} $16( {'better is'} 27...Nb5 {'better is'} 28.Kh1 Nbd4
29.Bd5 Rc7 30.Bxd4 Nxd4 31.Nf3 Nc6 32.Bxc6 Rxc6 33.Ra3 Rb8 34.Qc2
Rcc8 35.Nd2 Rb5 36.Nc4 Rcb8 37.Qf2 $10) 28.Ng4 Nf4 29.Kh2 {?!} $16
( 29.Nxf6 {!?} gxf6 30.Bd2 Nd4 31.Kh2 Rg8 32.Bxf4 exf4 33.Qxf4
Rg6 34.Rf2 Nc6 35.Qe3 Ra8 36.Bd5 Rc8 37.Kh1 Ne5 38.g4 Rcg8 $18)
Bg5 {?!} $16( 29...Nh5 {!?} 30.g3 Rd8 31.Qf3 Nd4 32.Bxd4 cxd4
33.Nh6 Nxg3 34.Nxf7+ Qxf7 35.Bxf7 Nxf1+ 36.Rxf1 Rxf7 37.Qf5 Re8
38.Rf2 Rc7 39.b4 $16) 30.g3 Ng6 31.h4 h5 32.hxg5 hxg4 33.Qf5
Qd7 34.Qxg6 fxg6 35.Rxf8+ Kh7 36.Bg8+ Kh8 37.Be6+ Kh7 38.Bxd7
Rxd7 39.Kg2 $20 1-0

Burlington Open Report

It was a fun tournament with one Grandmaster and one International Master playing.  Complete report with games, annotations and photos to follow this evening. Truly an enjoyable weekend.

A French Defense Variation That Didn't Work at the US Championship Yesterday

3...dxe4 does not work well for Akaobian
Analysis by Deep Fritz 14

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.04.03"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nakamura, H."]
[Black "Akobian, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2798"]
[BlackElo "2622"]
[Annotator "Deep Fritz 14 x64 (10m)"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2015.03.31"]
[SourceDate "2015.02.07"]

{C10: French with 3 Nc3: Unusual Black 3rd moves and 3...dxe4} 1. e4 e6 2. d4
d5 {Black threatens to win material: d5xe4} 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 {Black has
a cramped position. Black's piece can't move: c8} 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.
Bd3 c5 {Black threatens to win material: c5xd4} 8. Be3 Qc7 9. Qe2 Be7 10. O-O-O
O-O 11. dxc5 b6 (11... Bxc5 12. Rhe1 $11) 12. cxb6 $14 axb6 13. Kb1 Bb7 14. Nd4
Ra5 (14... Rfd8 $5 $11) 15. Nb5 $16 {White threatens to win material: Nb5xc7.
A sound move} Qc6 {Black threatens to win material: Qc6xg2} 16. Bd2 {White
threatens to win material: Bd2xa5} Raa8 17. f3 {Consolidates e4+g4} Ba6 18. c4
(18. Nd4 Qa4 19. Bxa6 Rxa6 $14) 18... Rfd8 19. Bc3 Qc5 $2 (19... Bxb5 $142 $5 {
and Black could well hope to play on} 20. cxb5 Qc5 $14) 20. Bd4 $1 $16 {
doomsday} Qc8 (20... Rxd4 21. Nxd4 Qxd4 22. Bxh7+ {Decoy Discovered attack
Double attack}) (20... -- $140 21. Bxc5 {Wins material}) 21. Bxb6 Rd7 22. Bf2
Bc5 23. Bxc5 Qxc5 24. Be4 Rb8 25. Rxd7 Nxd7 26. Rc1 Nf6 (26... g6 27. a4 $18)
27. Bd3 $18 g6 28. Rd1 Bxb5 29. cxb5 Nd5 30. Rc1 Qd4 31. g3 Rd8 32. Bc4 Ne3 (
32... Nb6 33. f4 $18) 33. Bb3 Rb8 34. a4 Nf5 35. Qe4 Qd2 36. Rc2 Qd1+ (36...
Qd8 37. Ka2 $18) 37. Ka2 Qd8 38. g4 Ne7 39. f4 Qd7 (39... Qa5 {hardly improves
anything} 40. Qe5 Qa8 41. Ka3 $18) 40. Qe5 Rb7 41. h4 Qd3 (41... Nd5 {a last
effort to resist the inevitable} 42. Qd4 Ra7 $18) 42. h5 (42. h5 Rd7 43. h6 $18
) 1-0

Anaylsys by Houdini 3. There might have been a better line after  3...dxe4 by Akobian.

[Event ""]
[Site ""]
[Date ""]
[Round ""]
[White "Nakamura, H."]
[Black "Akobian, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[Eco "C10"]
[Annotator ""]
[Source ""]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 ( 3...dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bd7 5.Bg5 Be7 6.Bxe7
Qxe7 7.a3 Bc6 8.Ng3 Nf6 9.c4 h6 10.f3 Nfd7 11.Nh3 Nf8 12.Qd2
a5 13.Nf2 Qh4 14.b3 Qg5 15.Qe2 a4 16.b4 $10) 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3
Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.Bd3 c5 8.Be3 Qc7 9.Qe2 Be7 10.O-O-O O-O 11.dxc5
b6 {?!} $16( 11...Bxc5 {!?} 12.Bd2 Bd7 13.Bc3 Be7 14.Qe5 Qxe5
15.Nxe5 Be8 16.Rhe1 Nd5 17.Bd2 Rd8 18.a3 f5 19.Nc4 b5 20.Ne5
a6 21.Kb1 $10) 12.cxb6 axb6 13.Kb1 Bb7 14.Nd4 Ra5 15.Nb5 Qc6
16.Bd2 Raa8 17.f3 Ba6 18.c4 {?!} $14( 18.a4 {!?} Qc5 19.Qe3 Nd5
20.Qxc5 Bxc5 21.Bc4 Ne7 22.Bf4 Nf5 23.b3 Rad8 24.Bg5 Ne7 25.Rhe1
h6 26.Bxe7 Bxe7 27.Ka2 Bxb5 $16) Rfd8 19.Bc3 Qc5 {?} $18
( {'better is'} 19...Bxb5 {'better is'} 20.cxb5 Qe8 21.Bxf6 Bxf6
22.Be4 Rac8 23.g3 g6 24.f4 Qe7 25.a3 Bh8 26.Rxd8+ Rxd8 27.Rc1
Qf6 28.Rc7 Qd4 29.Bf3 $14) 20.Bd4 Qc8 21.Bxb6 Rd7 22.Bf2 Bc5
23.Bxc5 Qxc5 24.Be4 Rb8 25.Rxd7 Nxd7 26.Rc1 Nf6 27.Bd3 g6 28.Rd1
Bxb5 29.cxb5 Nd5 30.Rc1 Qd4 31.g3 Rd8 32.Bc4 Ne3 {?!} $20
( 32...Nb6 {!?} 33.Bb3 Qb4 34.Rc6 Qd4 35.f4 Nd7 36.Rc1 Nb6 37.Rd1
Qf6 38.Rxd8+ Qxd8 39.a4 Qa8 40.Qd1 h6 41.Bc2 $18) 33.Bb3 Rb8
34.a4 Nf5 35.Qe4 Qd2 36.Rc2 Qd1+ 37.Ka2 Qd8 38.g4 Ne7 39.f4 Qd7
40.Qe5 Rb7 41.h4 Qd3 42.h5 $20 1-0

The Imitation Game and Botvinnik

I watched The Imitation Game last evening on Amazon Prime. Turing's co-worker, Hugh Alexander was, as mentioned early in the film, a multiple British chess champion. What isn't as well known is that Alexander continued working for MI6 long after the end of WWII and was not allowed to travel to international chess tournaments behind the Iron Curtain for fear that he would be captured by the KGB.

But, Alexander did play against and defeat the future Chess World Champion, Mikhail Botvinnik, in a UK vs. USSR radio match in 1946. Printed below is that game.  Botvinik plays the French Defense and loses in spectacular fashion.

[Event "ENG-URS radio"]
[Site "Soviet Union"]
[Date "1946.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Alexander, Conel Hughes"]
[Black "Botvinnik, Mikhail"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C18"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1946.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 cxd4 8.
Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 Qa5 10. Rb1 Qxc3+ 11. Bd2 Qc7 12. f4 Nbc6 13. Nf3 Bd7 14. Ng5
Rxg5 15. fxg5 O-O-O 16. Qxf7 Qxe5+ 17. Kd1 Nf5 18. g6 Ne3+ 19. Kc1 Qe4 20. Bd3
Qxg2 21. Re1 Ne5 22. Qf4 Nf3 23. Re2 Qh3 24. Bxe3 e5 25. Qf7 dxe3 26. g7 Qg4
27. h3 Qg1+ 28. Kb2 Qg3 29. Bg6 Nd4 30. g8=Q Rxg8 31. Qxg8+ Kc7 32. Qh7 Kd6 33.
Bd3 e4 34. Qh6+ Kc7 35. Rxe3 Qe5 36. Ka2 Nf5 37. Qg5 Be6 38. Be2 d4+ 39. Reb3
b5 40. Qd2 d3 41. Bg4 1-0

Boris Gelfand Interview

Though not strictly Vermont based, I've always liked Gelfand as a person and enjoyed his games. Here is an interesting link to a lengthy interview with him
http://www.chesspro.ru/interview/gelfand_tv_interview_english