Game Of The Year XI

End Of The Season

Friday, August 22, 2014

Well, another chess season has come to a close for me.  It is time for me to move on to managing the website for my other hobby (https://spamfootball.blogspot.com/), but I will return after the football season ends.  Before I go, I wanted to clean up some loose ends.

Of course, you can still send in news items or articles during the off-season, and I will email them along to the subscribers.  Any games I receive will be stored at the Colorado Springs Chess News’ Yahoo! group.

So, before I finish typing my chess thoughts for another year, I want to thank all the people who sent in games and articles, all the people who took the time to tell me something nice about the newsletter, and all the people who take the time to read this.

Game Of The Year

Usually at this time, I look over the past year's statistics to see if it was a good or bad year for me.  Looking over the statistics helps me get past the bad feelings that linger from my losses (and I had a bunch of them).  They bring me back into balance and force me to look at what I did right and what I did wrong.  While 2013 was a record-setting year for me, this year actually broke several of those marks before ending on a down note:

• Same number of upsets as last year (2)
• 2098 peak USCF rating (record: 2013 - 2058)
• 2039 peak BLITZ rating (record: 2013 - 1973)
• 2127 peak CLUB rating (record: 2013 - 2116)
• 18 projected prizes won (record: 2013 - 15)
• 71.59% CLUB winning percentage (record: 2013 - 87.86%)
• 77.27% USCF winning percentage (record: 2012 - 79.31%)
• 64 projected USCF-rated wins (record: 2013 - 75.5)

In addition to the statistics, I authored 3 more articles for the Colorado Chess Informant, including one about my upset victory over LM Brian Wall.  It was a great milestone for me!  His humorous chess emails inspired me to write about chess and helped me become an expert.  The win was my first over Brian in rated play and set a new record for my highest rated win (old record: NM Josh Bloomer - 2222).

2014 Colorado Chess Informant Articles:

• The Pawn (https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-pawn.html)
• The King (https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-king.html)
• The Bishop (see below)

The Bishop

• Name: Bishop
• Alias: Elephant (in medieval chess it could only leap 2 squares diagonally restricting it to only 8 squares and unable to capture the opponent’s Elephant), Crocodile, Archer, Runner, Messenger, Fool, Jester, Hunter, Officer
• Number: 2
• Starting Square: 1st rank, C and F files
• Motto: “We are Close Friends!”
• Move: Any squares, diagonally
• Capture: Any squares, diagonally Speed: Fast
• Special Ability: None
• Material Value: 3
• Mobility Preference: Open Diagonals
• Spiritual Value: Faith
• Song: Faithfully, Journey
• Verse: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (KJV)

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up

If anyone sets his heart on being a Bishop, he desires a noble task.  For the Bishops are the most faithful of all the pieces.  Whatever color square they start on, they will never leave it.

Now the Bishops must be next to the King or Queen and be the pieces of but one color.  While the other pieces may move from one color to another, the Bishops will always be faithful.

Since he cannot move onto the other color, he can only touch half the squares of the board.  He needs a friend to cover the rest of the squares.  He can capture any enemy piece that gets on his diagonal with lightning speed.  He darts at an angle as many squares as he wants.  However, he makes sure not to touch the other color.

The Bishop will take on any mission.  He will defend the King, he will lay down his life, and he will capture his King's enemies.  But most importantly, he relies on his friends to help him go where he cannot.  How will you use the bishop?  You will have to play to find out!

Here is a position from my game with LM Brian Wall where I keep the Bishop pair and get the win against a master:

White to move

Anderson,Paul (2043) - Wall,Brian (2241) [A40]

Jason's Deli Colorado Springs (2.1), 20.01.2014

1.d4 Na6 2.e4 c5 3.c3 e6 4.Nf3 d5 5.e5 Nh6 6.Bd3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Nb4 8.Bb5+ Nc6 9.0–0 Nf5 10.a3 Bd7

The past couple of years Brian has entertained and challenged himself by playing the same opening in every game.  This year’s edition has been The Lemming (1. Anything Na6) and The Double Lemming (1. Anything Na6 2. Almost Anything …and eventually Nh6).  By move 3, we were out of book and by move 5, I got to play against the Double Lemming!

Also, I decided not to trade off my better Bishop for one of his Lemmings.

11.Nc3 Rc8 12.Qd3 Be7 13.Ba4 f6 14.g4 Nfxd4 15.Nxd4 fxe5 16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.f3 0–0 18.Bc2 g6 19.Qd2 Rf7 20.b4 a5

Now Brian opts to keep his Bishop pair to support his Pawn center.  Since he already sacrificed a Knight for a couple of Pawns and is down in material, it was an understandable choice.  You want to trade Pawns not pieces when down material.

In hindsight, he might regret not getting rid of my light-squared Bishop.  I was pretty happy with his sacrifice and having the Bishop pair, as I was just hoping for a draw in a new time control.

A sacrifice is best refuted by accepting it.

Wilhelm Steinitz

21.Na4 axb4 22.axb4 Qf8 23.Ba3 Rxf3 24.Rxf3 Qxf3 25.Bd1 Qe4 26.Nc5 Bxc5+ 27.bxc5 Ra8 28.Bb2 Rxa1 29.Bxa1 d4 30.Kf2 Qd5

The Pawns are getting scary now, but my hopes for a draw are still alive with the Bishop pair that can get to his King if those Pawns move out of the center or my Queen can wreck havoc on the back rank.

31.Qa5 e4 32.Qb4 e5 33.Bb3 1–0

The Pin is mightier than the sword.

Fred Reinfeld

Tim Brennan was so inspired by my victory over LM Brian Wall that he was moved poetically:

I wrote a song verse for you to use if you decide to publish your game against Brian from Shirley's MLK tournament (which I am sure you will).

Mia's daughter is constantly singing "Wrecking Ball" by Miley Cyrus, and I saw a funny tweet during the super bowl, which inspired me as well...

♫ I came in like a wrecking ball ♫

♫ In my game against Brian Wall ♫

♫ All I wanted was to give my all ♫

♫ Was it good enough for Tactics Time 3? ♫

Game Of The Year XI

[Event "Jason's Deli"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2014.01.20"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Anderson, Paul"]
[Black "Wall, Brian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2043"]
[BlackElo "2241"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2014.01.20"]
[TimeControl "2700"]

1. d4 Na6 2. e4 c5 3. c3 e6 4. Nf3 d5 5. e5 Nh6 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Nb4 8. Bb5+ Nc6 9. O-O Nf5 10. a3 Bd7 11. Nc3 Rc8 12. Qd3 Be7 13. Ba4 f6 14. g4 Nfxd4 15. Nxd4 fxe5 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. f3 O-O 18. Bc2 g6 19. Qd2 Rf7 20. b4 a5 21. Na4 axb4 22. axb4 Qf8 23. Ba3 Rxf3 24. Rxf3 Qxf3 25. Bd1 Qe4 26. Nc5 Bxc5+ 27. bxc5 Ra8 28. Bb2 Rxa1 29. Bxa1 d4 30. Kf2 Qd5 31. Qa5 e4 32. Qb4 e5 33. Bb3 1-0

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=94395

This Week In Chess

On August 19th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club held its 3rd Tuesday of the month event:  Quick Swiss.  However, the players agreed to change the Swiss tournament to a Round Robin tournament after Jeff Fox's suggestion and extended the delay to 5 seconds after Earle Wikle's preference.  Earle's change paid bigger dividends, as he tied with NM Buck Buchanan for the 1st place tour points.

8/19 Quick Round Robin (RR, G15d5):

4.0 NM Buck Buchanan
4.0 Earle Wikle
3.5 Jeff Fox
2.0 Paul Anderson
1.0 Dean Brown
0.5 Mark McGough

Tuesday Night Chess Tour Cumulative and 3rd Quarter Standings

Current Standings (rank, name, total, quarter):

# MAX POSSIBLE 128.00 32.00

1 Paul Anderson 80.70 16.50
2 Daniel Herman 50.33 0.00
3 Mark McGough 43.12 9.25
4 Richard Buchanan 40.75 8.75
5 Koji DelConte 36.00 11.00
6 Earle Wikle 25.75 10.75
7 Shirley Herman 23.00 0.00
8 Jeff Fox 21.50 10.00
9 Joe Pahk 20.45 4.75
10 William Benedek 20.03 1.00
11 Dean Brown 19.50 2.00
12 Imre Barlay 15.50 3.50
13 Katie Wise 14.20 2.00
14 Gunnar Andersen 13.50 7.00
15 Sara Herman 11.33 0.00
16 Larry Kledzik 10.00 2.00
17 Mike Madsen 10.00 3.00
18 Eugin Pahk 8.50 2.50
19 Josh Bloomer 8.00 0.00
20 Anthony Thomason 8.00 0.00
21 Mike Makinney 8.00 1.00
22 Ben Matthews 6.00 0.00
23 Alex Freeman 5.33 0.00
24 Peter Barlay 5.00 0.00
25 Paul Protheroe 5.00 0.00
26 Rezheen Hamid 5.00 0.00
27 Richard Brown 5.00 2.50
28 Kevin Kaaoush 4.00 0.00
29 Alex Torres 4.00 0.00
30 Arthur Knize 4.00 0.00
31 Derick Arellano 4.00 4.00
32 Kurt Kondracki 3.50 3.50
33 Mitch Vincent 3.00 0.00
34 Peter Wise 3.00 0.00
35 David Silva 3.00 0.00
36 Spencer Shook 3.00 0.00
37 Gary Atkinson 2.00 0.00
38 John Byrne 2.00 0.00
39 Robert Jimenez 2.00 0.00
40 Ron Dotson 2.00 0.00
41 Chris Wynkoop 2.00 0.00
42 Isaac Martinez 2.00 0.00
43 Tim Brennan 2.00 0.00
44 Brian Wall 2.00 0.00
45 Luke Thurman 2.00 0.00
46 Steven Readel 2.00 0.00
47 Tara Martinez 2.00 0.00
48 Bobby Dzagen 1.00 0.00
49 Adam Metzger 1.00 0.00
50 Web McNairy 1.00 0.00
51 Jeremy Hawks 1.00 0.00
52 Phil Van Hawk 1.00 0.00
53 Brandon Hilliard 1.00 0.00
54 Dragan Plakalovic 1.00 0.00
55 Thomas Mullikin 1.00 0.00
56 Daniel Cabrera 1.00 0.00
57 Anthea Carson 1.00 0.00
58 Tikila Nichols 1.00 1.00

P Is For Pin III

Game Of The Week

A couple years back, I came up with a method to organize chess tactics. I called it the DROP Method (https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/2012/03/drop-method.html).  The DROP method is an acronym for the basic kinds of tactics.  It is meant to remind you not to drop your pieces and help you get your opponent to drop theirs.

I said that the DROP Method was a work in progress, and it was.  So, I thought I would revisit each of the four kinds of chess tactics to provide more examples:

• The first kind of tactic in the DROP Method is Discovery, which I revisited on May 24th (https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/2014/05/d-is-for-discovery-ii.html).
• The second kind of tactic in the DROP Method is Removal, which I revisited on June 2nd (https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/2014/06/r-is-for-removal-iii.html)
• The third kind of tactic in the DROP Method is Overload, which I revisited on June 9th (https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/2014/06/o-is-for-overload-iii.html).
• The fourth kind of tactic in the DROP Method is Pin.

Pin is a chess move that immobilizes an opponent's piece.

The Pin is different from the other kinds of tactics in that it does not create multiple threats.  Its main function is to prevent a piece from moving.  A Pin on a target allows that target to be attacked by a lower value piece.  A Pin on a support allows the capture of the piece the support is guarding.

"The defensive power of a pinned piece is only imaginary."

Aaron Nimzovich

The Pin works by threatening a low value piece that has a higher value piece behind it.  The low value piece is stuck (as if with a pin) to the higher value piece due to the loss of material should the low value piece move and allow the capture of the higher value piece.  If the higher value piece is the King, the low value piece is absolutely immobilized, as the rules of Chess do not allow moves where the King could be captured.  Otherwise the Pin is relative, as the opponent can actually move the low value piece if he is willing to accept the loss of material.  The other types of Pins are rare:

• Absolute (Pins a target to the King)
• Relative (Pins a low value target to a higher value piece)
• Cross (Multiple Pins on one piece)
• Cross-check (blocks check and counter-checks)

Here is an example from a game I played against Paul Covington.  Paul is a past president of the Colorado State Chess Association.  He is running again this year.  I think he has great ideas.  He helped the Colorado Springs Chess Club create the Supporting Memberships and get into the spacious ballroom of the Acacia Apartments.

Black to move

While the best move is not a tactic, it is a move that sets up a tactic:  Qb5+.  White has to get out of check and cannot capture the black Queen.  Therefore, white can choose between blocking check or moving out of check.

Blocking check with Qe2, sets up a Pin on the white Knight (low value piece) to the white Queen (high value piece).  However, the Pin is only Relative, and the Knight can go on the counter-attack.  Should black play Qxd5, the Knight can jump to f4 to un-pin and trade Queens (losing a Pawn eventually).

Moving out of check with Kg2, sets up an Overload when black plays Qxd5.  This time the Pawn capture is with check and a double attack on the King and Knight, winning the Knight.

Moving out of check with Ke1, sets up another Pin on the white Knight (low value piece) to the King (high value piece).  Then, again, black can play Qxd5 and win the Knight.  This time the Pin is Absolute and the Knight cannot even consider counter-play.

Moving out of check with Kg1, looks like it might avoid the Pins, but it does not.  This time the white Knight (low value piece) is immobilized due to the Mate threat (1. Qb5+ Kg1 2. Qxd5 Nxd8 3. Re1#).  It is actually Pinned to a high value square!

P Is For Pin III

[Event "July Panera Wednesday"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2014.07.30"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Covington, Paul"]
[Black "Anderson, Paul"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "1800"]
[BlackElo "1993"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2014.07.02"]
[TimeControl "5400"]

1. d4 c6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 g6 4. Nbd2 d5 5. c4 Bg7 6. h3 O-O 7. e3 Na6 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Bg3 Nac7 10. e4 Nb6 11. Nb3 Be6 12. Nc5 Qc8 13. Rc1 Nd7 14. Nxe6 Nxe6 15. d5 Nd8 16. Qb3 Bh6 17. Rc2 Nf6 18. Bd3 Nh5 19. Bh2 Bf4 20. Be2 Qd7 21. Ne5 Qc7 22. Nf3 Qa5+ 23. Nd2 Bxh2 24. Rxh2 Nf4 25. g3 Nxe2 26. Kxe2 cxd5 27. exd5 e6 28. Ne4 f5 29. Nc5 Re8 30. Kf1 Rc8 31. Nxe6 Rxc2 32. Qxc2 Qb5+ 33. Kg1 Qxd5 34. f3 Qxe6 35. Rd2 Nc6 36. Kg2 Re7 37. b4 Nxb4 38. Rd8+ Kf7 39. Qb2 Qxa2 40. Rd2 Qxb2 41. Rxb2 a5 42. g4 f4 43. h4 Rc7 44. Rb3 Rc4 45. g5 a4 46. Ra3 Nc2 47. Rd3 Ne1+ 0-1

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=94345

This Week In Chess

On August 12th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club held its 2nd Tuesday of the month event:  Quads.  However, the players chose to change the time control from G30 to G24 after a suggestion from Earle Wikle.  I survived all my games to claim the 1st place tour points.

8/12 Quad (G24d5, RR):

3.0 Paul Anderson
1.5 Earle Wikle
1.0 Koji Del Conte
0.5 Mark McGough

Tuesday Night Chess Tour Cumulative and 3rd Quarter Standings

Current Standings (rank, name, total, quarter):

# MAX POSSIBLE 124.00 28.00

1 Paul Anderson 79.70 15.50
2 Daniel Herman 50.33 0.00
3 Mark McGough 42.12 8.25
4 Richard Buchanan 37.25 5.25
5 Koji DelConte 36.00 11.00
6 Shirley Herman 23.00 0.00
7 Earle Wikle 22.25 7.25
8 Joe Pahk 20.45 4.75
9 William Benedek 20.03 1.00
10 Jeff Fox 19.50 8.00
11 Dean Brown 18.50 1.00
12 Imre Barlay 15.50 3.50
13 Katie Wise 14.20 2.00
14 Gunnar Andersen 13.50 7.00
15 Sara Herman 11.33 0.00
16 Larry Kledzik 10.00 2.00
17 Mike Madsen 10.00 3.00
18 Eugin Pahk 8.50 2.50
19 Josh Bloomer 8.00 0.00
20 Anthony Thomason 8.00 0.00
21 Mike Makinney 8.00 1.00
22 Ben Matthews 6.00 0.00
23 Alex Freeman 5.33 0.00
24 Peter Barlay 5.00 0.00
25 Paul Protheroe 5.00 0.00
26 Rezheen Hamid 5.00 0.00
27 Richard Brown 5.00 2.50
28 Kevin Kaaoush 4.00 0.00
29 Alex Torres 4.00 0.00
30 Arthur Knize 4.00 0.00
31 Derick Arellano 4.00 4.00
32 Kurt Kondracki 3.50 3.50
33 Mitch Vincent 3.00 0.00
34 Peter Wise 3.00 0.00
35 David Silva 3.00 0.00
36 Spencer Shook 3.00 0.00
37 Gary Atkinson 2.00 0.00
38 John Byrne 2.00 0.00
39 Robert Jimenez 2.00 0.00
40 Ron Dotson 2.00 0.00
41 Chris Wynkoop 2.00 0.00
42 Isaac Martinez 2.00 0.00
43 Tim Brennan 2.00 0.00
44 Brian Wall 2.00 0.00
45 Luke Thurman 2.00 0.00
46 Steven Readel 2.00 0.00
47 Tara Martinez 2.00 0.00
48 Bobby Dzagen 1.00 0.00
49 Adam Metzger 1.00 0.00
50 Web McNairy 1.00 0.00
51 Jeremy Hawks 1.00 0.00
52 Phil Van Hawk 1.00 0.00
53 Brandon Hilliard 1.00 0.00
54 Dragan Plakalovic 1.00 0.00
55 Thomas Mullikin 1.00 0.00
56 Daniel Cabrera 1.00 0.00
57 Anthea Carson 1.00 0.00
58 Tikila Nichols 1.00 1.00

Owen Eighteen

Game Of The Week

This week's game comes from one of my many losses this year.  I have had a tradition of publishing 4 losses each chess season.  I noticed that, with 3 newsletters left this year, I only had published 3 losses this year.  So, I needed one more to keep the tradition going.

As I looked over my losses, there was one game that stood out from the rest.  One, it was the longest recorded game I played this year, and two, it was a milestone for my opponent.

Back in 2011, I was trying to find my 200th chess victory.  By chance, I noticed that the game coincided with another statistical anomaly:  an opponent who had lost all our rated games (after a minimum of 4 games).  I came up with a silly name to describe this occurrence for the newsletter.

https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/2011/06/the-0-wens.html

Unfortunately, my opponent didn't think it was nearly as funny as I did.  In addition, I made the situation worse by telling him the same knock-knock joke after every loss for the next three years.

"Hey Joe, knock, knock?" I asked after our next game together.

"Whose there?" Joe responded.

"Owen," I replied with a muffled giggle.

"Owen who?" Joe begrudging asked.

"Owen Nine!"

To me, this seemed like a joke that just got better with time.  However, by the time I got to "Owen Sixteen," Joe was just plain furious.  It was no wonder that Joe was insulted when I offered a draw in our 17th encounter with less time and a lost position.  He thought I was just trying to keep the joke going.

So, I figured, if anyone deserves to have their win over me published, it is Joe.  Here is a position from the game where things started to go wrong for me:

Black to move

Every chess player, who plays regularly, will have an Owen List and be on someone's list.  But, it is hard to beat the same person every time.  The best way to get off someone's list is to keep playing.  Almost everyone who started out poorly against me, eventually got off the list, sometimes gaining rating points in the process.

Owen Hall Of Fame

0-18 Daniel Herman
0-16 Joe Pahk
0-12 Al Ufer
0-10 Brian Rountree

Current Owen List (name, wins, losses, ave rating)

ALLAN UFER 12 0 1154
GARY FRENZEL 9 0 1234
FRED ERIC SPELL 8 0 1338
RICHARD BROWN 7 0 1552
KENTON LLOYD 7 0 1375
JERRY MAIER 7 0 1303
DAVID RICE 6 0 1492
SAM MEYER 5 0 1395
KATHY SCHNEIDER 5 0 849
DAN SOUTHARD 5 0 1399
JOHN BRUNN 4 0 1292
MIKE FILPPU 4 0 1526
NATHAN KIDD 4 0 1272
GENE LUCAS 4 0 1533
GLENN MILLER 4 0 1760
TOM MULLIKIN 4 0 1167
RAY O'DELL 4 0 1073
JOHN REVERE 4 0 1551
STEVE SPARKS 4 0 1420
EARLE WIKLE 4 0 1939

Owen Eighteen

[Event "Cabin Fever Reliever"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2014.02.11"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Pahk, Joe"]
[Black "Anderson, Paul"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B10"]
[WhiteElo "1794"]
[BlackElo "2079"]
[PlyCount "189"]
[EventDate "2014.02.11"]

1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. Be3 d5 5. Nbd2 Nh6 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O Bg4 8. h3 Bxf3 9. Bxf3 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nf5 11. c3 Nxe3 12. fxe3 Nd7 13. Nd2 e5 14. Nb3 Qb6 15. Kh1 Rad8 16. Qc2 Kh8 17. Rad1 f5 18. e4 f4 19. Qf2 a5 20. dxe5 Qxf2 21. Rxf2 a4 22. Rfd2 axb3 23. axb3 Bxe5 24. Rxd7 Rxd7 25. Rxd7 b5 26. Re7 Bd6 27. Re6 Bc5 28. Kh2 Bf2 29. h4 c5 30. Kh3 b4 31. Rc6 Ra8 32. Kg4 Be3 33. Kg5 bxc3 34. bxc3 Ra7 35. e5 Kg7 36. h5 h6+ 37. Kg4 g5 38. Rg6+ Kf8 39. Rxh6 Rg7 40. Rg6 Bd2 41. Rxg7 Kxg7 42. c4 Bc3 43. e6 Kf6 44. Bd5 Be5 45. h6 Ke7 46. Kf5 Bh8 47. Kxg5 f3 48. gxf3 Bd4 49. f4 Be3 50. h7 Bd4 51. f5 Bf6+ 52. Kf4 Kd6 53. Ke4 Bh8 54. Kf4 Bf6 55. Kg4 Ke7 56. Kh5 Bh8 57. Kg6 Bf6 58. Kh5 Kd6 59. Kg4 Ke7 60. Kf4 Kd6 61. Ke4 Bh8 62. Bb7 Bf6 63. Kf4 Ke7 64. Kg4 Kd6 65. Kh5 Ke7 66. Kg6 Bh8 67. Kg5 Bf6+ 68. Kf4 Bh8 69. Ke4 Bf6 70. Kd5 Bd4 71. h8=Q Bxh8 72. Kxc5 Bf6 73. Bc8 Kd8 74. Bd7 Be7+ 75. Kd5 Bh4 76. Ke5 Ke7 77. f6+ Kf8 78. Ba4 Bg3+ 79. Ke4 Kg8 80. e7 Kf7 81. e8=Q+ Kxf6 82. Qf8+ Kg5 83. Qf5+ Kh4 84. Qf4+ Bxf4 85. Kxf4 Kh5 86. c5 Kg6 87. c6 Kf7 88. c7 Ke6 89. c8=Q+ Kf6 90. Qd7 Kg6 91. Qe6+ Kh5 92. Qg4+ Kh6 93. Kf5 Kh7 94. Kf6 Kh8 95. Qg7# 1-0

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=94223

This Week In Chess

On August 5th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club held its 1st Tuesday of the month event:  Speed Chess. Newcomer, Derick Arellano, only dropped one game to claim the 1st place points.

8/5 Speed Tournament (2RR, G5):

13.0 Derick Arellano
12.0 Paul Anderson
9.0 NM Buck Buchanan
6.5 Mike Makinney
6.0 Jeff Fox
4.0 Koji Del Conte
3.5 Earle Wikle
2.0 Mark McGough

Tuesday Night Chess Tour Cumulative and 3rd Quarter Standings

# MAX POSSIBLE 108.00 12.00

1 Paul Anderson 68.70 2.50
2 Daniel Herman 50.33 0.00
3 Mark McGough 35.87 2.00
4 Richard Buchanan 34.00 2.00
5 Koji DelConte 29.00 4.00
6 Shirley Herman 23.00 0.00
7 William Benedek 20.03 1.00
8 Dean Brown 18.50 1.00
9 Jeff Fox 18.50 7.00
10 Joe Pahk 18.20 2.50
11 Earle Wikle 17.00 2.00
12 Imre Barlay 15.50 3.50
13 Katie Wise 14.20 2.00
14 Gunnar Andersen 13.50 7.00
15 Sara Herman 11.33 0.00
16 Larry Kledzik 9.00 1.00
17 Eugin Pahk 8.50 2.50
18 Josh Bloomer 8.00 0.00
19 Anthony Thomason 8.00 0.00
20 Mike Makinney 7.00 0.00
21 Mike Madsen 7.00 0.00
22 Ben Matthews 6.00 0.00
23 Alex Freeman 5.33 0.00
24 Peter Barlay 5.00 0.00
25 Paul Protheroe 5.00 0.00
26 Rezheen Hamid 5.00 0.00
27 Richard Brown 5.00 2.50
28 Kevin Kaaoush 4.00 0.00
29 Alex Torres 4.00 0.00
30 Arthur Knize 4.00 0.00
31 Kurt Kondracki 3.50 3.50
32 Mitch Vincent 3.00 0.00
33 Peter Wise 3.00 0.00
34 David Silva 3.00 0.00
35 Spencer Shook 3.00 0.00
36 Gary Atkinson 2.00 0.00
37 John Byrne 2.00 0.00
38 Robert Jimenez 2.00 0.00
39 Ron Dotson 2.00 0.00
40 Chris Wynkoop 2.00 0.00
41 Isaac Martinez 2.00 0.00
42 Tim Brennan 2.00 0.00
43 Brian Wall 2.00 0.00
44 Luke Thurman 2.00 0.00
45 Steven Readel 2.00 0.00
46 Tara Martinez 2.00 0.00
47 Bobby Dzagen 1.00 0.00
48 Adam Metzger 1.00 0.00
49 Web McNairy 1.00 0.00
50 Jeremy Hawks 1.00 0.00
51 Phil Van Hawk 1.00 0.00
52 Brandon Hilliard 1.00 0.00
53 Dragan Plakalovic 1.00 0.00
54 Thomas Mullikin 1.00 0.00
55 Daniel Cabrera 1.00 0.00
56 Anthea Carson 1.00 0.00
57 Tikila Nichols 1.00 1.00

Pikes Peak Open

By NM Buck Buchanan

5.0 Gunnar Andersen
4.5 Karl Irons
4.0 Justin Alter
4.0 Brad Lundstrom
4.0 Brian Wall
4.0 Chris Peterson
4.0 Nakul Deshpande
4.0 Katie Wise
4.0 DuWayne Langseth
3.5 Kurt Kondracki
3.5 David Mendoza
3.5 Carlos Santillan
3.0 Derick Arellano
3.0 Dean Clow
3.0 Suhaas Narayanan
3.0 Earle Wikle
3.0 Daniel Herman
3.0 Victor Huang
3.0 Hongbiao Zeng
3.0 Charles Alexander
3.0 Clifton Ford
3.0 Joe Pahk
3.0 Rhett Langseth
3.0 Gene Lucas
3.0 Ron Rossi
3.0 Robert Rountree
3.0 Mike Madsen
2.5 Isaac Martinez
2.5 Akshat Jain
2.5 Anthea Carson
2.5 Avinaya Subedi
2.5 Victor Creazzi
2.5 Paul Covington
2.5 Richard Brown
2.5 Herb Conley
2.5 Imre Barlay
2.5 Eugin Pahk
2.5 Meint Olthof
2.0 Sara Herman
2.0 Luke Thurman
2.0 David Logan
2.0 Dean Brown
2.0 Andy Wu
2.0 Sheena Zeng
2.0 Bryan Castle
2.0 Roger Redmond
2.0 Robert Carlson
2.0 William Wolf
2.0 Rebecca Herman
2.0 Brock Romero
2.0 John Krue
1.5 Derek Miller
1.5 Felix Yu
1.5 Tara Martinez
1.5 Sullivan McConnell
1.5 Gary Bagstad
1.5 Griffin McConnell
1.5 Alex Cacas
1.5 David Hufnagel
1.0 Seth Vander
1.0 Ken MacRae
1.0 Lucas Caballero
1.0 Peter Krause
1.0 Alfredo Vigil
1.0 Shirley Herman
0.5 Kathy Schneider
0.5 Annabelle Romero

Choose Wisely

Game Of The Week

At the beginning of the year, I had a dream where I was given a choice:

• Never lose to a higher rated player
• Always win against a lower rated player

Like a fool, I quickly chose the first one.  If I had put any thought into it, I would have realized that I just don't play enough higher rated players in Colorado Springs.  Over the years, I have slowly climbed up the ratings ladder by beating most of the players when I was higher rated and losing to the players when they were higher rated.  This worked well for me until I reached the top rung.  Now there was nobody to which I could lose.

Of course, I still would have an off-game or an off-night.  However, now it was always occuring against lower rated players.  So, I have lost a ton of rating points this year by dropping a bunch of games to lower rated players.  If I had chosen the second, I would have only lost 2 games this year.

In fact, this year I have only played two higher rated players (LM Brian Wall and Gunnar Andersen). While I didn't lose either game and I enjoyed the benefit of my choice, at least for a little while, I can't say I made the most of it.  It was as if Moses had spoken directly to me:

"See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction."

Deuteronomy 30:15 (KJV)

And I chose the death and destruction of my rating.

Here is a position from my game against Gunnar where my choice paid off:

Black to move

Choose Wisely

[Event "July Quad"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/]
[Date "2014.07.08"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Anderson, Paul"]
[Black "Andersen, Gunnar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2011"]
[BlackElo "2128"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2014.07.08"]
[TimeControl "1800"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 d6 3. e3 f5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. b3 g6 6. Bb2 Bg7 7. Qc2 c6 8. Be2 Na6 9. a3 O-O 10. O-O Nh5 11. Rad1 Qe8 12. d3 h6 13. Nd2 g5 14. Rde1 f4 15. Qd1 Nf6 16. Nce4 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 Qe7 18. Nc3 Nc7 19. Ba1 Kh8 20. Bf3 Bf5 21. b4 Qe6 22. exf4 gxf4 23. Be4 Bxe4 24. Nxe4 f3 25. Re3 fxg2 26. Kxg2 Rf4 27. Rg3 Rh4 28. f4 Ne8 29. Qf3 Rxf4 30. Qh5 Rxf1 31. Kxf1 Nc7 32. Qg6 Qxg6 33. Rxg6 Rf8+ 34. Ke2 d5 35. Nd6 Kh7 36. Rg1 b6 37. Rf1 d4 38. Bb2 Rxf1 39. Kxf1 Ne6 40. Bc1 Bf8 41. Nc8 a5 42. bxa5 bxa5 43. a4 Bb4 44. Na7 Nd8 45. Ke2 Kg6 46. Kf3 Kf5 47. Bxh6 Bc5 48. Nc8 Ke6 49. Bg5 Nf7 50. h4 Nxg5+ 51. hxg5 Kf5 52. g6 Kxg6 53. Ke4 Kf6 54. Kf3 Kf5 55. Ke2 Kf4 56. Kf2 e4 57. dxe4 Kxe4 58. Ke2 d3+ 59. Kd2 Kd4 60. Kd1 Kc3 61. Kc1 d2+ 62. Kd1 Kd3 63. Nb6 Bxb6 64. c5 1/2-1/2

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=93904

This Week In Chess

On July 22nd, the Colorado Springs Chess Club held its 4th Tuesday of the month event:  Thematic.  The opening chosen for the night was the Petrov's Defense.  Joe Pahk's untimely departure pushed Koji Del Conte into the top spot and gave him the 1st place tour points.

Thematic Double Swiss (3SS, G10):

All games started 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6

4.0 Koji Del Conte
3.5 Mark McGough
3.0 Larry Kledzik*
1.5 Joe Pahk

* Paul Anderson sub in 3rd round

Tuesday Night Chess Tour Cumulative and 3rd Quarter Standings

# MAX POSSIBLE 108.00 12.00

1 Paul Anderson 68.70 2.50
2 Daniel Herman 50.33 0.00
3 Mark McGough 35.87 2.00
4 Richard Buchanan 34.00 2.00
5 Koji DelConte 29.00 4.00
6 Shirley Herman 23.00 0.00
7 William Benedek 20.03 1.00
8 Dean Brown 18.50 1.00
9 Jeff Fox 18.50 7.00
10 Joe Pahk 18.20 2.50
11 Earle Wikle 17.00 2.00
12 Imre Barlay 15.50 3.50
13 Katie Wise 14.20 2.00
14 Gunnar Andersen 13.50 7.00
15 Sara Herman 11.33 0.00
16 Larry Kledzik 9.00 1.00
17 Eugin Pahk 8.50 2.50
18 Josh Bloomer 8.00 0.00
19 Anthony Thomason 8.00 0.00
20 Mike Makinney 7.00 0.00
21 Mike Madsen 7.00 0.00
22 Ben Matthews 6.00 0.00
23 Alex Freeman 5.33 0.00
24 Peter Barlay 5.00 0.00
25 Paul Protheroe 5.00 0.00
26 Rezheen Hamid 5.00 0.00
27 Richard Brown 5.00 2.50
28 Kevin Kaaoush 4.00 0.00
29 Alex Torres 4.00 0.00
30 Arthur Knize 4.00 0.00
31 Kurt Kondracki 3.50 3.50
32 Mitch Vincent 3.00 0.00
33 Peter Wise 3.00 0.00
34 David Silva 3.00 0.00
35 Spencer Shook 3.00 0.00
36 Gary Atkinson 2.00 0.00
37 John Byrne 2.00 0.00
38 Robert Jimenez 2.00 0.00
39 Ron Dotson 2.00 0.00
40 Chris Wynkoop 2.00 0.00
41 Isaac Martinez 2.00 0.00
42 Tim Brennan 2.00 0.00
43 Brian Wall 2.00 0.00
44 Luke Thurman 2.00 0.00
45 Steven Readel 2.00 0.00
46 Tara Martinez 2.00 0.00
47 Bobby Dzagen 1.00 0.00
48 Adam Metzger 1.00 0.00
49 Web McNairy 1.00 0.00
50 Jeremy Hawks 1.00 0.00
51 Phil Van Hawk 1.00 0.00
52 Brandon Hilliard 1.00 0.00
53 Dragan Plakalovic 1.00 0.00
54 Thomas Mullikin 1.00 0.00
55 Daniel Cabrera 1.00 0.00
56 Anthea Carson 1.00 0.00
57 Tikila Nichols 1.00 1.00

The Tortoise And The Other Tortoise

Game Of The Week

Once upon a time there was a tortoise who, boasting how he could play chess better than anyone else, was forever teasing the other tortoise for its slowness.  

Then one day, the other tortoise answered back: “Who do you think you are?  There’s no denying you’re good, but even you can be beaten!”  

The tortoise squealed with laughter.

A game was planned, and the next day at Panera they stood at the board.  When the clock started, all the spectators fell asleep for both tortoises moved so slowly.

When the spectators awoke, it was a draw.  Both tortoises flagged having only made 2 moves. 

"How is this possible?" the spectators asked.

“Slowly does it every time!” they said.

The Tortoise And The Other Tortoise

This week's game comes from Brian Rountree and his chess blog:

https://linuxguyonfics.wordpress.com/2014/07/17/who-wins-on-time-between/

"Mark McGough and Brian Rountree? (Brian Wall’s most frequent Google search).

Well, it’s the same as usual here, and it’s as I tell others, I try not to follow Mark McGough into his time-pressure.  We are possibly the two slowest players in Colorado, but we are also possibly the two best blitzers in time-pressure when we are “on” (which, BTW, is not most of the time).

I always flag to Paul Anderson because he studiously writes down every move and the times in my time-pressure and gently, calmly makes his moves, which makes me think they are strong and that I am not in time-pressure.  So, carefully I consider his move, and then I flag.

So, here it is, the Round 3 Showdown.  Well, not much of one, and I don’t think either one of us was really up the task..."

I saw the end of the game and thought Mark had a shot for a win in this position.  See if you agree with me.

White to move

The Tortoise And The Other Tortoise

[Event "July Panera Wednesday"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2014.07.16"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "McGough, Mark"]
[Black "Rountree, Brian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E18"]
[WhiteElo "1780"]
[BlackElo "1799"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2014.07.02"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 d5 8. Ne5 Nbd7 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Qa4 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Nd7 12. Nxd5 Nc5 13. Nxe7+ Qxe7 14. Qf4 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Rfe8 16. Be3 Qxe5 17. Qxe5 Rxe5 18. Bxc5 Rxc5 19. Rac1 Rxc1 20. Rxc1 Rc8 21. Kf3 Kf8 22. Ke4 c6 23. b4 Ke7 24. g4 Kd7 25. f4 a6 26. Kd4 f6 27. e4 Ra8 28. e5 a5 29. a3 axb4 30. axb4 fxe5+ 31. Kxe5 Re8+ 32. Kf5 Re2 33. h4 g6+ 34. Kg5 Re4 35. Rb1 Kd6 36. f5 gxf5 37. Kxf5 Re2 38. Kf6 Rf2+ 39. Kg5 Rd2 40. Kf6 Rf2+ 41. Kg5 Rd2 42. Kh5 c5 43. bxc5+ Kxc5 44. g5 b5 45. Kh6 Rh2 46. h5 b4 47. g6 hxg6 48. Kxg6 Kc4 49. h6 b3 50. h7 Kc3 51. Kg7 Kc2 52. Rxb3 Kxb3 53. h8=Q Rxh8 54. Kxh8 1/2-1/2

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=93667

This Week In Chess

On July 15th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club held its 3rd Tuesday of the month event:  Quick Swiss.  USCF members are entered into a free, Quick-rated, Swiss tournament.  Jeff Fox and Imre Barlay edged the field to earn the 1st place tour points.

Quick Swiss (G20, 3SS):

2.5 Jeff Fox
2.5 Imre Barlay
2.0 Earle Wikle
1.5 Paul Anderson
1.5 Mark McGough
1.0 NM Buck Buchanan
1.0 Joe Pahk
0.5 Tikila Nichols*
0.0 Dean Brown

*sub for Dean after round 1

Tuesday Night Chess Tour Cumulative and 3rd Quarter Standings

# MAX POSSIBLE 108.00 12.00

1 Paul Anderson 68.70 2.50
2 Daniel Herman 50.33 0.00
3 Mark McGough 35.87 2.00
4 Richard Buchanan 34.00 2.00
5 Koji DelConte 29.00 4.00
6 Shirley Herman 23.00 0.00
7 William Benedek 20.03 1.00
8 Dean Brown 18.50 1.00
9 Jeff Fox 18.50 7.00
10 Joe Pahk 18.20 2.50
11 Earle Wikle 17.00 2.00
12 Imre Barlay 15.50 3.50
13 Katie Wise 14.20 2.00
14 Gunnar Andersen 13.50 7.00
15 Sara Herman 11.33 0.00
16 Larry Kledzik 9.00 1.00
17 Eugin Pahk 8.50 2.50
18 Josh Bloomer 8.00 0.00
19 Anthony Thomason 8.00 0.00
20 Mike Makinney 7.00 0.00
21 Mike Madsen 7.00 0.00
22 Ben Matthews 6.00 0.00
23 Alex Freeman 5.33 0.00
24 Peter Barlay 5.00 0.00
25 Paul Protheroe 5.00 0.00
26 Rezheen Hamid 5.00 0.00
27 Richard Brown 5.00 2.50
28 Kevin Kaaoush 4.00 0.00
29 Alex Torres 4.00 0.00
30 Arthur Knize 4.00 0.00
31 Kurt Kondracki 3.50 3.50
32 Mitch Vincent 3.00 0.00
33 Peter Wise 3.00 0.00
34 David Silva 3.00 0.00
35 Spencer Shook 3.00 0.00
36 Gary Atkinson 2.00 0.00
37 John Byrne 2.00 0.00
38 Robert Jimenez 2.00 0.00
39 Ron Dotson 2.00 0.00
40 Chris Wynkoop 2.00 0.00
41 Isaac Martinez 2.00 0.00
42 Tim Brennan 2.00 0.00
43 Brian Wall 2.00 0.00
44 Luke Thurman 2.00 0.00
45 Steven Readel 2.00 0.00
46 Tara Martinez 2.00 0.00
47 Bobby Dzagen 1.00 0.00
48 Adam Metzger 1.00 0.00
49 Web McNairy 1.00 0.00
50 Jeremy Hawks 1.00 0.00
51 Phil Van Hawk 1.00 0.00
52 Brandon Hilliard 1.00 0.00
53 Dragan Plakalovic 1.00 0.00
54 Thomas Mullikin 1.00 0.00
55 Daniel Cabrera 1.00 0.00
56 Anthea Carson 1.00 0.00
57 Tikila Nichols 1.00 1.00

We Are All Pawns, My Dear

Game Of The Week

By Anthea Carson NN

Isaac Martinez on guitar

Paul Anderson has been city champion of Colorado Springs, he’s been rated over 2000, and is a feared opponent in Colorado Chess.  But his style of play is infuriating.  I’ve lost most of the games I’ve played against him, but occasionally I get lucky.  This is one of those “lucky” games, because it just so happened that his pawn grabbing got him into tactical trouble.

White to move

I wish I could say that I wanted Paul to take the pawn on h3, and had this all planned out ahead of time.

Paul is famous for his propensity to snatch pawns, and particularly hated for the way he does it.  Let me see if I can describe this.

First, he makes a series of moves I either don’t understand, or pay no attention to because they don’t seem to improve his position.  Then I see the point of the moves a move or two before he scoops up the pawn and I roll my eyes.

And the way he scoops up the pawn.  Sort of like he was picking up Jacks on the playground, letting them fall in his hand to emphasize that little by little he is going to collect them until you are dead lost, and win in the endgame like he has done so many times before.

Like the tax collector, I began cursing him, wishing for locusts to plague him, and floods to wash him into the sea.

Because just after I moved, and before he took the pawn on h3 I saw that I should have prevented it, instead of playing b3, a move that shows I’m mindlessly guarding pawns, playing his game, not mine.  I’m buying into his greedy nonsense, putting a guard on a4.  I should have noticed that another pawn was en prise in a much more immediate way.

But Paul’s petty style of play hypnotizes patzers like me to mindlessly protect pawns instead of developing a real plan.

But here I saw that I could come out, if not ahead, at least equal in material.  Technically equal, although two pieces for the rook and the pawn usually proves to be stronger, depending on the position.

We Are All Pawns, My Dear

[Event "June Panera Wednesday"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2014.06.04"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Carson, Anthea"]
[Black "Anderson, Paul"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A42"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2014.06.04"]
[TimeControl "5400"]

1. d4 c6 2. c4 g6 3. e4 d6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. h3 Na6 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O c5 9. d5 Bd7 10. Qb3 Rb8 11. Nb5 Nxe4 12. Nxa7 Nc7 13. Ng5 Nf6 14. a4 h6 15. Nf3 e6 16. dxe6 Bxe6 17. Be3 Na6 18. Qa3 Nb4 19. Rac1 Bf5 20. Qb3 Ne4 21. Rfd1 Qf6 22. Bd4 Qe7 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. Re1 Qf6 25. Nb5 Rfe8 26. Nc7 Re7 27. Nd5 Nxd5 28. cxd5 Rbe8 29. Rcd1 Bc8 30. Qc2 Qf5 31. Bd3 Qf4 32. Bb5 Rf8 33. b3 Bxh3 34. Rxe4 Rxe4 35. Qc3+ Kh7 36. gxh3 Qf5 37. Qd3 Kg8 38. Kg2 g5 39. Re1 Rf4 40. Qxf5 Rxf5 41. Re7 Rb8 42. Rd7 Rxd5 43. Bc4 Rd1 44. Rxf7 Kh8 45. Rd7 b6 46. Ne5 Rf8 47. Ng6# 1-0

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=93564

This Week In Chess

On July 8th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club held its 2nd Tuesday of the month event:  Quads.  Players are grouped into 4-man Round Robin tournaments.  Gunnar Andersen, Kurt Kondracki, and Koji Del Conte all scored 2 points to claim the 1st place tour points.

Quad (G30, RR):

USCF A

2.0 Gunnar Andersen
2.0 Kurt Kondracki
1.0 Paul Anderson
1.0 Joe Pahk

USCF B

2.0 Koji Del Conte
1.5 Richard Brown
1.5 Eugin Pahk
1.0 Mark McGough

Tuesday Night Chess Tour Cumulative and 3rd Quarter Standings

# MAX POSSIBLE 100.00 4.00

1 Paul Anderson 64.20 0.00
2 Daniel Herman 50.33 0.00
3 Mark McGough 33.87 0.00
4 Richard Buchanan 33.00 1.00
5 Koji DelConte 25.00 0.00
6 Shirley Herman 23.00 0.00
7 William Benedek 20.03 1.00
8 Dean Brown 17.50 0.00
9 Joe Pahk 15.70 0.00
10 Earle Wikle 15.00 0.00
11 Jeff Fox 15.00 3.50
12 Katie Wise 14.20 2.00
13 Imre Barlay 12.00 0.00
14 Sara Herman 11.33 0.00
15 Gunnar Andersen 10.00 3.50
16 Larry Kledzik 9.00 1.00
17 Josh Bloomer 8.00 0.00
18 Anthony Thomason 8.00 0.00
19 Mike Makinney 7.00 0.00
20 Mike Madsen 7.00 0.00
21 Eugin Pahk 6.00 0.00
22 Ben Matthews 6.00 0.00
23 Alex Freeman 5.33 0.00
24 Peter Barlay 5.00 0.00
25 Paul Protheroe 5.00 0.00
26 Rezheen Hamid 5.00 0.00
27 Kevin Kaaoush 4.00 0.00
28 Alex Torres 4.00 0.00
29 Arthur Knize 4.00 0.00
30 Mitch Vincent 3.00 0.00
31 Peter Wise 3.00 0.00
32 David Silva 3.00 0.00
33 Spencer Shook 3.00 0.00
34 Richard Brown 2.50 0.00
35 Gary Atkinson 2.00 0.00
36 John Byrne 2.00 0.00
37 Robert Jimenez 2.00 0.00
38 Ron Dotson 2.00 0.00
39 Chris Wynkoop 2.00 0.00
40 Isaac Martinez 2.00 0.00
41 Tim Brennan 2.00 0.00
42 Brian Wall 2.00 0.00
43 Luke Thurman 2.00 0.00
44 Steven Readel 2.00 0.00
45 Tara Martinez 2.00 0.00
46 Bobby Dzagen 1.00 0.00
47 Adam Metzger 1.00 0.00
48 Web McNairy 1.00 0.00
49 Jeremy Hawks 1.00 0.00
50 Phil Van Hawk 1.00 0.00
51 Brandon Hilliard 1.00 0.00
52 Dragan Plakalovic 1.00 0.00
53 Thomas Mullikin 1.00 0.00
54 Daniel Cabrera 1.00 0.00
55 Anthea Carson 1.00 0.00

False Step

Game Of The Week

This week's game comes from the Colorado Springs Chess Club's Wednesday Panera event.  I got paired with Ken MacRae in the final round.  I had never played Ken before.  So, I didn't know what to expect.  I just knew he must be doing as well as I was in this tournament, and I should not take him lightly.

I decided not to check his rating and avoid any bias that might come from having that information.  I was going to assume that he was quickly improving and scored some good wins in the previous rounds.  His strong performance was the reason why we were finally meeting in the final round battling for 2nd place.

I was starting to think the game was going my way, as it looked like I was about to win a Pawn.  However, Ken had already conceeded that Pawn and was putting together his counter-attack.  I finally realized his intention when he pushed the e Pawn (23. e4).

Now it was clear that he was not going to sit idly by and let me grind him down to a won endgame.  He was going to sacrifice his Bishop to wipe out the Pawns in front of my King and try to create mating or perpetual check threats.

I decided that I could survive the attack by bringing my Queen back to g7 and win with the extra material.  However, I realized, after the game, that his aggressive move created a false step in my thinking.

I saw this idea in the TV show Numb3rs (pronounced num-three-ers), about a mathmatical genius who helps his brother with his FBI cases.  Whenever television shows or movies want to portray great intelligence in a character they usually default to having them play chess or use a chess analogy in their work, often getting the chess totally wrong.

Here Charlie, the math genius, talks about how chess players have to think before they move.  Of course, that is clearly not the case, but I will let that one go since it is the false step idea that he mentions that I thought had some merit.

The idea of the false step is to use a move that has multiple threats in the hopes that your opponent will only focus on the obvious attack and miss the more subtle one.

His example is not good, as the Queen sacrifice is not really creating a false step.  The only legal move is to capture the Queen, opening the way for the Rook mate.  This was a forced line and not a false step in thinking.

Here is my example.  This position is just after I had won the Pawn and had my Queen ready to defend on g7.

Black to move

I was so worried about his Bishop sacrifice that it created a false step in my thinking.  I felt I needed to defend and stopped looking for my attacking moves.  I completely missed the attacking idea of Overload (25...Qe3+!).

The Queen has an aggressive move that double attacks the King and the Bishop, winning the piece that was going to sacrifice.  I could have gained more material and kept a safer King, if only I had been thinking what I could do rather than just what my opponent could do.

The nice thing for me is that Ken also fell into the false step of thinking later in the game.  With my exposed King, I was looking for ways to trade off our Queens and reduce the perpetual check possibilities.  I played 31... Qg3 with the idea of creating two threats.

One, the double attack on the Rook and King is scary, but two, it also attacks the Queen.  The only defense is to trade Queens (what I really wanted).  However, Ken saw the attack on the Rook and defended it, thereby dropping his Queen.

So, I won by creating a false step in my opponent's thinking by using two threats rather than just offering a Queen trade, which surely would have been refused.  Obviously, creating a false step does not guarantee your opponent will fall for it, but they do happen.

False Step

[Event "June Panera Wednesday"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2014.06.25"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "MacRae, Ken"]
[Black "Anderson, Paul"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A40"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2014.06.04"]
[TimeControl "5400"]

1. d4 c6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bf4 Bg7 4. e3 d5 5. Nbd2 Bg4 6. h3 Bxf3 7. Nxf3 Nf6 8. Be2 Nbd7 9. Ne5 O-O 10. Bh2 Ne4 11. f3 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Nc5 13. c3 Nd7 14. f4 Nc5 15. O-O Qb6 16. Qd4 e6 17. b4 Na4 18. Rfc1 f6 19. Rab1 fxe5 20. fxe5 Qc7 21. Bd3 b5 22. Qg4 Rae8 23. e4 Bxe5 24. Bxe5 Qxe5 25. exd5 exd5 26. Bxg6 hxg6 27. Qxg6+ Qg7 28. Qxc6 Nb6 29. Rb2 Re3 30. Rd2 Rc8 31. Qd6 Qg3 32. Rf2 Qxd6 0-1

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=93365

This Week In Chess

On June 24th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club held its 4th Tuesday of the month event:  A Thematic Swiss.  Each month a different opening is chosen from MCO-14 and all games in a double, Swiss tournament start from that position.  This month's opening was the Ruy Lopez (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5).

Thematic Double Swiss (G10, 3SS):

5.0 Paul Anderson
4.0 Mark McGough
3.5 Dean Brown
3.0 Daniel Herman
3.0 Spencer Shook
3.0 Larry Kledzik
2.5 Sara Herman
0.0 Shirley Herman

Tuesday Night Chess Tour Cumulative and 2nd Quarter Results

# MAX POSSIBLE 96.00 52.00

1 Paul Anderson 64.20 32.70
2 Daniel Herman 50.33 30.00
3 Mark McGough 33.87 20.53
4 Richard Buchanan 32.00 8.50
5 Koji DelConte 25.00 10.00
6 Shirley Herman 23.00 11.00
7 William Benedek 19.03 9.53
8 Dean Brown 17.50 12.50
9 Joe Pahk 15.70 2.20
10 Earle Wikle 15.00 10.00
11 Katie Wise 12.20 8.20
12 Imre Barlay 12.00 6.00
13 Jeff Fox 11.50 11.50
14 Sara Herman 11.33 7.33
15 Josh Bloomer 8.00 0.00
16 Anthony Thomason 8.00 8.00
17 Larry Kledzik 8.00 3.00
18 Mike Makinney 7.00 7.00
19 Mike Madsen 7.00 2.00
20 Gunnar Andersen 6.50 3.50
21 Eugin Pahk 6.00 0.00
22 Ben Matthews 6.00 2.00
23 Alex Freeman 5.33 0.00
24 Peter Barlay 5.00 3.00
25 Paul Protheroe 5.00 5.00
26 Rezheen Hamid 5.00 5.00
27 Kevin Kaaoush 4.00 1.00
28 Alex Torres 4.00 1.00
29 Arthur Knize 4.00 4.00
30 Mitch Vincent 3.00 3.00
31 Peter Wise 3.00 1.00
32 David Silva 3.00 3.00
33 Spencer Shook 3.00 3.00
34 Richard Brown 2.50 2.50
35 Gary Atkinson 2.00 0.00
36 John Byrne 2.00 0.00
37 Robert Jimenez 2.00 0.00
38 Ron Dotson 2.00 0.00
39 Chris Wynkoop 2.00 0.00
40 Isaac Martinez 2.00 2.00
41 Tim Brennan 2.00 2.00
42 Brian Wall 2.00 2.00
43 Luke Thurman 2.00 2.00
44 Steven Readel 2.00 2.00
45 Tara Martinez 2.00 2.00
46 Bobby Dzagen 1.00 0.00
47 Adam Metzger 1.00 0.00
48 Web McNairy 1.00 0.00
49 Jeremy Hawks 1.00 1.00
50 Phil Van Hawk 1.00 1.00
51 Brandon Hilliard 1.00 1.00
52 Dragan Plakalovic 1.00 1.00
53 Thomas Mullikin 1.00 1.00
54 Daniel Cabrera 1.00 1.00
55 Anthea Carson 1.00 1.00

Winter Springs Open

By NM Buck Buchanan

Tournament Announcement

Winter Springs Open, Manitou Springs, CO – Dec. 6-7, 2014

4-SS, Time Control G/90 with 30 seconds increment
Manitou Springs City Hall, 606 Manitou Ave.
Sections: June (open), July (U 1800), August (U1400)
EF $35 if rec'd by 12/3, $40 at site. $5 discount for juniors, seniors, unrateds. Additional $5 discount for Supporting Members of Colorado Springs Chess Club
Cash prizes per entries
Register 8:30 – 9:30 AM. Rounds 10 AM, 4 PM Saturday; 9 AM, 3 PM Sunday
Entries to Richard Buchanan, 1 Sutherland Rd., Manitou Springs CO 80829, Information (719) 685 1984 or buckpeace@pcisys.net
CSCA membership required: $15, juniors & seniors $10. OSA
Colorado Tour Event

You Shook Me All Night Long

Game Of The Week

This week's game comes from the Colorado Springs Chess Club's annual June event:  The June Mating Game.  It is one of several 2 week events at the club, which means that players can join during the middle of the event.

This time LM Brian Wall announced that he was going to play in the final 2 rounds.  This had the effect of drawing four more players who also came out for the final 2 rounds.  Some of the players clearly came out just for a shot to play one of a handful of active Colorado masters, none of which are from the Springs.

However, Spencer Shook, a rising Colorado Springs scholastic player, was not one of them.  His reaction to being paired against the Life Master in the third round of an event where he only had half a point:

"Is this some kind of sick joke?!"

Despite the surprise, Spencer fought well and survived a long time in extreme time pressure against the master.  Brian stayed all night at the club and regailed us with the tale of how he won the game (along with many others).

Here is a position from the game when both players were getting into time pressure.

White to move

I thought this was a clever trap and a good example of not trying to play perfect chess.  Brian had Spencer in time pressure for a long time but began to run out of time himself looking for the best lines.  He began to realize that Spencer could live on his 5 second delay forever.

Instead of trying to keep his large material lead, Brian decided to sacrifice a Pawn to reduce Spencer's forces and eliminate perpetual checks threats.

This is a great way to manage your clock by finding an easier, weaker line that you can play quickly, rather than run the risk of running out of time searching for mates or blundering into a draw (or a loss) by moving too fast in a complicated line.

You Shook Me All Night Long

[Event "June Mating Game"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2014.06.17"]
[Round "3.4"]
[White "Shook, Spencer"]
[Black "Wall, Brian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B00"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2014.06.10"]
[TimeControl "1800"]

1. e4 Na6 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. Be3 d6 5. c3 Nf6 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. Qb3 c5 8. Bc4 cxd4 9. Bxd4 e5 10. Be3 b6 11. O-O h6 12. Rfd1 Qc7 13. Nh4 Kh7 14. h3 Bb7 15. Bd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 f5 17. f4 exf4 18. Bd4 Bxd4+ 19. cxd4 Rae8 20. Re1 Qg7 21. Qa4 Nc7 22. Rxe8 Rxe8 23. Rc1 Re2 24. Ndf3 Nxd5 25. Kf1 Rxb2 26. Qa3 Rc2 27. Re1 Ne3+ 28. Rxe3 fxe3 29. Qxe3 Bxf3 30. Nxf3 Rc7 31. Qd2 Qe7 32. d5 Qe4 33. Ne1 Rc5 34. Qb2 Qxd5 35. Qf6 Qe5 36. Qf7+ Qg7 37. Qe6 Qc7 38. Nf3 Rc2 39. Kg1 Rc1+ 40. Kh2 Qg7 41. Qxd6 Qc7 42. Qxc7+ Rxc7 43. Ne5 Rc2 44. Kg3 Rxa2 45. Kf4 Rxg2 46. Nf3 Rf2 47. Kg3 Rxf3+ 48. Kxf3 g5 49. h4 Kg6 50. h5+ Kxh5 51. Kg3 a5 0-1

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=93275

This Week In Chess

On June 17th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club finished its annual June event:  The June Mating Game.  It is a 2-week event, and five players joined for the final 2 rounds.  Jeff Fox, Daniel Herman, and I all beat each other to tie for 1st place.

June Mating Game (4SS, G30):

3.0 Jeff Fox 1st, $16
3.0 Daniel Herman 1st, $16
3.0 Paul Anderson 1st, $16
2.5 LM Brian Wall
2.5 Mark McGough
2.0 Luke Thurman U1700, $11
2.0 Shirley Herman U1700, $11
1.5 Arthur Knize
1.5 Isaac Martinez
1.5 Timothy Brennan
1.5 Spencer Shook
1.0 Sara Herman
1.0 Steven Readel
0.5 Dean Brown
0.5 Tara Martinez

Tuesday Night Chess Tour Cumulative and 2nd Quarter Standings

# MAX POSSIBLE 92.00 48.00

1 Paul Anderson 60.20 28.70
2 Daniel Herman 49.33 29.00
3 Richard Buchanan 32.00 8.50
4 Mark McGough 30.87 17.53
5 Koji DelConte 25.00 10.00
6 Shirley Herman 22.00 10.00
7 William Benedek 19.03 9.53
8 Joe Pahk 15.70 2.20
9 Dean Brown 15.50 10.50
10 Earle Wikle 15.00 10.00
11 Katie Wise 12.20 8.20
12 Imre Barlay 12.00 6.00
13 Jeff Fox 11.50 11.50
14 Sara Herman 10.33 6.33
15 Josh Bloomer 8.00 0.00
16 Anthony Thomason 8.00 8.00
17 Larry Kledzik 7.00 2.00
18 Mike Makinney 7.00 7.00
19 Mike Madsen 7.00 2.00
20 Gunnar Andersen 6.50 3.50
21 Eugin Pahk 6.00 0.00
22 Ben Matthews 6.00 2.00
23 Alex Freeman 5.33 0.00
24 Peter Barlay 5.00 3.00
25 Paul Protheroe 5.00 5.00
26 Rezheen Hamid 5.00 5.00
27 Kevin Kaaoush 4.00 1.00
28 Alex Torres 4.00 1.00
29 Arthur Knize 4.00 4.00
30 Mitch Vincent 3.00 3.00
31 Peter Wise 3.00 1.00
32 David Silva 3.00 3.00
33 Richard Brown 2.50 2.50
34 Gary Atkinson 2.00 0.00
35 John Byrne 2.00 0.00
36 Robert Jimenez 2.00 0.00
37 Ron Dotson 2.00 0.00
38 Chris Wynkoop 2.00 0.00
39 Isaac Martinez 2.00 2.00
40 Tim Brennan 2.00 2.00
41 Brian Wall 2.00 2.00
42 Luke Thurman 2.00 2.00
43 Spencer Shook 2.00 2.00
44 Steven Readel 2.00 2.00
45 Tara Martinez 2.00 2.00
46 Bobby Dzagen 1.00 0.00
47 Adam Metzger 1.00 0.00
48 Web McNairy 1.00 0.00
49 Jeremy Hawks 1.00 1.00
50 Phil Van Hawk 1.00 1.00
51 Brandon Hilliard 1.00 1.00
52 Dragan Plakalovic 1.00 1.00
53 Thomas Mullikin 1.00 1.00
54 Daniel Cabrera 1.00 1.00
55 Anthea Carson 1.00 1.00

Online Chess Lessons

By George Krasnopolskiy

We are doing online chess lessons this summer, we can teach through PC, Mac, IPad, and even X Box.  The lessons are one on one with an instructor who comes up with an ICED (Individualized Chess Education Plan).  We have instructors from education experts to international chess masters who would be more than glad to help your kids learn or get better at chess this summer, from the comfort of your own home.

Thank you,

George Krasnopolskiy, www.CheckMatesUSA.com

The King

Game Of The Week

Name: King

The King is a fighting piece. Use it! 

Wilhelm Steinitz

• Alias: General, Governor, Lord, Shah (Persian for King and origin of the word Check. “Shah mat” is Persian for “The King is helpless” and the origin of the word Checkmate.)
• Number: 1
• Starting Square: 1st rank, E file
• Motto: “I am Eternal!”
• Move: One square, any direction
• Capture: One square, any direction
• Speed: Slow
• Special Ability: Castling
• Material Value: Infinite
• Mobility Preference: Endgame
• Spiritual Value: Peace
• Song: Peace Of Mind, Boston
• Verse: Luke 14:31-32 (KJV)

Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

In the beginning was the King, and the King was with a King, and the King was a King.  He was with a King in the beginning.

Chess is a story of 2 Kings, who are eternal.  They cannot be harmed and are never captured.  While every other piece may leave the board, the Kings never will.

Since he cannot be hurt, he has no fear.  He will capture any enemy piece who dares to threaten him, but he never runs.  He deliberately moves only one square at a time in any direction he chooses.  However, he is wise.  He will not move into harm’s way and will get out of any trouble immediately.  Since the King shows proper respect to the other King, he will give way when they meet.  When the trouble gets too great he will lay down his kingdom to insure peace.

The King can be triumphant when he receives the surrender, or he can be humbled when he lays down his kingdom.  But sometimes the Kings just agree to a mutual peace.  Which King will you be?  You will have to play to find out!

Here is an example where my King lays down his kindom:

Anderson,Douglas -Anderson,Paul [C96]

9–10–6 Email,15.09.2001

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0–0 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Nd7 12.Nbd2 cxd4 13.cxd4 Nc6 14.Nb3 a5 15.Be3 a4 16.Nbd2 Ba6 17.Rc1 Rc8

This was the twenty-fifth email game I played with my dad.  I had about 3 years of tournament experience by now.  However, I didn’t realize what I was up against.  My dad had been caught up in the Fischer boom and was a regular on the Bell Labs chess team in the Chicago Industrial Chess League during the 1970s.

Bell Labs Dragons - 1970s

I think I was still experimenting with black openings, as this is not an opening I play now.  It is the Closed Ruy Lopez: Chigorin Defence (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4).  In my database of 763 tournament games, this opening appears zero times, and in my 53-game match with my dad this was the only time I played it.

Sometimes, a beating leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

18.d5 Nb4 19.Bb1 f5 20.a3 f4 21.axb4 fxe3 22.Rxe3 Qb6 23.Rec3 Kh8 24.Bd3 Ra8 25.Qe2 Ra7 26.Nb1 Rb7 27.Na3 Nb8 28.Rc8 Bd8 29.Ng5 Re7 30.Ne6 Rxe6 31.dxe6 Bxc8 32.Rxc8 Nc6 33.Bxb5 Nd4 34.Qe3 Qb7 35.Bd7 h6 36.b5 Be7 37.Rxf8+ Bxf8 38.Kf1 d5 39.f3 Bb4 40.Qd3 dxe4

Allowing my dad control of the c file was a poor choice but trading off the Queens in an endgame where he could activate his King and mine was helpless had to be the final nail in the coffin.

"After a bad opening, there is hope for the middle game.  After a bad middle game, there is hope for the endgame.  But once you are in the endgame, the moment of truth has arrived.” 

Edmar Mednis

41.Qxe4 Qxe4 42.fxe4 Kg8 43.Nc4 Kf8 44.Ne3 a3 45.bxa3 Bxa3 46.Nd5 Nb3 47.b6 Na5 48.Ke2 g6 49.Kf3 Bc5 50.Kg4 Ba3 51.h4

Black to move

51…Nb7 52.h5 g5 53.Kf5 Be7 54.Kg6 Nc5 55.Kxh6 Bd8 56.Kg6 1–0

Answer: 51…h5+ Everything is bad, but this slows the King invasion down and might be your last shot to set a trap (51... h5+ 52.Kg5 Kg7 53. g3 Bc1+ 54. Nf4 exf4 55. gxf4 Ba3 56. f5 Bc1#).  Wouldn’t that have been quite the comeback!

The King

[Event "9-10-6"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2001.09.15"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Anderson, Douglas"]
[Black "Anderson, Paul"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C96"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2001.06.04"]
[TimeControl "0"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Nd7 12. Nbd2 cxd4 13. cxd4 Nc6 14. Nb3 a5 15. Be3 a4 16. Nbd2 Ba6 17. Rc1 Rc8 18. d5 Nb4 19. Bb1 f5 20. a3 f4 21. axb4 fxe3 22. Rxe3 Qb6 23. Rec3 Kh8 24. Bd3 Ra8 25. Qe2 Ra7 26. Nb1 Rb7 27. Na3 Nb8 28. Rc8 Bd8 29. Ng5 Re7 30. Ne6 Rxe6 31. dxe6 Bxc8 32. Rxc8 Nc6 33. Bxb5 Nd4 34. Qe3 Qb7 35. Bd7 h6 36. b5 Be7 37. Rxf8+ Bxf8 38. Kf1 d5 39. f3 Bb4 40. Qd3 dxe4 41. Qxe4 Qxe4 42. fxe4 Kg8 43. Nc4 Kf8 44. Ne3 a3 45. bxa3 Bxa3 46. Nd5 Nb3 47. b6 Na5 48. Ke2 g6 49. Kf3 Bc5 50. Kg4 Ba3 51. h4 Nb7 52. h5 g5 53. Kf5 Be7 54. Kg6 Nc5 55. Kxh6 Bd8 56. Kg6 1-0

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=93128

This Week In Chess

On June 10th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club started its annual June event:  The June Mating Game.  It is a 2-week event, and players can still jointhe final 2 rounds for $5 and receive a 1/2 point bye for the previous rounds.  Jeff Fox and Daniel Herman won both their games and have jumped into the lead.

June Mating Game (4SS, G30):

2.0 Jeff Fox
2.0 Daniel Herman
1.5 Mark McGough
1.0 Paul Anderson
1.0 Arthur Knize
1.0 Sara Herman
1.0 Shirley Herman
0.5 Dean Brown
0.0 Luke Thurman
0.0 Steven Readel

Tuesday Night Chess Tour Cumulative and 2nd Quarter Standings

# MAX POSSIBLE 84.00 40.00

1 Paul Anderson 54.20 22.70
2 Daniel Herman 43.33 23.00
3 Richard Buchanan 32.00 8.50
4 Mark McGough 28.87 15.53
5 Koji DelConte 25.00 10.00
6 Shirley Herman 20.00 8.00
7 William Benedek 19.03 9.53
8 Joe Pahk 15.70 2.20
9 Earle Wikle 15.00 10.00
10 Dean Brown 13.50 8.50
11 Katie Wise 12.20 8.20
12 Imre Barlay 12.00 6.00
13 Sara Herman 8.33 4.33
14 Josh Bloomer 8.00 0.00
15 Anthony Thomason 8.00 8.00
16 Larry Kledzik 7.00 2.00
17 Mike Makinney 7.00 7.00
18 Mike Madsen 7.00 2.00
19 Gunnar Andersen 6.50 3.50
20 Eugin Pahk 6.00 0.00
21 Ben Matthews 6.00 2.00
22 Jeff Fox 5.50 5.50
23 Alex Freeman 5.33 0.00
24 Peter Barlay 5.00 3.00
25 Paul Protheroe 5.00 5.00
26 Rezheen Hamid 5.00 5.00
27 Kevin Kaaoush 4.00 1.00
28 Alex Torres 4.00 1.00
29 Mitch Vincent 3.00 3.00
30 Peter Wise 3.00 1.00
31 David Silva 3.00 3.00
32 Richard Brown 2.50 2.50
33 Gary Atkinson 2.00 0.00
34 John Byrne 2.00 0.00
35 Robert Jimenez 2.00 0.00
36 Ron Dotson 2.00 0.00
37 Chris Wynkoop 2.00 0.00
38 Arthur Knize 2.00 2.00
39 Bobby Dzagen 1.00 0.00
40 Adam Metzger 1.00 0.00
41 Web McNairy 1.00 0.00
42 Jeremy Hawks 1.00 1.00
43 Phil Van Hawk 1.00 1.00
44 Brandon Hilliard 1.00 1.00
45 Dragan Plakalovic 1.00 1.00
46 Thomas Mullikin 1.00 1.00
47 Daniel Cabrera 1.00 1.00
48 Anthea Carson 1.00 1.00

O Is For Overload III

Game Of The Week

A couple years back, I came up with a method to organize chess tactics.  I called it the DROP Method (https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/2012/03/drop-method.html).  The DROP method is an acronym for the basic kinds of tactics.  It is meant to remind you not to drop your pieces and help you get your opponent to drop theirs.

I said that the DROP Method was a work in progress, and it was.  So, I thought I would revisit each of the four kinds of chess tactics to provide more examples.  The first kind of tactic in the DROP Method is Discovery, which I revisited on May 24th (https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/2014/05/d-is-for-discovery-ii.html).  The second kind of tactic in the DROP Method is Removal, which I revisited on June 2nd (https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/2014/06/r-is-for-removal-iii.html).  The third kind of tactic in the DROP Method is Overload.

Overload is a chess move that attacks a target.

The Overload is played when the player creates a threat on a target that cannot be defended.  The classic example is choosing a target and piling more attackers on it than supports the defender can muster.  When the number of attackers are greater than the number of supports, material can be won through a series of captures.  Each capture creates a new target until the final support is exhausted and an unguarded target appears.

However, the Overload is, perhaps, the most broad kind of tactic.  Not only does it use multiple attackers on one target, but also it uses a single attacker on multiple targets.  The idea is the same:  to gain a target than cannot be defended.  So, most players will become familiar with the different types of Overload:

• Battery (Overload with multiple attackers on a file or diagonal)
• Fork (Overload with multiple targets by the Knight)
• Double Attack (Overload with multiple targets by the other pieces)
• Over-Worked Piece (Overload with multiple targets)
• Skewer (Overload with multiple targets where high value piece is in front)

Here is an example from a Tuesday night regular, Koji Del Conte, which he played in one of the Colorado Springs Chess Club's annual events, The Cabin Fever Reliever.

Black to move

The Overload is played by noticing that the Knight on d4 is a target of the black Queen and Knight.  However, the Knight on d4 currently has the white Queen and Knight as supports.  With 2 attackers and 2 supports, the target cannot be won, only traded.

By adding more attackers to the target would be the classic Overload, as long as the target cannot get an equal number or more supports.  Black can add another attacker by playing Bc5 but needs to ask himself if that allows white to add another support.  In this case, white can play Bb2 to undo the Overload.

Is there another way to Overload the Knight on d4?

Yes, there is.  It is called a Combination.  While a Tactic is a single move that gains a Strategic Value, a Combination is a series of moves that force an opponent into a Tactic.

"Combinations have always been the most intriguing aspect of Chess.  The masters look for them, the public applauds them, the critics praise them.  It is because combinations are possible that Chess is more than a lifeless mathematical exercise.  They are the poetry of the game; they are to Chess what melody is to music.  They represent the triumph of mind over matter."

Reuben Fine

The best move is for black to play Bb4+!  This simple move is not a Tactic to win the King, but rather a Mobility move to set up the Overload on the Knight on d4.  If the black Bishop can get to c3 before the white Bishop gets to b2, then the Overload on the Knight on d4 cannot be undone with another support.

Of course, another way of defending an Overload is just to move the target.  Should white be able to play Nxf5 the issue of supports is pointless.  However, in this case, the Combination of attacking the King and moving to c3 (1...Bb4+ 2. Kf2 Bc3) creates a different Overload.

Moving black's Bishop to d3 creates an Overload called The Double Attack:  the Bishop attacks the Rook and Overloads the Knight.  The Knight on d4 cannot take on f5 without losing the Rook on a1, and the Rook on a1 cannot move without losing the Knight on d4.

Some Combinations are common enough to get their own name.  However, this Combination of check, Double Attack, and win material probably does not.  Memorizing names of Combinations is not that important.  The key is to know the simple one-move Tactics well enough to look for ways to make Combinations.  This skill will move you out the novice category.

O Is For Overload III

[Event "Cabin Fever Reliever"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2014.02.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Pahk, Eugin"]
[Black "Del Conte, Koji"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "1256"]
[BlackElo "1804"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2014.02.11"]
[TimeControl "1800"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. f4 cxd4 6. cxd4 Qb6 7. Nf3 Nge7 8. Nc3 Nf5 9. Bb5 Bd7 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. b3 c5 12. Ne2 cxd4 13. Nexd4 Bb4+ 14. Bd2 Nxd4 15. Nxd4 Qxd4 16. Bxb4 Qxb4+ 17. Qd2 Qe4+ 18. Kf1 Rc8 19. Re1 Qf5 20. Kf2 Rc2 21. Re2 Rxd2 22. Rxd2 Qxf4+ 23. Ke1 Qxe5+ 24. Kd1 Qa1+ 25. Ke2 Qxh1 26. Kd3 Ke7 27. Kd4 Rc8 28. Rb2 Qd1+ 29. Ke3 Rc3+ 30. Kf2 Bb5 31. Re2 Qxe2+ 32. Kg1 Rc1# 0-1

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=93010

This Week In Chess

On June 3rd, the Colorado Springs Chess Club held a free, unrated Speed event.  I went unbeaten to claim the 1st place tour points.  In addition, Shirley Herman offered to fund and direct a Rated Blitz tournament after the unrated event had finished.  This time Katie Wise kept me from winning every game, but I survived with a draw when she didn't have enough time to mate me.

Unrated Speed Tournament (RR, G5):

9.0 Paul Anderson
7.0 Katie Wise
6.5 Daniel Herman
5.5 Mark McGough
5.0 Alex Torres
4.0 Koji Del Conte
3.0 Sara Herman
3.0 Earle Wikle
2.0 Anthony Thomason*
0.0 Shirley Herman

* Anthea Carson sub in 3rd round

Rated Blitz (2RR, G5):

9.5 Paul Anderson
7.5 Katie Wise
6.0 Daniel Herman
5.0 Mark McGough
2.0 Koji Del Conte
0.0 Shirley Herman

Tuesday Night Chess Tour Cumulative and 2nd Quarter Standings

1 Paul Anderson 50.20 18.70
2 Daniel Herman 41.33 21.00
3 Richard Buchanan 32.00 8.50
4 Mark McGough 27.87 14.53
5 Koji DelConte 24.00 9.00
6 William Benedek 19.03 9.53
7 Shirley Herman 19.00 7.00
8 Joe Pahk 15.70 2.20
9 Earle Wikle 14.00 9.00
10 Dean Brown 13.50 8.50
11 Imre Barlay 12.00 6.00
12 Katie Wise 9.20 5.20
13 Josh Bloomer 8.00 0.00
14 Sara Herman 7.33 3.33
15 Larry Kledzik 7.00 2.00
16 Mike Makinney 7.00 7.00
17 Mike Madsen 7.00 2.00
18 Anthony Thomason 7.00 7.00
19 Gunnar Andersen 6.50 3.50
20 Eugin Pahk 6.00 0.00
21 Ben Matthews 6.00 2.00
22 Jeff Fox 5.50 5.50
23 Alex Freeman 5.33 0.00
24 Peter Barlay 5.00 3.00
25 Paul Protheroe 5.00 5.00
26 Rezheen Hamid 5.00 5.00
27 Kevin Kaaoush 4.00 1.00
28 Alex Torres 3.00 0.00
29 Mitch Vincent 3.00 3.00
30 Peter Wise 3.00 1.00
31 David Silva 3.00 3.00
32 Richard Brown 2.50 2.50
33 Gary Atkinson 2.00 0.00
34 John Byrne 2.00 0.00
35 Robert Jimenez 2.00 0.00
36 Ron Dotson 2.00 0.00
37 Chris Wynkoop 2.00 0.00
38 Arthur Knize 2.00 2.00
39 Bobby Dzagen 1.00 0.00
40 Adam Metzger 1.00 0.00
41 Web McNairy 1.00 0.00
42 Jeremy Hawks 1.00 1.00
43 Phil Van Hawk 1.00 1.00
44 Brandon Hilliard 1.00 1.00
45 Dragan Plakalovic 1.00 1.00
46 Thomas Mullikin 1.00 1.00
47 Daniel Cabrera 1.00 1.00

Chess Theory Class Now Offered At Air Academy High School!

By Michael Madsen

Did you see the Documentary Brooklyn Castle?  If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s definitely worth your time.  The first time I saw it, I realized that America’s students could benefit greatly from having chess in school.  I don’t mean simply as a club where a group of students try to cram as many games in as possible during lunch.  We need chess as an academic elective course, the same way we have band, art and other elective classes.  There are so many positive benefits waiting for students from serious chess study.  The biggest one is putting students in a situation where they will naturally and organically begin to think:  deductive, analytic, and calculating kind of thinking.  The beauty of chess is that this kind of thinking happens on its own.  In fact, you couldn’t stop it from happening.  If you were to put a mate in 2 problem in front of a class of students who know the basics of chess, then told them not to look for a solution, well, the human brain wouldn’t be able to resist the enticing reward of finding the forced mate.  Chess doesn’t just make students think, it makes them want to think.  The clever and seductive nature of chess gets students to develop the same critical thinking and problem solving skills that they need to be successful in their core classes, such as math and science, to name a few.

After watching Brooklyn Castle I knew I needed to do my part to get Chess taught in schools.  Well, it just so happens that I am a math teacher at Air Academy High School in District 20.  I’ve been teaching math here for 9 years now, and have always been in charge of the chess club.  The chess club has always been fun.  Students, most with some knowledge of chess, would meet with me once a week for about 40 minutes, and they’d play; with hanging pieces and back-door checkmates all over the place.  Everyone would have a good time, but there just wasn’t enough time for me to teach sound strategies and tactics at the pace and depth that I wanted.  After watching Brooklyn Castle, I presented a course proposal to the D20 Board of Education, and with huge support from my administration and district, was approved to start teaching a new elective class at Air Academy called “Chess Theory."

This class will launch next school year, fall of 2014.  It is a one semester unrestricted elective course, not simply a club.  Students will be doing far more than just playing chess against each other.  They will be reading and writing about chess strategy and working on tactical puzzles daily.  They will be taking quizzes and tests based on their knowledge of chess strategies and tactics and receive evaluations based on their individual growth.  The goal of the course is twofold; first, to get them thinking; and second, to give students the fundamental building blocks of chess strategy needed to get them started down the road of playing competitive chess at the tournament level.

Local Chess Player Makes News With Mr. Beer

...Mark McGough got a Mr. Beer kit for Christmas.  His buddies at work were always talking about making their own beer, but McGough wasn't sure he wanted to go all in with supplies and buying ingredients.  And even though he is a chemical engineer, he rather liked the idea that the kit had everything premeasured.

"It turned out great," he said.

The toughest thing about brewing the beer was waiting for it to ferment, he said.  For his first batch, he waited two weeks...