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