M&M Battle

Game Of The Week

This week's game comes from the Colorado Springs Chess Club's August Swiss 90 event.  Both Mark McGough & Chris Motley finished their final round pairings quickly.  So, they decided to face off against each other for the 11th time this year.  The match-up is fairly close, with Chris holding a slight edge (+5-4=2).

The McGough & Motley match-up is also battling for the prize of top contributor to the CSCN website for 2019.  Prior to this game, they were tied with 4 published games each and 2 wins each.  This game would settle, once-and-for-all, who is the best contributor for 2019.

Of course, while there can only be one top contributor, it is still a great honor to just be on the list.  I thank all the chess players who created the games that helped make this newsletter such a success for 2019.  And my apologies to anyone who had only losses published.  Better luck in 2020!

Top Contributors for 2019

Rank, Name, Rating, Win/Games

1 Anderson,Paul 1985 6.0/7
2 McGough,Mark 1863 2.0/4
3 Motley,Chris 1528 2.0/4
4 Bozhenov,Alex 1980 2.0/2
5 Harris,Grayson 1490 1.0/3
6 Anderson,Douglas 1.0/2
7 Brown,Joel 1378 1.0/2
8 Kohler,Robert 1658 1.0/1
9 Williams,Scott 1225 1.0/1
10 Bloomer,Josh 2305 1.0/1
11 Andersen,Gunnar 2112 1.0/1
12 Brennan,Tim 1800 1.0/1
13 Barlay,Peter 1735 1.0/1
14 Vispute,Ayush 1309 1.0/1
15 Brown,Jonathan 1320 0.5/1
16 Wolf,Will 1311 0.5/1
17 Fischer,Bobby 0.5/1
18 Reid,Juan 0.5/1
19 Brown,Dean 1444 0.0/3
20 Arispe,Joey 1259 0.0/1
21 MacEnulty,Asher 1118 0.0/1
22 Eads,Clint 1027 0.0/1
23 Williams,Jesse 1731 0.0/1
24 Buchanan,Richard 2000 0.0/1
25 Wall,Brian 2291 0.0/1
26 Aregbeyen,Aigboje 1944 0.0/1
27 Fox,Jeff 1777 0.0/1
28 Svoboda,Erk 1400 0.0/1
29 Herman,Shirley 1075 0.0/1

White to move

M&M Battle

[Event "August Swiss 90"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2019.08.27"]
[Round "4.6"]
[White "McGough, Mark"]
[Black "Motley, Chris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "1842"]
[BlackElo "1750"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "2019.08.06"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nxc6 Qf6 6. Qf3 dxc6 7. Qxf6 Nxf6 8. Bd3 O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. Nd2 b5 11. a4 Rb8 12. Nb3 Bd6 13. axb5 cxb5 14. Be3 a6 15. f3 Nd7 16. Nd4 Bb7 17. Nf5 Bf8 18. Bf4 Ne5 19. Be2 f6 20. Rfd1 g6 21. Ng3 Bc5+ 22. Kf1 Rbc8 23. h4 Nc6 24. c3 Bb6 25. Rd7 Ne5 26. Rd2 c5 27. Rad1 Bc7 28. Bxe5 Bxe5 29. Nh1 Bc6 30. Kf2 Bf4 31. Rc2 Kg7 32. g3 Bb8 33. Kg2 c4 34. Nf2 h5 35. Rcd2 Ba7 36. Rd7+ Bxd7 37. Rxd7+ Kg8 38. Rxa7 Re6 39. Rd7 Rcc6 40. Kf1 a5 41. Rd5 Re5 42. Rd7 b4 43. cxb4 Rb5 44. b3 Rxb4 45. Bxc4+ Kf8 46. Ra7 a4 47. Bd5 Rc1+ 48. Ke2 axb3 49. Nd3 b2 50. Nxb2 Rxb2+ 51. Ke3 Rb6 52. Rf7+ Ke8 53. Rg7 f5 54. Kf4 Kf8 55. Rf7+ Ke8 56. Kg5 fxe4 57. fxe4 Rg1 58. Rf3 Rd6 59. Bf7+ Ke7 60. Bxg6 Re6 61. Kxh5 Rf6 62. Rxf6 Kxf6 63. g4 Re1 64. Kh6 Ke7 65. Kg7 Rc1 66. h5 Ke6 67. Bf7+ Ke5 68. g5 Rg1 69. g6 1-0

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=114652

This Week In Chess

On August 27th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club finished the August Swiss 90 event (4SS, G/90+5).

Standings. August Swiss 90

# Name Rtng Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 Rd 4 Tot Prize

1 Paul D Anderson 1969 D2 W3 W4 W5 3.5 $21.50 1st
2 Christophe Motley 1750 D1 W10 W3 W6 3.5 $21.50 1st
3 Mark McGough 1842 W5 L1 L2 W7 2.0
4 Dean W Brown 1406 U--- D9 L1 W10 1.5 $11.00 U1500/unr
5 Grayson Ed Harris 1612 L3 W6 U--- L1 1.0
6 William Leo Wolf 1300 U--- L5 W9 L2 1.0
7 Jonathan Reinhard 880 H--- H--- U--- L3 1.0
8 Donald Hillman 1095 U--- U--- U--- W9 1.0
9 Kenneth Macrae 1300 U--- D4 L6 L8 0.5
10 Clinton Eads 1283 H--- L2 U--- L4 0.5

I AM SPARTAN! AROO!

Game Of The Week

This week's game comes from the IHOP August Quick event.  It is organized and directed by Earle Wikle and Peter Barlay, two of the Colorado Springs Chess Club's authorized TDs.  The last time they organized a monthly, Quick-rated tournament was in 2017.  It is great to have them back promoting chess in the Pikes Peak region.  Look for their Quick events to continue each month.

During this game, I was noticing some similarities between chess and Spartan Races.

On August 4th, I became a Spartan.  Aroo!  Spartan Races start at 5k and included 20 or more obstacles.  My son has been doing these races for about 3 years, and I decided to join him to get off my weight loss plateau.  I trained for 2 months and realized I was in huge trouble.  20 years of sedentary chess isn't easy to counter-act in 60 days.

It was brutal!  However, I did finish.

Matthew and Paul at the 2019 Spartan Snowmass Sprint (3.8 miles, 20 obstacles).

So, what does Spartan Races and chess have in common?  They both have 2 goals.

When I started coaching chess, I put together a lesson on Goals and how to keep them simple.  I decided that there were only 2 goals in a chess game:  1. Win or 2. Don't Lose.

The main goal is to win by getting your opponent to admit defeat (resign).  If you cannot achieve the main goal, it is good to have a plan B and at least, not lose.  You don't lose by getting your opponent to agree to a draw.

Of course, for the more stubborn opponents, you may have to force the issue.

Resign

1. Time (auto-resign)
2. Mate (auto-resign)
3. Forfeit (auto-resign)
4. Adjudication (either)

Draw

1. Insufficient Material (auto-draw)
2. Repetition (auto-draw)
3. Moves (auto-draw)
4. Stalemate (auto-draw)

In Spartan Races, they give you the goals on their registration packet: 1. Don't Get Catastrophically Injured or 2. Don't Die

I was kidding when I made this joke to my mom at the race.  Unfortunately, it turns out it is no joke.  I was shocked to see an article in the Aspen Times about a 50-year-old, Colorado Springs man, who was into heavy metal and board games, that died during the race.  It hit a little too close to home.

https://www.aspentimes.com/news/local/the-world-is-emptier-without-him/

I will stick with chess. The goals are safer.

Black to mate

I AM SPARTAN! AROO!

[Event "IHOP August Quick"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2019.08.11"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Harris, Grayson"]
[Black "Anderson, Paul"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "1348"]
[BlackElo "1930"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2019.08.11"]
[TimeControl "1440+5"]

1. d4 c6 2. Bf4 d5 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Nbd2 e6 6. h3 Bh5 7. g4 Bg6 8. Ne5 Nbd7 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. Nf3 Nxg4 11. Bg2 Ngf6 12. Qe2 Qa5+ 13. c3 Be7 14. Kd2 Ne4+ 15. Kc2 c5 16. Ne5 Nef6 17. a4 c4 18. Nxc4 dxc4 19. Bxb7 Rb8 20. Bxb8 Nxb8 21. Qxc4 O-O 22. b4 Qf5+ 23. Kb3 Qxf2 24. e4 Qh4 25. e5 Ne4 26. Bxe4 Qxe4 27. Qc7 Bg5 28. Qxa7 Qd5+ 29. Ka3 Rc8 30. Kb2 Bd2 31. Rac1 Nd7 32. Qa6 Rc7 33. Qd6 Qc4 34. b5 Bxc3+ 35. Ka3 Ra7 0-1

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=114612

This Week In Chess

On August 6th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club started the August Swiss 90 event (4SS, G/90+5).

Standings. August Swiss 90

# Name Rtng Rd 1 Tot Prize

1 Mark McGough 1842 W4 1.0
2 Paul D Anderson 1969 D3 0.5
3 Christophe Motley 1750 D2 0.5
4 Grayson Ed Harris 1612 L1 0.0

Green Gunnar

Game Of The Week

This week's game comes from the Colorado Springs Chess Club's July One Night Quick tournament.  The club meets every Tuesday night in downtown Colorado Springs.  We mostly run month-long events.  However, every now and then, a month will have a 5th Tuesday and we can schedule a one-night event.  They have to be at faster time controls to get all the games done in one evening, but it will bring out different chess players.

Since the faster events use a different rating for the players, the USCF does not require them to keep score like standard chess.  So, I put out the club's no-cost, non-carbon score sheets if anyone wants to keep score.  Also, I put out any lightly-used, carbon score sheets that come back when someone starts the header information or moves but then I have to repair the games.

I was raised to take what you want, but eat what you take.  No waste.  There are starving kids in Africa.  Well, this mindset has crossed over into my chess-club-supplies-management-theory.  So, I pick up the lightly-used score sheets that have been rejected by the very picky standard-players and hope the more casual quick-players will use them.

So far, the quick players have been just as picky, and the two, lightly-used carbon score sheets have been passed over for a year.  I thought no one would ever take them just because "some slime" was too good to cross out 1. e4 c5 and write the actual first moves of the game and save a tree.

NM Gunnar Andersen (left) scratches his head as he watches his brother get his first rated win.

Finally, NM Gunnar Andersen came down from his home in the clouds to play on Tuesday night with his brother.  He is very good and very fast with making chess moves.  So, keeping score too is not a problem for him at all, and he asked for some score sheets.

I went into Ebay mode and told him, "I have two lovely, lightly-used score sheets right here.  They have had only one previous owner, who only recorded their first move and no accident history.  They are carbon equipped so you can not only record your game but you can also provide a copy for the TD.  I bought them for 8 cents a piece, but I could let them go for free and hand deliver them.  This offer is good for one night only!"

Since NM Gunnar Andersen was nice enough to use the used score sheets, he was the only one who had carbon score sheets and turned in their games.  Therefore, he wins the honor of being the Game Of The Week.

Black to move

Green Gunnar

[Event "July One Night Quick"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2019.07.30"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Fox, Jeff"]
[Black "Andersen, Gunnar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A39"]
[WhiteElo "1777"]
[BlackElo "2112"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2019.07.31"]
[TimeControl "1440+5"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. g3 Nc6 5. Bg2 Nf6 6. O-O O-O 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Nxd4 9. Qxd4 d6 10. Qd2 Nd7 11. b3 Nc5 12. Bb2 a5 13. Rad1 Be6 14. Nd5 Bxb2 15. Qxb2 Bxd5 16. Bxd5 Qb6 17. Qc3 Qb4 18. Rc1 Qxc3 19. Rxc3 Ra6 20. Rb1 Rb6 21. f4 Rc8 22. Kf2 Na6 23. a3 Nc7 24. Bf3 Nb5 25. Re3 Nxa3 26. Ra1 Nc2 27. Rxe7 Nxa1 28. Bxb7 Rf8 0-1

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=114589

This Week In Chess

On July 30th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club held the July One Night Quick event (4SS, G/24+5).

Standings. July One Night Quick

# Name Rtng Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 Rd 4 Tot Prize

1 Gunnar Andersen 2112 W10 W2 W5 W6 4.0 $16.00 1st
2 Jeffrey Fox 1777 W11 L1 W3 W7 3.0 $3.33 2nd
3 Michael Williams 1704 W9 W6 L2 W10 3.0 $3.33 2nd
4 Christophe Motley 1759 H--- H--- W10 W5 3.0 $3.33 2nd
5 Earle P Wikle 1837 W7 W8 L1 L4 2.0
6 Aleksand Bozhenov 1898 W12 L3 W8 L1 2.0
7 Joey Arispe 1299 L5 W13 W9 L2 2.0 $3.50 U1700/unr
8 Mark McGough 1668 W13 L5 L6 W11 2.0 $3.50 U1700/unr
9 Mason Andersen 500 L3 D12 L7 W13 1.5
10 Dean W Brown 1403 L1 W11 L4 L3 1.0
11 Ian Fleming 1245 L2 L10 W13 L8 1.0
12 William Leo Wolf 1300 L6 D9 U--- U--- 0.5
13 Annie Tate Cockrum unr. L8 L7 L11 L9 0.0

The Gambler

Game Of The Week

This week's game comes from the Colorado Springs Chess Club's July Mating Game.  This tournament has its origins back in 1991 with a different name, in a different time.  Of course, change is inevitable and, over the course of its 29 year history, the event has morphed into a two-week, four-round, dual-rated tournament (4SS, G/45;d/10).

In the first week, Joel Brown got his loss published because I was looking for a Pin tactic.  He wasn't too happy with me for making his first game in print a loss.  His mood didn't improve when we had a dispute about the prize money.

It all started when Joel played Bishop to c3 with a double attack on the Queen and Rook.  He called me over to his game to claim his prize money.  I told him things look good, but I should wait until the result is official, but, for a taste of your whisky, I'll give you some advice:

You never count your money

When you're sittin' at the table

There'll be time enough for countin'

When the game's done

You see, with an upset win over NM Buck Buchanan, Joel was going to qualify for the 2nd place prize and the Under prize.  While Buck seemed to have this game under control, he went after the left most Pawn.  It was a gamble that didn't pay off.

During the Renaissance period, the rules of chess were changing dramatically with the introduction of the Mad Queen and new names for the pieces.  But these chess innovators also felt the need to name all the Pawns.  The name they gave to the left most Pawn was The Gambler because it is always a risk to capture it.

So, if you want to solve this puzzle, for a taste of your whiskey, I'll give you some advice:

Every player knows

That the secret to survivin'

Is knowin' what to throw away

And knowin' what to keep

'Cause one move's a winner

And every move's a loser

With the position looking bad, the question is, "Do you hold 'em or do you fold 'em?"

White to move

The Gambler

[Event "July Mating Game"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2019.07.23"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Buchanan, Richard"]
[Black "Brown, Joel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B40"]
[WhiteElo "2000"]
[BlackElo "1378"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2019.07.16"]
[TimeControl "2700"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd3 a6 7. Bd2 e5 8. Nf3 Nc6 9. O-O h6 10. a3 Bc5 11. Nd5 d6 12. c4 Bg4 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 Nxd5 15. cxd5 Nd4 16. Qd1 O-O 17. b4 Bb6 18. Be3 Qd7 19. Kh1 Rac8 20. Rb1 Rc3 21. a4 Rfc8 22. b5 a5 23. f4 Ra3 24. Bc1 Rac3 25. Bb2 R3c7 26. fxe5 dxe5 27. Qh5 Qd6 28. Rbc1 Rxc1 29. Qxf7+ Kh8 30. Rxc1 Rf8 31. Qxb7 Rf2 32. Bxd4 Bxd4 33. Qa8+ Kh7 34. Qxa5 Qa3 35. Rd1 Qb3 36. Rd2 Bc3 37. Rxf2 Bxa5 38. Bc2 Qe3 39. Rf8 Qc1+ 0-1

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=114581

This Week In Chess

On July 23rd, the Colorado Springs Chess Club finished the July Mating Game (4SS, G/45;d/10).

Standings. July Mating Game

# Name Rtng Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 Rd 4 Tot Prize

1 Aleksand Bozhenov 1971 W10 W2 W4 W6 4.0 $36.00 1st + GOW
2 Joel N Brown 1378 W5 L1 W7 W9 3.0 $16.50 2nd
3 Christophe Motley 1690 L8 W9 W5 W4 3.0 $16.50 2nd
4 Grayson Ed Harris 1646 W9 W8 L1 L3 2.0
5 Mark McGough 1824 L2 W10 L3 W8 2.0
6 Paul D Anderson 1950 H--- H--- W8 L1 2.0
7 Kenneth Macrae 1264 H--- U--- L2 W10 1.5
8 Jonathan An Brown unr. W3 L4 L6 L5 1.0
9 Richard Buchanan 2000 L4 L3 W10 L2 1.0
10 Dean W Brown 1459 L1 L5 L9 L7 0.0

P Is For Pin VIII

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 April 8th (https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/2019/04/d-is-for-discovery-vii.html).  The second kind of tactic in the DROP Method is Removal, which I revisited on May 14th (https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/2019/05/r-is-for-removal-viii.html).  The third kind of tactic in the DROP Method is Overload, which I revisited on May 29th (https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/2019/05/o-is-for-overload-viii.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 (or an ungarded 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 the Colorado Springs Chess Club's Tuesday night event:  July Mating Game.  Alex Bozhenov created the best example of a Pin in his game with Joel Brown this night.  While the Black Pawns on the 3rd rank make this position dominating for Black, taking advantage of the Pin on g2 is by far the best move.

Black to move

P Is For Pin VIII

[Event "July Mating Game"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2019.07.16"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Brown, Joel"]
[Black "Bozhenov, Alex"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "1378"]
[BlackElo "1971"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2019.07.16"]
[TimeControl "2700"]

1. e4 d6 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 Bg7 5. h3 Nxe4 6. Bxf7+ Kxf7 7. Nxe4 Rf8 8. Nf3 Kg8 9. Be3 Nc6 10. Qd2 Bf5 11. Ng3 e5 12. Bg5 Qe8 13. d5 e4 14. Nh2 Ne5 15. Qe2 Nf7 16. Bc1 Qe5 17. c4 c6 18. dxc6 bxc6 19. Nxf5 gxf5 20. O-O d5 21. cxd5 cxd5 22. Rb1 d4 23. b4 d3 24. Qd1 Qd5 25. a4 Rac8 26. Be3 Rc7 27. Bc5 Re8 28. Re1 Rd7 29. Rb3 Re6 30. Nf1 f4 31. Nh2 Rg6 32. Nf3 Bf6 33. Nh2 e3 34. Nf3 e2 35. Rxd3 Qxd3 36. Qxd3 Rxd3 37. Rxe2 Nd6 0-1

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=114553

This Week In Chess

On July 16th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club started the July Mating Game (4SS, G/45;d/10).

Standings. July Mating Game

# Name Rtng Rd 1 Rd 2 Tot Prize

1 Aleksand Bozhenov 1971 W8 W3 2.0
2 Grayson Ed Harris 1646 W7 W4 2.0
3 Joel N Brown 1378 W5 L1 1.0
4 Jonathan An Brown unr. W6 L2 1.0
5 Mark McGough 1824 L3 W8 1.0
6 Christophe Motley 1690 L4 W7 1.0
7 Richard Buchanan 2000 L2 L6 0.0
8 Dean W Brown 1459 L1 L5 0.0

Mind Games

Game Of The Week

This week's game comes from the Colorado Springs Chess Club's July Quick Six event.  It is a 2-week tournament with 3 games per week.  It is also Quick-rated.  These games can be a lot of fun since they are fast, don't effect your standard rating, and most often leave no record of your mental lapses.

This one Chris recorded until he got in time pressure, and I filled in the rest.  The pgn may not be 100% accurate, but the final position is real.  I couldn't forget it.  I was chuckling about it all night long.  I even had tears in my eyes and laughing out loud, as I walked through Walmart after club.🤣 The crazy shoppers were looking at me like I was insane.

It was Chris' reaction.  He was so shocked that I had any chance to win after we both knew it was a draw.  However, I am a smidge of a "Bitter Ender."  I don't like to admit defeat.  I don't like to offer a draw.  I will use every weapon in my arsenal no matter how futile the position is.  I am not like Bobby Fischer.

I don’t believe in psychology. I believe in good moves.

Bobby Fischer, 11th World Chess Champion

I don't believe in good moves.  I believe in mind games.

Since I can't play like Fischer, mind games are all I have.  You see, I was getting into Chris' head from move one.  I was just playing for a draw.  I knew Chris has to play the brilliancy.  He has wildly sacrificed his Queen 3 times this year, just to make the game interesting.  A draw is too boring.  His brain just can't handle it.

So, when I traded down to this position, DuWayne Langseth was screaming that I had giving up way too much material.  However, I trust the mind games.  I have a Masters degree in brainwashing from my time in a campus mind-control group that was profiled on 20/20 (below).

I was really setting a mental trap.  And SNAP!

Black to move and lose

Mind Games

[Event "July Quick Six"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2019.07.09"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Anderson, Paul"]
[Black "Motley, Chris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "1935"]
[BlackElo "1759"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2019.07.02"]
[TimeControl "1440+5"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 h6 3. Bxf6 exf6 4. e3 d5 5. Nf3 c6 6. Be2 Qb6 7. Qc1 Bd6 8. O-O Bf5 9. Nbd2 Qc7 10. c4 O-O 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Qxc7 Bxc7 13. Rfc1 Bd6 14. Nh4 Bh7 15. Bg4 g6 16. a3 f5 17. Bd1 g5 18. Nhf3 Nd7 19. Bc2 f4 20. Bxh7+ Kxh7 21. e4 Rac8 22. exd5 Nf6 23. Nc4 Bb8 24. Nce5 g4 25. Nd2 Bxe5 26. dxe5 Nxd5 27. Ne4 Kg6 28. Nd6 Rc7 29. Rxc7 Nxc7 30. Rc1 Ne6 31. Rc4 f6 32. exf6 Kxf6 33. Nxb7 Rb8 34. Rb4 a5 35. Nxa5 Rxb4 36. axb4 Nd4 37. Nc4 Ke6 38. Kf1 Kd5 39. Na3 h5 40. Ke1 h4 41. Kd2 h3 42. gxh3 gxh3 43. b5 Nf3+ 44. Ke2 Nxh2 45. f3 Ng4 46. Kf1 h2 47. Kg2 Ne5 48. Nb1 Nxf3 49. Nc3+ Kc5 50. Kh1 Nd4 51. Kxh2 Nxb5 52. Nxb5 Kxb5 53. Kg2 Kb4 54. Kf3 Kb3 55. Ke4 f3 56. Kxf3 Kc2 57. b4 1-0

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=114498

This Week In Chess

On July 9th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club finished the July Quick Six event (6SS, G/24+5).

Standings. July Quick Six

# Name Rtng Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 Rd 4 Rd 5 Rd 6 Tot Prize

1 Paul D Anderson 1935 W4 W7 W2 W3 W5 W6 6.0 $27.00 1st
2 Aleksand Bozhenov 1898 W8 W9 L1 W4 W6 D3 4.5 $18.00 2nd
3 Christophe Motley 1759 H--- H--- H--- L1 W4 D2 3.0
4 Robert Carlson 1569 L1 W11 W9 L2 L3 D5 2.5 $12.00 U1600
5 Mark McGough 1668 H--- H--- H--- D6 L1 D4 2.5
6 Joseph Griffin 1225 H--- H--- H--- D5 L2 L1 2.0
7 Peter Barlay 1740 W11 L1 W8 U--- U--- U--- 2.0
8 Dean W Brown 1403 L2 W10 L7 F11 U--- U--- 1.0
9 Clinton Eads 1003 W10 L2 L4 U--- U--- U--- 1.0
10 Brian Jo Rountree 1652 L9 L8 W11 U--- U--- U--- 1.0
11 Kenneth Macrae 1250 L7 L4 L10 F8 U--- U--- 0.0

New Mexico Chess Champions: Josh Bloomer

Game Of The Week

By Matt Grinberg

Josh Bloomer won the 2017 New Mexico Open Chess Championship and was thus declared the New Mexico Chess Champion.  He took clear first place with 5.5 out of 6 and raised his rating to an impressive 2326.  His one draw was against Jesse Vicario of Las Cruces in the first round.  In clear second place with 5 was Brian Wall.  Brian lost the fourth round encounter with Josh, but won all his other games.

The outcome was a little unusual since both Josh and Brian live in Colorado.  States that decide their state championship in an open tournament usually specify that while the high scorer is the winner of the tournament, the state champion is the highest scoring player who resides in the state.  That was not done in this case, so Josh was rightfully declared the New Mexico State Chess Champion for 2017.

I had hoped to get a game played by Josh from the 2107 New Mexico Open, but apparently the score sheets were lost along with the NMCO computer that disappeared.  I thought I could get a game by contacting Josh, but an attempt through Facebook got no response.  So, I checked online and found the game below played between Josh Bloomer (White) and Brian Wall (Black) at the 2017 Fall Classic in Denver a month before they finished first and second in the New Mexico Open.  It is curious that the results of the Fall Classic mirrored the results of the New Mexico Open.  Here too Josh finished first giving up only a first round draw and Brian finished second losing only to Josh in round 4.

The game is fascinating!  The opening quickly goes out of book, typical for Brian, but the position looks normal, when Brian hands to Josh a common sacrifice that seems to force a win.  Brian manages to survive the initial onslaught, but when the dust settles Josh is a pawn up with a dominating center and Brian's king is still exposed - seemingly a clear win if Josh simply presses the attack in the center.

But then the game takes another unusual turn.  With all the major pieces on the board and bishops of opposite color and given the nature of the position, conventional wisdom would be that Josh should avoid exchanging major pieces and press home his attack.  The last thing he should do is trade off into a bishops of opposite color endgame where his extra pawn likely would not be enough to win.  And yet Josh deliberately heads for the bishop endgame!

I cannot say that the resulting endgame was a theoretical draw, but it is certainly difficult to find any winning plan other than waiting for Black to make a mistake.  On the other hand, if that was Josh's plan, it worked.  After a lot of maneuvering around, Brian finally makes the mistake that allows Josh's king to get into his position.

Pirc Defense

1. d4 g6 2. Nf3 Bg7 3. e4 d6 4. Bc4 c6 5. Nbd2 d5 6. Bb3 dxe4 7. Nxe4

7... Nd7??

This move amazes me.  Any experienced player would know that you cannot play Nd7 in a position like this.  It invites Josh's sacrifice on the next move because it blocks Black's queen bishop, thus making the e6 square weak.  I have no doubt that an experienced master like Brian is aware of this, but he does it anyway.  Brian has a reputation for playing unusual, provocative moves in the opening, but this is a bit much.

[White has a small edge due to his better center after 7... Nf6 8. Nxf6 Bxf6 9. O-O Bg4 10. Re1 O-O]

White to move

8. Bxf7!

[Also winning is the delayed sacrifice.  8. Neg5 Nh6 9. Bxf7! Nxf7 10. Ne6 Qb6 11. Nxg7 Kf8 12. Ne6 Kg8 13. O-O Black is down a pawn and his position is completely disrupted]

8... Kxf7 9. Nfg5!?

[9. Neg5 is better since it retains the option of playing the king knight to e5. 9... Ke8 10. Ne6 Qb6 11. Nxg7 Kf7 12. Ne6 h6 13. Qe2 Qb4 14. Bd2 Qd6 15. Nf4 Nf8 16. Ne5 With an extra pawn, better development and Black's king on the run, White is winning]

9... Ke8 10. Ne6

The reason 7... Nd7 was so bad is it blocked Black's queen bishop, thus making this move possible.

10... Qb6 11. Nxg7 Kf7

Oops!  The knight is trapped!  Perhaps Brian was correct in playing this line after all.

12. Ne6! h6

[Sorry, you can't win back the piece. 12... Kxe6?? 13. Ng5 Kd6 (13... Kf6 14. Qf3 Kg7 15. Qf7 Kh6 16. Ne4 Kh5 (16... g5 17. Bxg5#) 17. Qf3 Kh4 18. Bg5#) 14. Bf4 e5 15. dxe5 1-0, Borngaesser Rene (GER) 2345 - Lodes Hermann (GER) 2147, Germany 1989 15... Ke7 (15... Kc7 16. Ne6 Kb8 17. Qd6 Qc7 18. Qxc7#) 16. Qd6 Kd8 (16... Ke8 17. Qe6 Ne7 (17... Kd8 18. Nf7 Kc7 19. Qd6#) 18. Qf7 Kd8 19. Ne6#) 17. O-O-O c5 18. Ne6 Ke8 19. Nc7 Qxc7 (19... Kd8 20. Bg5 Ne7 21. Bxe7#; 19... Kf7 20. e6 Kf6 21. Ne8 Kf5 22. Rd5 Ne5 23. Qxe5 Kg4 24. Qg5#) 20. Qxc7 White wins]

13. Nf4

[The following is the only other game I know of in this line.  The end of the game is kind of nutty.  White is two pawns up and they are connected passed pawns on the queenside.  Plus White has two more pawns which could be decisive if he can divert Black into defending against the passed pawns.  Yes, the bishop on the open board is better than the knight and Black's king is better than White's king. But I can't see how that compensates for the connected passed pawns.  Even if White were to lose the passed pawns, he is in no danger of losing.  So why did he agree to a draw??? 13. N4c5 Nxc5 14. Nxc5 Nf6 15. O-O Bf5 16. Qe2 Rae8 17. Qc4 Nd5 18. c3 e5 19. dxe5 Rxe5 20. Bf4 Ree8 21. b4 Qb5 22. Qxb5 cxb5 23. Be3 Nxe3 24. fxe3 Kg7 25. Rae1 Re7 26. e4 Rhe8 27. Nxb7 Rxe4 28. Rxe4 Bxe4 29. Nd6 Re6 30. Nxb5 Bd3 31. Nd4 Ra6 32. Rf2 Ra3 33. Nb3 Bb1 34. Rf1 Bf5 35. h3 Rxa2 36. Ra1 Rxa1 37. Nxa1 Kf6 38. Nb3 Be4 39. Nd4 Bd5 40. Nb5 Bc4 41. Nxa7 1/2-1/2, Chudinovskikh, Alexander M (RUS) 2263 - Jansen, Christof (LUX) 2250 , Brno 6/26/2012 It "Duras Open"]

13... Ngf6 14. Nxf6 Nxf6 15. O-O g5 16. Ne2 Bf5 17. Ng3 Bd7?!

Moving the bishop away from the exposed king does not look good.  The king needs all the help he can get.

[Better is 17... Bg6 but even then White has an extra pawn, safer king and better pawn structure]

18. c3 Rae8 19. Re1 Bc8 20. b3 Qd8 21. Qe2 Qd7 22. Bb2 Qg4 23. f3 Qd7 24. Ne4 Nxe4 25. fxe4 Qg4

White has an extra pawn, a dominating center well supported by his pieces and Black's king is still exposed.  The one problem White has is the bishops of opposite color, which makes a win difficult if the major pieces come off the board.  Consequently conventional wisdom would say that White should avoid exchanging major pieces and try to win in the middle game.

26. c4!?

As with Brian's 7th move, this amazes me.  Unlike Brian's move, I can't say this is a mistake, but Josh clearly doesn't believe in conventional wisdom.  The following sequence makes it clear that Josh not only doesn't fear the bishops of opposite color endgame, he actually is playing for a win by trading off to a bishops of opposite color endgame!

There may have been a good reason for this.  The time control was G90+30 and he may have already been short of time.  Josh may have been thinking that trying to win with the major pieces on the board was just too risky.  He may have judged that a substantial risk of a draw in the bishops of opposite endgame was better than a small risk of a loss in the middle game.

[Better is 26. Qe3 Kg6 27. d5! a6 28. c4! Here comes the attack!]

26... Qxe2 27. Rxe2 Rhf8 28. Rf1!?

He continues the plan of trading the major pieces.

[28. d5 is a good alternative]

28... Kg8 29. Ref2 Rxf2 30. Rxf2 Rf8 31. Rxf8!?

The last pair of rooks comes off the board.

[I would prefer 31. Re2 Bg4 32. Re3;

or 31. Rd2 Bd7 32. d5 But it is hard to see how either would lead to a win anyway]

31... Kxf8

So here we are in the bishops of opposite color endgame Josh aimed for.  He still has an extra pawn and a strong center, but there is no clear winning plan.  The problem is that Black's bishop dominates the light squares.  Even if White manages to create a passed pawn, White's king and bishop will easily blockade it.  The next phase of the game sees Josh jockeying for position, but with no detectable plan other than waiting for Brian to make a mistake.

32. Kf2 Bg4 33. Ke3 e6 34. Ba3 Ke8 35. Bd6 Bd1 36. Kd2 Bh5 37. Bb8 a6 38. Be5 Bg6 39. Ke3 h5?!

Black is worried about the two pawns on the same color square as White's bishop, but advancing the pawns when his king and bishop have limited scope has its own risks.

[39... Kf7 is better.  White's bishop is only a threat to Black's kingside pawns while it is e5.  But with Black's king on f7, that is not a threat anyway.  Nor can White's king attack with the bishop on e5 because the king is tied down to defending the e-pawn]

40. g4!?

White hopes he can win both of Black's kingside pawns by giving up the g-pawn.  But it isn't there.

[If White wants to win he should avoid trading off pawns, which only makes the defense easier.  After 40. Bf6 g4 Black's bishop is perpetually tied to the defense of the h-pawn and the squares f4, e5 and g5 have been opened to an invasion by White's king]

40... hxg4 41. Bf6 g3!

A clever move!  He sets up a position where White will not be able to win both pawns without giving up his e-pawn.

42. hxg3 g4

The g-pawn is secure!  If Whites takes it with his king, he will lose his e-pawn.  If he moves the e-pawn forward, then Black's bishop can defend both of his weak pawns from f5.  But on the other hand, with the pawn no longer on g5 the path is now open for White's king to invade via f4.  This is why the whole idea of playing h5 was dubious.

43. Kf4 Bh7 44. Ke5 Kd7 45. a3

With Black's king stuck on d7 and his bishop stuck on g6 and h7, White now embarks on a plan of simply advancing his queenside pawns.  He hopes to either find a way to break through or set up a better position for going after Black's g-pawn.

45... Bg6 46. Bg5 Bh7 47. Bd2 Bg6 48. Bb4 Bh7 49. Bc5 Bg6 50. Kf4 Ke8 51. a4 Bh7 52. a5 Bg6 53. Bd6 Bh7 54. b4 Kd7 55. c5 Ke8

56. Kxg4!

The only way to play for a win.

56... Bxe4 57. Kf4

Now Black has to defend against two serious threats - the advance of the passed g-pawn and an invasion of White's king to attack the b-pawn.  This plus the need to defend the e-pawn will stretch Black's king and bishop to the limit.

57... Bd3 58. Ke5 Kf7 59. Bc7 Bb5?

White's king will now be able to get at Black's queenside pawns.

[He has to stop the invasion of White's king!  59... Ke7 60. Bd6 Kf7 61. g4 Advancing the g-pawn does White no good because Black's king and bishop will always control g6. 61... Bc4 62. Bc7 Ke7 63. g5 Bd3 64. Bd6 Kf7 65. Kf4 Bh7 66. Be5 Bc2 67. Bf6 Ke8 68. Kg4 Bd1 White cannot make progress]

60. Bd8?

As soon as he has it, White lets the win slip away again.

[While he has the chance, he must play 60. Kd6 Kf6 61. Kd7 Bf1 62. Be5 Kf7 63. Kc7 Bb5 64. Kxb7 White will win as in the game]

60... Be2?

The third successive bad move.  This time Josh doesn't let Brian off the hook.

[Black just barely holds after 60... Ke8! 61. Bh4 Kd7 62. g4 Bc4 63. Kf6 Ke8 64. Kg7 Be2 65. g5 Bb5 66. g6 Bd3 67. Be1 Be4 68. Kf6 Bd5 69. g7 e5!  Black gives up another pawn, but still holds because of bishops of opposite color.  70. Kxe5 (70. dxe5 Kd7= The position is drawn so long as Black keeps his king on d7 or e6 and his bishop on the a2 to g8 diagonal.  If White tries to promote the g-pawn by playing Kg6, Black stops him by playing Bg8, and if he tries to advance the e-pawn, Black will always be able to take with the bishop if White's king is defending e6 and he will always be able to take with the king if White's king is elsewhere) 70... Kd7 71. Kf6 Bg8 72. Kg6 Ke6 73. Bg3 Kd7 74. Bf4 Ke6 75. Be5 Ke7 76. d5 Ke8! Whether he takes, pushes or just leaves the pawn where it is, White still cannot make progress]

61. Kd6 Bd1 62. Kc7 Be2 63. Kxb7

Black is two pawns down, all his pawns are weak and White still has that pesky passed g-pawn.  In spite of the bishops of opposite colors, White wins.

63... Bb5 64. Bc7 Kf6 65. Be5 Ke7 66. Kc7 Ba4 67. g4 Bb5 68. g5 Kf7

[68... Ba4 69. Kb6 Bb5 70. g6!  Kf8 The king is forced to give way. 71. Bf6 Now the king can no longer defend the e-pawn. 71... Kg8 72. Kb7 Kf8 (72... Bd3 73. Kxc6 Bxg6 74. Be5 Kf7 75. Kd7 The c-pawn will cost Black his bishop) 73. Kc7 Ba4 74. Kd6 White wins because Black can no longer defend all the pawns]

69. Kd6 Ba4 70. g6 Kxg6 71. Kxe6 Bb5 72. Kd6 Kf7 73. d5! Ke8

[Or 73... cxd5 74. c6 Ke8 75. c7 Bd7 76. b5 Bc8 77. b6 Bb7 78. Ba1 Kf7 79. Kd7 d4 80. Bxd4 Kf8 81. c8=Q Bxc8 82. Kxc8 White wins]

74. Bf6 cxd5 75. c6 d4 76. c7 Bd7 77. Bxd4 Bc8 78. Kc6 Ke7 79. Be5 Ke6 80. Bg3 Ke7 81. Kb6 Kd7 82. Be5 Ke6 83. Bc3 Kd6 84. Bd2 Kd7 85. Bf4 Ke6 86. b5! One of White's pawns will queen. Black resigns. [1:0]

New Mexico Chess Champions: Josh Bloomer

[Event "Fall Classic"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2017.10.08"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Bloomer, Josh"]
[Black "Wall, Brian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2305"]
[BlackElo "2291"]
[PlyCount "171"]
[EventDate "2017.10.07"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]

1. d4 g6 2. Nf3 Bg7 3. e4 d6 4. Bc4 c6 5. Nbd2 d5 6. Bb3 dxe4 7. Nxe4 Nd7 8. Bxf7+ Kxf7 9. Nfg5+ Ke8 10. Ne6 Qb6 11. Nxg7+ Kf7 12. Ne6 h6 13. Nf4 Ngf6 14. Nxf6 Nxf6 15. O-O g5 16. Ne2 Bf5 17. Ng3 Bd7 18. c3 Rae8 19. Re1 Bc8 20. b3 Qd8 21. Qe2 Qd7 22. Bb2 Qg4 23. f3 Qd7 24. Ne4 Nxe4 25. fxe4 Qg4 26. c4 Qxe2 27. Rxe2 Rhf8 28. Rf1+ Kg8 29. Ref2 Rxf2 30. Rxf2 Rf8 31. Rxf8+ Kxf8 32. Kf2 Bg4 33. Ke3 e6 34. Ba3+ Ke8 35. Bd6 Bd1 36. Kd2 Bh5 37. Bb8 a6 38. Be5 Bg6 39. Ke3 h5 40. g4 hxg4 41. Bf6 g3 42. hxg3 g4 43. Kf4 Bh7 44. Ke5 Kd7 45. a3 Bg6 46. Bg5 Bh7 47. Bd2 Bg6 48. Bb4 Bh7 49. Bc5 Bg6 50. Kf4 Ke8 51. a4 Bh7 52. a5 Bg6 53. Bd6 Bh7 54. b4 Kd7 55. c5 Ke8 56. Kxg4 Bxe4 57. Kf4 Bd3 58. Ke5 Kf7 59. Bc7 Bb5 60. Bd8 Be2 61. Kd6 Bd1 62. Kc7 Be2 63. Kxb7 Bb5 64. Bc7 Kf6 65. Be5+ Ke7 66. Kc7 Ba4 67. g4 Bb5 68. g5 Kf7 69. Kd6 Ba4 70. g6+ Kxg6 71. Kxe6 Bb5 72. Kd6 Kf7 73. d5 Ke8 74. Bf6 cxd5 75. c6 d4 76. c7 Bd7 77. Bxd4 Bc8 78. Kc6 Ke7 79. Be5 Ke6 80. Bg3 Ke7 81. Kb6 Kd7 82. Be5 Ke6 83. Bc3 Kd6 84. Bd2 Kd7 85. Bf4 Ke6 86. b5 1-0

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=114478

This Missed Week In Chess

On June 25th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club finished the June Swiss 90 event (4SS, G/90+30).

Standings. June Swiss 90

# Name Rtng Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 Rd 4 Tot Prize

1 Paul D Anderson 1950 W6 W2 W3 W5 4.0 $30.00 1st
2 Mark McGough 1857 W10 L1 W5 W9 3.0 $25.00 2nd + GOW
3 Christophe Motley 1679 W4 W6 L1 U--- 2.0
4 Richard Buchanan 2000 L3 W12 U--- W10 2.0
5 Joey Arispe 1259 W11 H--- L2 L1 1.5 $13.00 U1600/unr
6 Grayson Ed Harris 1534 L1 L3 W9 U--- 1.0
7 William Leo Wolf 1300 U--- W13 U--- U--- 1.0
8 Peter Barlay 1906 W9 U--- U--- U--- 1.0
9 Dean W Brown 1460 L8 D10 L6 L2 0.5
10 Kenneth Macrae 1264 L2 D9 U--- L4 0.5
11 Michael Smith II 1713 L5 H--- U--- U--- 0.5
12 Joseph Griffin 761 U--- L4 U--- U--- 0.0
13 Joy Sato unr. U--- L7 U--- U--- 0.0

Surely Free!

Game Of The Week

One score less eight months ago, our chess clubs brought forth on this state, a new petition, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created to play chess.

IN COLORADO, JULY 4, 2018

The Declaration of the chess clubs of Colorado

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the social bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Chess.

That to secure these rights, suspensions are applied to Players, deriving their just powers from the consent of the clubs,

That whenever any participant becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the Players to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new suspensions, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.  Prudence, indeed, will dictate that suspensions long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.  But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such suspension, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Such has been the patient sufferance of these Clubs; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former suspension.  The history of the present Thanos The Mad Titan is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these Clubs.  To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

• She was finally banned from the Colorado Springs Scholastic Chess Club after November 2014 when she disrespected the organizer and library security guard who asked her to reprimand a child under her supervision for vandalizing a public restroom.
• She was finally banned from the Colorado Springs Chess Club on July 12th, 2016 for the remainder of the year when she showed poor sportsmanship and disrespect to the players in the tournament hall by engaging in a profane rant about refusing to sign for a tournament prize.
• She was finally banned from the Denver Chess Club on May 19th, 2018 for the remainder of the year when she disrespected the club with disparaging comments via various social media outlets.
• After nearly a year of unrelenting, self-published attacks and dishonesty (even creating an impostor Facebook page with the club's name), repeated attempts to dissuade players from participation (even bribing a Master to not enter a tournament), and constant character defamation of its founders and directors (even those who are Junior chess players and minors), she was finally banned from Club Chess!! in May, 2018 pending formal investigation into the Denver Chess Club's ban.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms:  Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury.  A Player, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Mad Titan, is unfit to be a participant or a director of a chess event.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the chess clubs of Colorado, in an open letter, written, appealing to the Colorado State Chess Association for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good Players of these clubs, solemnly publish and declare, That these united clubs are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent Clubs, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to Thanos The Mad Titan, and that all playing privileges and tournament direction between them and Thanos The Mad Titan, is and ought to be totally dissolved (for the period of one year); and that as Free and Independent Clubs, they have full Power to remove players who demonstrate a pattern of poor sportsmanship, dishonesty, and disrespect for the rights of others.

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

The Millchessial

Game Of The Week

I have played 1000 USCF-rated games.

I knew the milestone was approaching and figured that I would publish the game.  However, there is a gap of time between when I record my game for my TD database and when I move it to my USCF database.  Due to this gap, I didn't notice that I had played 1000 games when I published it, just because I liked the ending.

https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/2019/05/the-end-of-thing.html

It was fitting that my 1000th game was against my most common opponent, Mark McGough.  He is a big fan of my newsletter and is always impressed that I can tie any chess game to a verse in the Bible.  I asked him what is his favorite verse.

Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

Ecclesiastes 7:28 (KJV)

And since he suffered through having his endgame loss published as my actual 1000th game, I will reward him with getting his endgame win published to commemorate my pseudo-Millennial game, the Millchessial!

Black to mate in 3

Event, Paul Anderson’s Lexicon Of Chess Holidays

• 5 years = Quinquennial
• 50 games = Semicenchessial
• 150 games = Sesquicenchessial
• 500 games = Quincenchessial
• 1000 games = Millchessial

Database of 1000 USCF-rated Games

(Rank, Name, Initial Rating, Wins/Games)

1 Anderson,Paul 1614 687.5/1000
2 Buchanan,Buck 2101 20.0/37 - MOST VICTORIES
3 McGough,Mark 1821 14.5/53 - MOST COMMON OPPONENT
4 Fox,Jeff 1874 13.5/32
5 Bloomer,Josh 2068 12.5/17
6 Wall,Brian 2214 9.0/11
7 Rountree,Brian 1781 8.5/45
8 Carson,Anthea 1477 8.0/33
9 Anderson,Renard 2242 7.0/7 - REGULAR OWEN ALERT
10 Rea,Andy 2079 7.0/7 - REGULAR OWEN ALERT
11 Freeman,Alex 1580 7.0/27
12 Herman,Daniel 1429 7.0/25
13 Brown,Dean 1442 7.0/47
14 Billaux,Eric 2136 4.5/5
15 Barlay,Imre 1997 4.0/7
16 Kondracki,Kurt 1882 4.0/7
17 MacMillan,Shaun 2005 4.0/5
18 Avery,Dan 2014 4.0/4 - REGULAR OWEN ALERT
19 McGuire,Virgil 1710 3.5/8
20 Hughes,Tyler 2126 3.5/4
21 Seidler,Kevin 1828 3.5/4
22 DeJong,Calvin 1241 3.0/10
23 Langseth,Rhett 1764 3.0/9
24 Petters,Markus 2037 3.0/4
25 Wutt,Larry 1226 3.0/4
26 Canney,Randy 2225 3.0/3
27 Weissbarth,Adam 2088 3.0/3
28 Arizpe,Frank 1728 3.0/3
29 Cabrera,Dan 1391 3.0/3
30 Bozhenov,Alex 1908 2.5/8
31 Langseth,DuWayne 1824 2.5/4
32 Friedman,Joe 2215 2.5/3
33 Loving,Jason 1794 2.0/7
34 Wise,Katie 1273 2.0/7
35 Evans,Julian 1905 2.0/5
36 Wikle,Earle 1920 2.0/4
37 Cacas,Alex 1800 2.0/4
38 Bihlmeyer,Joe 1800 2.0/3
39 Check,Jason 1655 2.0/3
40 Malone,Zack 1513 2.0/3
41 Ramirez,Robert 1345 2.0/3
42 Ponomarev,Mikhail 2200 2.0/2
43 Pedry,John 1781 2.0/2
44 Farrington,Jack 1507 2.0/2
45 Mensay,Nathan 1400 2.0/2
46 Martinez,Isaac 1666 1.5/10
47 Covington,Paul 1906 1.5/8
48 Bridle,Sam 1854 1.5/4
49 Kuiper,Mike 1655 1.5/4
50 Caldwell,Jason 1987 1.5/3
51 Baffo,Jeffrey 1899 1.5/3
52 Andersen,Gunnar 1786 1.5/3
53 Earlewine,Brad 1648 1.5/3
54 Baughman,Chris 1768 1.5/2
55 Hester,Jesse 1563 1.5/2
56 Pahk,Joe 1249 1.5/17
57 Powers,James 1608 1.0/6
58 Sunderland,Gerry 1354 1.0/6
59 Meliti,David 1790 1.0/5
60 Barlay,Peter 1706 1.0/5
61 Torres,Alejandro 1653 1.0/5
62 Doykos,Ted 1458 1.0/5
63 Whinemiller 1713 1.0/4
64 Brennan,Timothy 1687 1.0/4
65 Divine,Josh 1618 1.0/4
66 Turner,Larry 1791 1.0/3
67 Gitis,Alexander 1995 1.0/2
68 Anderson,Mitch 1991 1.0/2
69 Serna,Jeffrey 1757 1.0/2
70 Johnston,Jim 1753 1.0/2
71 Lasley,Alexa 1548 1.0/2
72 St. John,Daniel 1543 1.0/2
73 Gilchrist,Jeff 1532 1.0/2
74 Myers,Jordan 1525 1.0/2
75 Sabean,Steven 1385 1.0/2
76 Cabrera,Sean 1354 1.0/2
77 Fortune,Jon 1315 1.0/2
78 Chandler,William 1266 1.0/2
79 Sharavdorj,Dashzegve 2480 1.0/1
80 McCarty,James 2315 1.0/1
81 Mo,Sage 2230 1.0/1
82 Karagianis,Pete 2200 1.0/1
83 Fordon,Robert 2196 1.0/1
84 Kaufman,Arthur 2142 1.0/1
85 Genz,Geoffrey 2129 1.0/1
86 Peterson,Chris 2120 1.0/1
87 Hamblin,James 2119 1.0/1
88 Tedla,Shravan 2093 1.0/1
89 Duesing,Tim 2084 1.0/1
90 Gaschler,Shane 2022 1.0/1
91 Shedd,Mike 2014 1.0/1
92 Sharnopolskiy,Yefim 2006 1.0/1
93 Herbst,Richard 2000 1.0/1
94 Samuels,Joshua 1990 1.0/1
95 Irwin,John 1990 1.0/1
96 Simond,Roger 1934 1.0/1
97 Morrow,Hans 1920 1.0/1
98 Ola,Nathaniel 1899 1.0/1
99 Clevenger,Chris 1848 1.0/1
100 Figlio,Gino 1769 1.0/1
101 Maynes,Jack 1766 1.0/1
102 Christie,Kyle 1763 1.0/1
103 Bhavikatti,Neil 1760 1.0/1
104 Steadman,Gregg 1743 1.0/1
105 Wheatley,Guy 1736 1.0/1
106 McKenna,James 1730 1.0/1
107 Mendoza,Aldo 1726 1.0/1
108 Pinedo,Javier 1710 1.0/1
109 Kern,Wolfgang 1704 1.0/1
110 Zax,Jacob 1674 1.0/1
111 Greenup,Randall 1628 1.0/1
112 Hoak,Don 1598 1.0/1
113 Kornienko,Alexander 1588 1.0/1
114 Abresch,Martin 1561 1.0/1
115 Torres,Michael 1559 1.0/1
116 Groves,Sean 1544 1.0/1
117 Hughes,Brian 1519 1.0/1
118 Al-Mutlaq,Omar 1501 1.0/1
119 Sohn,Inn 1431 1.0/1
120 Heath,Roy 1364 1.0/1
121 Lewis,Dain 1360 1.0/1
122 Naszodi,Laszlo 1295 1.0/1
123 Timmons,Tiffany 1278 1.0/1
124 Hagstrom,George 1261 1.0/1
125 Davies,Ann 1211 1.0/1
126 Mekonnen,Alex 1576 0.5/7
127 Cordovano,Richard 1554 0.5/7
128 Lucas,Gene 1502 0.5/5
129 Fox,Shannon 1738 0.5/3
130 Fromme,Joe 1647 0.5/3
131 Fisher,Timothy 1562 0.5/3
132 Grimm,Paul 1353 0.5/3
133 Williams,Jesse 1260 0.5/3
134 Vispute,Ayush 1098 0.5/3
135 Flores,John 1805 0.5/2
136 Martinson,Timothy 1760 0.5/2
137 Smith,Victor 1747 0.5/2
138 Neri,Gerardo 1743 0.5/2
139 Bagstad,Gary 1700 0.5/2
140 Deloslado,Edelreich 1697 0.5/2
141 MacNeil,JC 1638 0.5/2
142 Kass,Michael 1604 0.5/2
143 Motley,Chris 1575 0.5/2
144 Bartlow,Justin 1414 0.5/2
145 Tucker,Matthew 1217 0.5/2
146 Csima,Jeffrey 2018 0.5/1
147 Kulbacki,James 1932 0.5/1
148 Aandahl,Vance 1809 0.5/1
149 Szaloky,Zoltan 1781 0.5/1
150 Labencki,Mark 1760 0.5/1
151 Nguyen,Vinh 1591 0.5/1
152 Haines,Joseph 1564 0.5/1
153 Bourie,Tom 1563 0.5/1
154 Moore,Randall 1531 0.5/1
155 Kovach,Stephen 1412 0.5/1
156 Harris,Grayson 1402 0.5/1
157 Snavely,Josh 1363 0.5/1
158 Katona,John 1361 0.5/1
159 Chase,Zachary 1302 0.5/1
160 Bonifate,Gregory 1251 0.5/1
161 Ufer,Allan 1048 0.0/10 - REGULAR OWEN ALERT
162 Brown,Richard 1469 0.0/7 - REGULAR OWEN ALERT
163 Eads,Clint 1231 0.0/7 - REGULAR OWEN ALERT
164 Smith,Mike 1545 0.0/6 - REGULAR OWEN ALERT
165 Spell,Fred Eric 1203 0.0/6 - REGULAR OWEN ALERT
166 Shotwell,Frank 1081 0.0/6 - REGULAR OWEN ALERT
167 Filppu,Mike 1312 0.0/5 - REGULAR OWEN ALERT
168 Sparks,Steve 1227 0.0/4 - REGULAR OWEN ALERT
169 Delaware,Renae 1125 0.0/4 - REGULAR OWEN ALERT
170 Williams,Scott 1120 0.0/4 - REGULAR OWEN ALERT
171 O'Dell,Ray 1111 0.0/4 - REGULAR OWEN ALERT
172 Telinbacco,Anthony 1909 0.0/3
173 Krowczyk,Mark 1819 0.0/3
174 Santiago,Roderick 1632 0.0/3
175 Reynolds,Randy 1594 0.0/3
176 Shook,Spencer 1574 0.0/3
177 Corbett,Tom 1516 0.0/3
178 Herman,Becca 1428 0.0/3
179 Martin,Charles 1402 0.0/3
180 Herman,Sara 1284 0.0/3
181 Foster,Cory 1222 0.0/3
182 Frenzel,Gary 1075 0.0/3
183 Kaaoush,Kevin 1049 0.0/3
184 Meyer,Sam 968 0.0/3
185 Arispe,Joey 912 0.0/3
186 Hortillosa,Andy 1939 0.0/2
187 Miller,Glenn 1795 0.0/2
188 Del Conte,Koji 1791 0.0/2
189 Hornyak,Istvan 1705 0.0/2
190 Myers,Justice 1650 0.0/2
191 Anderson,Robert 1587 0.0/2
192 Walo,Max 1489 0.0/2
193 Short,Peter 1484 0.0/2
194 Stark,Nathan 1468 0.0/2
195 Robb,Morgan 1459 0.0/2
196 Aragon,Joseph 1413 0.0/2
197 Swan,Peter 1377 0.0/2
198 Inman,Ross 1367 0.0/2
199 Garcia,William 1332 0.0/2
200 Wolf,Will 1316 0.0/2
201 Feller,David 1304 0.0/2
202 Eskeldson,Derek 1270 0.0/2
203 Toth,Mike 1122 0.0/2
204 Brunn,John 1113 0.0/2
205 Pahk,Eugin 1079 0.0/2
206 Gibbs,Dale 1073 0.0/2
207 Mullikin,Tom 1070 0.0/2
208 Osborn,Larry 905 0.0/2
209 Schneider,Kathy 700 0.0/2
210 Hartsook,David 2077 0.0/1
211 Jex,Joshua 2005 0.0/1
212 Zupa,Daoud 1973 0.0/1
213 Glassman,Arthur 1912 0.0/1
214 Alexander,Charles 1863 0.0/1
215 Jablon,Stephen 1784 0.0/1
216 Massey,Scott 1783 0.0/1
217 Leotaud,Glen 1755 0.0/1
218 Johnson,Debra 1753 0.0/1
219 Laganiere,James 1738 0.0/1
220 Terrell,Darryl 1735 0.0/1
221 Perry,Silas 1733 0.0/1
222 Sbarge,Reuben 1728 0.0/1
223 Hoffacker,Dan 1699 0.0/1
224 McAdam,Mark 1683 0.0/1
225 Coker,Laurence 1678 0.0/1
226 Chen,Jackson 1672 0.0/1
227 Llacza,Jose 1667 0.0/1
228 Ohnmacht,Michael 1650 0.0/1
229 Vispute,Atharva 1647 0.0/1
230 Montgomery,Brad 1645 0.0/1
231 Wall,Chris 1637 0.0/1
232 Thigpen,Douglas 1610 0.0/1
233 Brown,Phil 1604 0.0/1
234 Hanagan,Christopher 1600 0.0/1
235 Stoneking,Jason 1593 0.0/1
236 Kohler,Robert 1588 0.0/1
237 Grigg,Peter 1586 0.0/1
238 Benedek,William 1585 0.0/1
239 Dail,Ken 1580 0.0/1
240 Wolf,William 1559 0.0/1
241 Weissbarth,Daniel 1546 0.0/1
242 Silva,David 1544 0.0/1
243 Matthews,Ben 1537 0.0/1
244 Schultz,John 1530 0.0/1
245 Galla,Chris 1526 0.0/1
246 Wright,Steve 1514 0.0/1
247 Majid,Kahhak 1504 0.0/1
248 Chow,Andrew 1492 0.0/1
249 Boyce,Bongee 1489 0.0/1
250 Kovats,Jiri 1462 0.0/1
251 Cruz,Rodney 1443 0.0/1
252 Mitchell,Dean 1441 0.0/1
253 King,John 1438 0.0/1
254 Coyle,William 1432 0.0/1
255 Staten,Bob 1423 0.0/1
256 Southard,Dan 1401 0.0/1
257 Moritz,David 1395 0.0/1
258 Guthrie,Scott 1389 0.0/1
259 Galler,Sam 1385 0.0/1
260 Blain,Blaise 1380 0.0/1
261 Lucas,Joice 1374 0.0/1
262 MacRae,Ken 1346 0.0/1
263 Madsen,Mike 1336 0.0/1
264 Nichols,Tikila 1332 0.0/1
265 Isacoff,Robert 1327 0.0/1
266 Groves,Dan 1325 0.0/1
267 Mayer,Scott 1319 0.0/1
268 Hansen,Matthew 1317 0.0/1
269 McNairy,Webster 1301 0.0/1
270 Nastri,John 1300 0.0/1
271 Conforti,Larry 1300 0.0/1
272 Mason,Suliman 1300 0.0/1
273 Buring,Alan 1295 0.0/1
274 Szymanski,Donna 1285 0.0/1
275 Maier,Jerry 1254 0.0/1
276 Davis,Boris 1245 0.0/1
277 Scott,Elizabeth 1243 0.0/1
278 Harris,Edward 1234 0.0/1
279 Bracht,Stephen 1229 0.0/1
280 Bram,Pret 1190 0.0/1
281 Nickelson,Leroi 1188 0.0/1
282 Miller,Joshua 1154 0.0/1
283 Timmons,Teanna 1145 0.0/1
284 Nica,Adrian 1140 0.0/1
285 Artis,Ray 1131 0.0/1
286 Schneider,Charles 1129 0.0/1
287 Kesler,Corey 1129 0.0/1
288 Chase,Tyler 1116 0.0/1
289 Hathorn,Larry 1111 0.0/1
290 Umana,Zach 1108 0.0/1
291 Santucci,Bernie 1097 0.0/1
292 Smythe,Steve 1097 0.0/1
293 Mihalas,Mike 1092 0.0/1
294 Hawthorn,Larry 1091 0.0/1
295 Dimiduk,Jeffrey 1089 0.0/1
296 Prutz,Dan 1059 0.0/1
297 Novik,Elena 1053 0.0/1
298 Kiechlin,Jack 1053 0.0/1
299 Richardson,Tom 1048 0.0/1
300 Sills,Scott 1048 0.0/1
301 Wheeler,William 1039 0.0/1
302 Hope,Frederick 1035 0.0/1
303 Barr,Robert 1021 0.0/1
304 McEnany,Rian 1004 0.0/1
305 Capen,Tony 980 0.0/1
306 Schiaffino,Riccardo 974 0.0/1
307 Dais,Ayman 969 0.0/1
308 Castle,Bryan 966 0.0/1
309 Rupp,Dan 965 0.0/1
310 Williams,Selah 944 0.0/1
311 Derbyshire,Sanjay 938 0.0/1
312 Kidd,Nathan 882 0.0/1
313 Veitch,James 880 0.0/1
314 Herbst,Robbie 873 0.0/1
315 Crose,Kendel Boyd 867 0.0/1
316 Rice,Sarah 842 0.0/1
317 Joy,Thomas 820 0.0/1
318 Beasley,Charles 742 0.0/1
319 Clark,Doug 379 0.0/1

The Millchessial

[Event "June Swiss 90"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2019.06.18"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Arispe, Joey"]
[Black "McGough, Mark"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "1259"]
[BlackElo "1857"]
[PlyCount "152"]
[EventDate "2019.06.04"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Bf4 d5 4. Nf3 Bd6 5. Bxd6 Qxd6 6. e3 Bd7 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O Bc6 9. Re1 Nbd7 10. Qd3 a6 11. Rad1 e5 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. dxe5 Qxe5 14. Qd4 Rfe8 15. Qxe5 Rxe5 16. Rd4 Ne4 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Red1 h6 19. h3 Rae8 20. Kh2 g6 21. g3 Kg7 22. Rd8 Rxd8 23. Rxd8 Rd5 24. Rxd5 Bxd5 25. a3 a5 26. b4 axb4 27. axb4 Kf6 28. g4 Ke5 29. Kg3 f6 30. h4 g5 31. hxg5 hxg5 32. c4 Be6 33. f3 b6 34. Kf2 Bd7 35. b5 Be6 36. Kg3 Bc8 37. Kf2 Bb7 38. Kg3 exf3 39. Bxf3 Be4 40. Kf2 Bd3 41. Bd5 Kd6 42. Kf3 Kc5 43. Be6 Bxc4 44. Bxc4 Kxc4 45. Ke4 Kxb5 46. Kf5 c5 47. Kxf6 c4 48. e4 c3 49. e5 c2 50. e6 c1=Q 51. e7 Qf4+ 52. Kg7 Qe5+ 53. Kf7 Qd5+ 54. Kf8 Qd6 55. Kf7 Qf4+ 56. Kg6 Qe4+ 57. Kf7 Qh7+ 58. Kf8 Qh8+ 59. Kf7 Kc5 60. e8=Q Qxe8+ 61. Kxe8 b5 62. Kf7 b4 63. Kf6 Kd6 64. Kxg5 b3 65. Kf6 b2 66. g5 b1=Q 67. g6 Qf1+ 68. Kg7 Ke7 69. Kh7 Qh3+ 70. Kg7 Ke8 71. Kg8 Qe6+ 72. Kh7 Qf5 73. Kg7 Qf8+ 74. Kh7 Qf5 75. Kg7 Qh5 76. Kf6 Kf8 0-1

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=114442

This Week In Chess

On June 18th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club continued the June Swiss 90 event (4SS, G/90+30).

Standings. June Swiss 90

# Name Rtng Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 Tot Prize

1 Paul D Anderson 1950 W5 W3 W2 3.0
2 Christophe Motley 1679 W6 W5 L1 2.0
3 Mark McGough 1857 W10 L1 W4 2.0
4 Joey Arispe 1259 W11 H--- L3 1.5
5 Grayson Ed Harris 1534 L1 L2 W9 1.0
6 Richard Buchanan 2000 L2 W13 U--- 1.0
7 William Leo Wolf 1300 U--- W12 U--- 1.0
8 Peter Barlay 1906 W9 U--- U--- 1.0
9 Dean W Brown 1460 L8 D10 L5 0.5
10 Kenneth Macrae 1264 L3 D9 U--- 0.5
11 Michael Smith II 1713 L4 H--- U--- 0.5
12 Joy Sato unr. U--- L7 U--- 0.0
13 Joseph Griffin 761 U--- L6 U--- 0.0

Projected Prizes: 1st $30; 2nd $20; U1600/unr $13

Final Nail

Game Of The Week

All good things come to an end.

My Father's Day tradition for the Colorado Springs Chess News website has been to publish a win from my dad during our email match together.  We started playing in 1996, before I ever went to the Colorado Springs Chess Club.  We finished the match after 53 games in 2010.

The match was even (+12-12=9) after this game in 2003.  However, it was also the final nail in the coffin for my dad.  He had purchased Fritz 8 for me as a Christmas gift.  Now, I had a tool to go over my games.  After this point, I won ten of the last twenty games (+10-3=7) to pull ahead in the match.

Going over your own chess games is key to improvement at chess.

I was reminded of this fact recently when I stopped by the Denver Open in April.  One of the invited masters was IM Danny Rensch, who was doing a lecture and simul the night I was there.  I caught part of his lecture where he talked about how to go over your games.  He stressed turning off the computer and finding three key moments on your own.

Of course, I didn't catch the lesson perfectly, as it is never easy to retain 100% when you are not taking notes or expecting to stay for the whole lecture.  I was only in Denver to meet with family and unprepared to catch some pearls of chess wisdom.

The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

Luke 6:40 (KJV)

However, here is what I gleaned from IM Daniel Rensch's 3 Point System for analyzing games without a computer.  You are to find the moves where these main elements occurred:

• Out of Book
• Turning Point
• Final Nail

Since this game is also the final nail in the coffin of publishing wins for my dad and doesn't have a good tactical moment, I thought I would apply the 3 Point System to this game.

First, finding the point I got out of book was pretty easy.  I had just discovered LM Brian Wall's emails and the Fishing Pole was all the rage.  Of course, some might say the Fishing Pole move was also the final nail in the coffin of winning this game.

Second, the turning point was harder to choose.  I clearly missed the explanation of this item during the lecture.

Third, the final nail is that moment when the final result is set in stone.  If you play on, you are just hoping for a miracle.  It is that time when the masters say, "The rest is technique."  Here is the position I chose for this game.  Black has given up all hope for a win, but might have one last shot at a draw.  I didn't play the move.  You just have to find a better move than 34...Rf8.

I will let you be the judge on how well I found the 3 points.

Black to move

Final Nail

[Event "12-12-9"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2003.10.31"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Anderson, Douglas"]
[Black "Anderson, Paul"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2003.08.16"]
[TimeControl "0"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Ng4 5. h3 h5 6. d3 Bc5 7. Bg5 f6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 h4 10. Bxh4 gxh4 11. hxg4 Qe7 12. Nc3 a6 13. Ba4 Qg7 14. Nd5 Kd8 15. Nh2 d6 16. Kh1 h3 17. g3 b5 18. Bb3 Na5 19. f3 Nxb3 20. axb3 Bb7 21. b4 Bd4 22. c3 Bxd5 23. cxd4 Bb7 24. d5 f5 25. Qe2 fxg4 26. fxg4 Ke7 27. Rac1 Kd7 28. Rf5 Raf8 29. Qe3 Rhg8 30. Rcf1 Rxf5 31. Rxf5 Kd8 32. Rh5 Kc8 33. Rxh3 Kb8 34. Kg2 Rf8 35. g5 Rf7 36. Rh6 Rf8 37. Ng4 Rg8 38. Nf6 Qxg5 39. Qxg5 Rxg5 40. Kh3 Rg7 41. Kh4 Ka7 42. g4 Bc8 43. g5 Kb6 44. Rh8 Bh3 45. Ne8 Rxg5 46. Kxg5 Bf1 47. Rh7 Bxd3 48. Nxc7 a5 49. Na8+ Ka6 50. Kf5 a4 51. Rd7 a3 52. Rxd6+ Kb7 53. bxa3 Kxa8 54. Rc6 Kb7 55. Rc5 Kb6 56. d6 Bf1 57. Kxe5 Bh3 58. Kf6 1-0

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=114430

This Week In Chess

On June 11th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club continued the June Swiss 90 event (4SS, G/90+30).

Standings. June Swiss 90

# Name Rtng Rd 1 Rd 2 Tot Prize

1 Paul D Anderson 1950 W11 W4 2.0
2 Christophe Motley 1679 W5 W11 2.0
3 Joey Arispe 1259 W10 H--- 1.5
4 Mark McGough 1857 W9 L1 1.0
5 Richard Buchanan 2000 L2 W13 1.0
6 Peter Barlay 1906 W8 U--- 1.0
7 William Leo Wolf 1300 U--- W12 1.0
8 Dean W Brown 1460 L6 D9 0.5
9 Kenneth Macrae 1264 L4 D8 0.5
10 Michael Smith II 1713 L3 H--- 0.5
11 Grayson Ed Harris 1534 L1 L2 0.0
12 Joy Sato unr. U--- L7 0.0
13 Joseph Griffin 761 U--- L5 0.0

Overworked & Underpaid

Game Of The Week

This week's game comes from the Colorado Springs Chess Club's June Swiss 90 (4SS, G/90+30) event.  This tournament is a month-long event with one game per week.  I like the one-game-per-week format because it is easier to direct and play.  Not easy, just easier, but I prefer playing.  I do not prefer being the tournament director (TD).

Being a TD is a thankless job.  There is no fame.  There is no fortune.  It is just work, but I do want to keep the club going.  I feel like the Godfather.

"Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in."

Michael Corleone, The Godfather Part III

I can get most of the directing duties done at the beginning of the night and eventually focus on playing chess.  Well, at least, that is my hope.

Since this was the first Tuesday in June, it was round one.  I am always hopeful that my round one pairing will be an easy game because the first week of a tournament is more hectic as the TD.  It was not.

I was playing Grayson Harris again.  We met in the 4th round of the May Swiss 90, where he got behind in the opening, fought hard, and couldn't quite come back.  This time, it was my turn to fall behind and see if I could come back.  I used up a lot of time trying to figure out a plan to get my Pawn back.

Just when I thought I was won, Grayson pulled out Qa5.

Now, I was low on time and fighting to hold the draw.  When I reached this position, I wasn't thinking tactically and missed the killer move.  However, I held the draw as long as I could, and, with a minute left, I took a shot.

Just when I thought I was drawn, I pulled out a win.

White to move

Overworked & Underpaid

[Event "June Swiss 90"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2019.06.04"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Anderson, Paul"]
[Black "Harris, Grayson"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D10"]
[WhiteElo "1950"]
[BlackElo "1534"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2019.06.04"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. g3 dxc4 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bf5 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Nbd2 Nb6 8. Nh4 Bg4 9. h3 Bh5 10. g4 Bg6 11. Nxg6 hxg6 12. e3 Qc7 13. Qf3 e5 14. Ne4 Be7 15. Bd2 exd4 16. exd4 Nbd5 17. Rfe1 O-O 18. Rac1 b5 19. Nc3 Rad8 20. Re2 Rfe8 21. Rce1 a6 22. Bg5 Kf8 23. Re5 Rd7 24. Bxf6 gxf6 25. Nxd5 cxd5 26. Rxd5 Rxd5 27. Qxd5 Qa5 28. Qe4 Qxa2 29. Re2 c3 30. bxc3 Qa1+ 31. Bf1 Qxc3 32. Qb7 Qc8 33. Qa7 Qa8 34. Qxa8 Rxa8 35. Ra2 a5 36. Bxb5 Bb4 37. d5 Ke7 38. Kg2 Kd6 39. Bc6 Ra7 40. Kf3 Ke7 41. Ke4 Kf8 42. Kd4 Kg7 43. Kd3 Kh6 44. f4 f5 45. Ke3 fxg4 46. hxg4 f5 47. gxf5 gxf5 48. Kf3 Kh5 49. Re2 a4 50. Re6 Bf8 51. Be8+ Kh4 52. Re1 1-0

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=114401

This Week In Chess

On June 6th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club started the June Swiss 90 event (4SS, G/90+30).

Standings. June Swiss 90

# Name Rtng Rd 1 Tot Prize

1 Paul D Anderson 1950 W8 1.0
2 Peter Barlay 1906 W9 1.0
3 Mark McGough 1857 W10 1.0
4 Christophe Motley 1679 W6 1.0
5 Joey Arispe 1259 W7 1.0
6 Richard Buchanan 2000 L4 0.0
7 Michael Smith II 1713 L5 0.0
8 Grayson Ed Harris 1534 L1 0.0
9 Dean W Brown 1460 L2 0.0
10 Kenneth Macrae 1264 L3 0.0

No GOATs Allowed!

Game Of The Week

This week's game comes from round three of the Colorado Springs Chess Club's May Swiss 90 event.  It was played by Chris Motley and Mark McGough.  They have faced each other six times in the past year, mostly in Quick-rated tournaments.  They are even in Quick (+2-2=1).  This time they met with Turtle Time (G/90+30), a specialty of Mark's.

This game was vying for the Game of the Week prize last week.  However, it lost, as Mark was a bit of a goat for failing to get me the pictures I requested that supplement this game quickly enough.  You see, I wanted to share the major milestone Mark has accomplished in his first year as the Colorado Springs Chess Club Treasurer:  He has re-segregated the bathrooms!

2019 Colorado Springs Chess Club Treasurer, Mark McGough, procures the key to the Men's room and reopens gender specific restroom service on May 28, 2019!

Every chess game tells a story.  Some have pictures.

The story with this game is like a fable with Mark as the Turtle and Chris as the GOAT.  One might call it, "The Tortoise and The GOAT."

Once upon a time there was a GOAT who, boasting how he could play chess better than anyone else, was forever teasing the tortoise for its slowness.  Then one day, the 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 paired, and the next day at the Colorado Springs Chess Club they stood at the board.  When the clock started, the GOAT jumped out to a huge lead in position and gained a massive time advantage.

When the dust settled, the tortoise had won.  "How is this possible?" the spectators asked.

“Slowly does it every time!  Especially when your opponent is Giving-up Overwhelming Advantages with a Time lead,” the tortoise said.

White to move

Mark found himself in the position above.  Undaunted with his King's Rook seemingly locked away, Mark channeled his experience as Key Master and set about the task of gaining freedom for his King-side pieces.  Yes, it took a long time, but he was able to make due with the Queen-side facilities for the time being.

When the dust settled, Mark had the winning Endgame and was living on turtle time.  Chris was not eager to resign after having thrown away a huge positional advantage with a massive time lead.  However, Mark reminded him of the new bathroom etiquette going into effect with the newly, re-opened Men's room.

After re-opening the restroom, Mark installed a couple of signs to remind chess players that we weren't using the Women's room anymore.  Now, we have to be on good behavior.  No more Thunder Dome.  Respect for others is the rule.  This rule applies to chess as well as bathrooms.  We call it PFTP.

There is a kind of code at the Colorado Springs Chess Club.  You can use terms and phrases that may seem strange in chess, but they are quite well understood here:

• Turtle = a chess player who thinks G/90;d/5 is blitz
• GOAT = G iving-up, O verwhelming, A dvantages with, T ime lead
• PFTP= Don't resign with Mate in 1

The second sign says, "No GOATs Allowed!"  I am not sure what that sign means, but Mark has threatened to close the Men's room if anyone violates it.

No GOATs Allowed!

[Event "May Swiss 90"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2019.05.21"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Motley, Chris"]
[Black "McGough, Mark"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B61"]
[WhiteElo "1662"]
[BlackElo "1823"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2019.05.07"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 Bd7 7. Qd2 Nxd4 8. Qxd4 Qa5 9. Bd2 Qc5 10. Qxc5 dxc5 11. e5 Ng4 12. Nb5 O-O-O 13. f4 a6 14. Na3 Bc6 15. h3 Nf2 16. Rg1 Ne4 17. Ba5  d4 18. c3 Rd2 19. Nc4 Rf2 20. Bd3 Rxf4 21. g3 Rf3 22. Bxe4 Bxe4 23. Nd2 Rd3 24. O-O-O Bc6 25.  c4 Rxd1+ 26. Rxd1 b5 27. Rd8+ Kb7 28. Ne3 g6 29. c4 Bg7 30. Rd2 Bxe5 31. Rf2 Bd4 32. Bd2 f5 33.  e2 Bf3 34. Re1 Be4 35. Nd5 e6 36. Ne3 h5 37. Bc3 Bxc3 38. bxc3 Rd8 39. cxb5 axb5 40. a4 bxa4 41.  c4 Rd3 42. Kb2 Rxg3 43. h4 Rg4 44. Ne5 Rxh4 45. Nxg6 Rh2+ 46. Ka3 h4 47. Nf4 Bd5 48. Nxd5 exd5  9. Re5 Rh3 50. Rxd5 Rxc3+ 51. Kxa4 f4 52. Rh5 Kc6 53. Rxh4 Kd5 54. Kb5 Ke4 55. Kc6 c4 56.  c5 Rc2 57. Kb4 Ke3 58. Rh8 f3 59. Re8+ Kf2 60. Rf8 Kg2 61. Rg8+ Kf1 62. Rf8 f2 63. Rf7 Ke1 0-1

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=114386

This Week In Chess

On May 28th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club finished the May Swiss 90 event (4SS, G/90+30).

Standings. May Swiss 90

# Name Rtng Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 Rd 4 Tot Prize

1 Brian Jo Rountree 1962 W5 D3 W2 W4 3.5 $27.00 1st
2 Paul D Anderson 1950 W7 W4 L1 W5 3.0 $18.00 2nd
3 Christophe Motley 1662 W12 D1 L4 W7 2.5
4 Mark McGough 1823 W10 L2 W3 L1 2.0
5 Grayson Ed Harris 1466 L1 W12 W9 L2 2.0
6 Robert Kohler 1658 H--- H--- U--- W9 2.0 $5.00 GOW
7 Ayush Vispute 1365 L2 H--- W13 L3 1.5 $12.00 U1450
8 Peter Barlay 1906 H--- W11 U--- U--- 1.5
9 Dean W Brown 1442 U--- W10 L5 L6 1.0
10 Clinton Eads 1291 L4 L9 U--- W14 1.0
11 Joey Arispe 1259 H--- L8 U--- U--- 0.5
12 Daniel Rupp 1076 L3 L5 U--- U--- 0.0
13 William Leo Wolf 1300 U--- U--- L7 U--- 0.0
14 Joy Sato unr. U--- U--- U--- L10 0.0

O Is For Overload VIII

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 April 8th (https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/2019/04/d-is-for-discovery-vii.html).  The second kind of tactic in the DROP Method is Removal, which I revisited on May 14th (https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/2019/05/r-is-for-removal-viii.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 a high value piece is in front)

Here is a position from the Colorado Springs Chess Club's May Swiss 90 tournament.  Robert Kohler played in the Springs until 2004 and recently returned to take on his number 2 foe, Dean Brown.  Dean went after a Pawn (31. RxP), only to leave himself open to the classic Overload tactic.

Black to move

O Is For Overload VIII

[Event "May Swiss 90"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2019.05.28"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Brown, Dean"]
[Black "Kohler, Robert"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "1442"]
[BlackElo "1658"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2019.05.07"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Qa5 5. Be2 Bf5 6. O-O e6 7. d3 c6 8. Nd4 Bg6 9. Nb3 Qc7 10. Bg5 Nbd7 11. Qc1 Bd6 12. h3 h6 13. Be3 Nd5 14. Re1 Nxe3 15. Qxe3 O-O 16. Ne4 Be7 17. a4 Nf6 18. Nbd2 Nd5 19. Qf3 Nb4 20. Bd1 c5 21. c3 Nc6 22. Qe3 b6 23. Be2 Rad8 24. Rad1 f5 25. Qg3 Qxg3 26. Nxg3 Bf6 27. Bh5 Bxh5 28. Nxh5 Ne5 29. Nf4 Nxd3 30. Nxd3 Rxd3 31. Rxe6 Rfd8 0-1

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=114366

This Week In Chess

On May 21st, the Colorado Springs Chess Club continued the MaySwiss 90 event (4SS, G/90+30).

Standings. May Swiss 90

# Name Rtng Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 Tot Prize

1 Brian Jo Rountree 1962 W3 D5 W2 2.5
2 Paul D Anderson 1950 W6 W4 L1 2.0
3 Grayson Ed Harris 1466 L1 W10 W8 2.0
4 Mark McGough 1823 W11 L2 W5 2.0
5 Christophe Motley 1662 W10 D1 L4 1.5
6 Ayush Vispute 1365 L2 H--- W12 1.5
7 Peter Barlay 1906 H--- W9 U--- 1.5
8 Dean W Brown 1442 U--- W11 L3 1.0
9 Joey Arispe 1259 H--- L7 U--- 0.5
10 Daniel Rupp 1076 L5 L3 U--- 0.0
11 Clinton Eads 1291 L4 L8 U--- 0.0
12 William Leo Wolf 1300 U--- U--- L6 0.0